National Library of Portugal, National library in Campo Grande, Lisbon, Portugal

The National Library of Portugal in Campo Grande is a vast repository of written knowledge, housing millions of books, manuscripts, maps, and digital materials. The collection spans from ancient documents to contemporary works, representing centuries of Portuguese intellectual output.

The library began in 1796 when the royal private collection was opened to the public, transforming court holdings into a national institution. Over the following centuries, it grew steadily, accumulating documents that chronicle Portugal's history and cultural evolution.

The library keeps an Archive of Writers' Personal Papers, created as part of its collecting work. Its name changed over time: Royal Public Library of the Court from 1796, National Library of Lisbon from 1836, National Library from 1980, and National Library of Portugal since 2007. It also runs the digital library BND and the shared catalogue PORBASE.

The library is located near Campo Grande and welcomes visitors during regular weekday hours. It is worth checking in advance which sections are accessible to the public, as not all collections may be equally open for browsing or research.

The 1969 building was designed by architect Porfírio Pardal Monteiro, and the move from Chiado to Campo Grande was forced by the growth of collections taken from abolished monasteries and convents. The library has run PORBASE, the national bibliographic database, since the 1980s, and its digital library, the BND, now works with other European institutions.