The Metropolitan Network of Public Libraries in the Porto Metropolitan Area (RMBP AMP) gathers the public libraries of the 17 municipalities within the Porto Metropolitan Area (AMP) in a joint project focused on cooperation, sharing and strategic development, aimed at strengthening literacy, inclusion and cultural cohesion across the metropolitan region.

The network was formally established on 13 May 2024 through a cooperation agreement signed between the Porto Metropolitan Area and the General Directorate for Book, Archives and Libraries (DGLAB). This agreement lays the foundations for coordinated networking, aimed at optimising resources, improving services and creating innovative solutions that meet the needs of readers’ communities.

Strategic objectives of the network

The RMBP AMP was established with the mission to:

• Promote cooperation between public libraries, ensuring coordinated and efficient action.

• Contribute to literacy advance — including digital literacy — across all sections of the public.

• Strengthen social inclusion by facilitating access to knowledge and diverse cultural resources.

• Promote the network and its services, reaching out to new audiences.

• Provide shared resources, tools and services that consolidate the metropolitan identity.

• Ensure local services that are generally free of charge and accessible to the entire population.

• Support and develop joint applications for national and European funding.

This set of objectives embodies a shared vision: to make the AMP’s public libraries stronger, more integrated and better equipped to meet the contemporary challenges of reading, education and culture.

Work in progress

In its first year of operation, the AMP Public Libraries’ Metropolitan Working Group, comprising staff from the 17 libraries, drew up a comprehensive action plan covering three key areas:

1 - Technical and regulatory documents

Essential tools are being developed to harmonise practices across the network, including:

• Operating Standards for the Metropolitan Working Group.

• Characterisation of the libraries in the Metropolitan Network.

• User Management Standards.

• Document Handling Guide.

• Interlibrary Loan Standards.

2 - Management Documents

The network has now its own planning and evaluation framework, comprising:

• Annual Activity Plan (in collaboration with the AMP and the municipalities).

• Annual Activity Report.

• Half-yearly reports on the network’s performance.

3 - Communication and identity

To enhance the network’s visibility and public presence, a number of initiatives are planned, including:

• The creation of a distinctive logo and visual identity.

• An online presence on websites and social media.

• The production of promotional materials.

Services and new opportunities for users

One of the first outcomes of this collaboration is the integration of the network into the BiblioLED platform, which provides AMP readers with free access to thousands of e-books and audiobooks. In the medium term, the network also plans to increase the circulation of resources between municipalities, expand its network-wide programming, and develop joint projects for different audiences.

BiblioLED: digital reading and borrowing

The RMBP AMP is part of BiblioLED, the National Public Library Network’s digital public library, managed by DGLAB, offering:

• Free borrowing of e-books and audiobooks.

• Access via a web platform and mobile app.

• A shared national collection and exclusive regional collections for users of inter-municipal and metropolitan networks.

Users registered with AMP municipal libraries can, once their credentials have been validated, freely access the catalogue, request and read digital content.

Get to know the network.