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Brief information in English

About the Library

The Irmão José Otão Main Library of Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS) is an unit of the Academic-Administrative board of the Office of the Vice President for Undergraduate Studies and Continuing Education (PROGRAD).

Offers a space of 21 thousand square meters in 14 floors, joining technology, services and resources to encourage user autonomy in Library usage.

Strategically located at the core of the PUCRS Campus, the Irmão José Otão Main Library had its origins in 1940, in the collection of the Schools of Economics, Philosophy, Social Work and Law, located next to the Rosário Marist School.

In 1967, with PUCRS’ relocation to the current University Campus, the Library was moved to the second floor of the Higher Administration Building.

In 1977, it was transferred to its current location, in an area comprising 10,000 square meters.

In 2008, commemorating the University’s 60th anniversary and the Library’s 30th anniversary, the Library reinaugurated its facilities, expanding its physical space by integrating a 14-story tower to its previous building.

Such an expansion enabled the creation of specially designed spaces for knowledge production and cultural dissemination, as well as the physical reorganization of the collection.

The Library’s strategic objectives to support teaching, research and extension activities are promoting communication with its users through different media; offering continuous training activities, and providing sources and innovative technologies for information access.

Open to the general public and providing free access to its collections.

Main Staff

Library Coordination

Débora Kraemer de Araujo – Librarian
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: +55 (51) 3320.3544

Services Department

Bibliographic search, loans, training, databases and dedicated services.
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: +55 (51) 3320.3586

Librarians:
Ednei de Freitas Silveira – Services Coordinator ([email protected])
Sabrina Rosa Vicari
Alessandra Pinto Fagundes
Aline Matte Debastiani
Carla Vieira Chaves
Daiane Leppa da Silveira
Marta de Oliveira
Salete Maria Sartori

Support and Development Department

Technologies, systems and equipments.
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: +55 (51) 3353.4371

Librarians:
Fernanda Becker Handke
Paula Danielli Machado

Information Processing Department

Technical processing of information resources.
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: +55 (51) 3353.4434 or +55 (51) 3320.3587

Librarians:
Clarissa Jesinska Selbach – Information Processing Coordinator ([email protected])
Ana Paula Medeiros Magnus
Anamaria Ferreira
Loiva Duarte Novak
Tamara da Rosa Silva

Environments that stimulate, reading, learning and research

The reinterpretation of Piet Mondrian’s lines, evoking the idea of “windows to the world of information”, marks the color and design of indoor spaces and is present in floor, wall, door and totem signage.

Environments are integrated, air-conditioned and designed for use of multimedia resources. The Library offers rooms for individual and group study, ample cultural space and dedicated floors for reading and studying, complemented by reading areas with abundant natural light and privileged Campus view, reinforcing a sense of integration with nature.

Access, mobility and use of services by people with special needs are facilitated by ramps, elevators and appropriate furniture. Audiobooks, computer programs and appropriate equipment are provided to visually impaired users, in a service open to the general public.

Information access

The Library provides information in various media, including print and electronic sources, which can be accessed locally and remotely from different devices such as computers, laptops, smartphones and tablets.

The main collection, consisting of books, journals, theses, dissertations and multimedia materials, is physically grouped and organized in four major areas: Humanities, Applied Social Sciences, Science and Technology, and Language and Arts.

2nd floor:

Area A – Humanities:

  • Biography
  • Education
  • Philosophy
  • Folklore
  • Geography
  • History
  • Research Methodology
  • Politics
  • Sociology
  • Theology

Area B ‒ Applied Social Sciences:

  • Management
  • Trade
  • Communication
  • Accounting
  • Law
  • Economy
  • Hospitality
  • Journalism
  • Advertisement
  • Public Relations
  • Social Work
  • Tourism

3rd floor

Area C1 ‒ Science and Technology – Biomedical Sciences:

  • Biology
  • Botany
  • Ecology
  • Physical Education
  • Nursing
  • Pharmacy
  • Physiotherapy
  • Medicine
  • Nutrition
  • Dentistry
  • Paleontology
  • Psychology
  • Public Health
  • Toxicology
  • Zoologia

Area C2 ‒ Science and Technology – Exact Sciences:

  • Aeronautics
  • Architecture
  • Astronomy
  • Engineering
  • Physics
  • Geology
  • Computer Science
  • Mathematics
  • Chemistry
  • Telecommunications
  • Transportation

Area D ‒ Languages and Arts:

  • Arts
  • Film
  • Linguistics
  • Literatura
  • Popular Literature
  • Children’s and Youth Literature

Collections

Among the collections that form the Library’s collection, one could highlight:

  • Rare Book Collection
  • University Special Collection
  • Iconographic Collection
  • Film Collection
  • Júlio Petersen Collection
  • Popular Literature Collection
  • Children’s Literature Collection
  • PUCRS Memorial Collection
  • Hispanic Culture Collection

Eletronic collections:

Eletronic collections are also available with references and full text of books, journals, databases, patents and conference proceedings.
Besides, the full collections in the CAPES Journal Portal are available to be accessed by PUCRS’ community.

Search tool:

OMNIS is the search tool used in all libraries of PUCRS. Based on the innovative concept of “discovery” (based on Primo software by ProQuest Ex Libris), OMNIS provides access to information contained in collections of PUCRS’ libraries and also in relevant global scholar resources.
It has a single and consolidated search interface. Search results are presented in a unified list, sorted by relevance criteria, allowing faceted filtering, integration with reference managers, sending of results by e-mail, and instant access to full text.

Remote Access (proxy):

Allows the academic community to use computers outside the University network to access the Library’s online research sources.

Technology for knowledge production

It has computer equipment and structure that allow efficient information management, access, and user services.

Aleph 500 – Integrated library system:
A pioneer in the adoption of the Aleph Integrated Library System in Brazil, the Library has used this system since 1993 in information management processes, as well as to record library circulation.

RFID – Radio Frequency Identification:
Adopted for identification and tracking of different items in the collection, it facilitates collection management for inventory and shelf organization, and it makes lending and return operations more efficient.

Self-service equipment

Selfcheck-out and selfcheck-in:
Allow the user to register loans and returns using interactive software with step by step guidance.
Fully integrated into the Library management system, users can register transactions, liberate or activate the security system and issue receipts indicating the date of return of borrowed items.
Selfcheck-in machines sort returned items according to the four areas in the Library and Reservation status.

Self-storage lockers:
Digital lockers with volatile passwords, monitored by closed-circuit TV.

Other resources

Contact

Main Library is located in Building 16, on PUCRS Campus:

PUCRS – Biblioteca Central Ir. José Otão
Av. Ipiranga, 6681 – Partenon
Prédio 16
Porto Alegre, RS – Brasil
ZIP: 90619-900
Phone: +55 (51) 3320.3544
Fax: +55 (51) 3320.3548
E-mail: [email protected]

Opening hours:
From Monday to Friday: from 7:35 a.m. to 10:35 p.m.
Saturday: from 9:00 a.m. to 2:40 p.m.

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