The International Institute of Macau (IIM) last night inaugurated its newly renovated library Biblioteca Comendador Joaquim Morais Alves at its headquarters on Rua de Berlim (栢林街).
The renovated library will officially open on November 10, after which its visitors can browse a vast collection of books in three languages (Chinese, Portuguese, and English) from Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Its collection of books cover works on Macau, the Chinese mainland, Portuguese-speaking countries (PSCs), and Southeast Asia.
Among the highlights of the newly upgraded library are a public service counter, a spacious reading and research area, a “Little Reader Corner” that features a variety of children’s books that were joint projects between the institute and organisations such as the Macau-based trilingual publishing house Mandarina Books.
Moreover, the institute’s gallery corridor has also been renovated, now being an exhibition space that is currently hosting an exhibition dedicated to the history and development of Macau’s oldest existing Portuguese-language newspaper that is still published regularly: O Clarim.
The weekly trilingual newspaper of the Catholic Diocese of Macau is the recipient of IIM’s Prémio Identidade (Identity Award), which was announced in June.
The award presentation event was held prior to the library’s inauguration. According to an IIM statement in 2024, the prize was established to honour entities that, through their actions, work, and exemplary efforts, have actively and meaningfully contributed to the strengthening, preservation, and promotion of Macau’s identity.
Among the guests and representatives attending both the prize presentation and the library’s inauguration last night were IIM President of the Board of Directors Jorge Rangel, President of IIM’s General Meeting Edith Silva, Consul General of Portugal in Macau and Hong Kong Alexandre Leitão, Instituto Português do Oriente’s (IPOR) Director Patrícia Quaresma, and O Clarim Director Eduardo Emilio Aguero, SCJ.
Officiating guests and representatives including the International Institute of Macau’s (IIM) President of the Board of Directors Jorge Rangel (third from right), President of IIM’s General Meeting Edith Silva (fourth from left), and Portuguese Consul-General in Macau and Hong Kong Alexandre Leitão (third from left) prepare to cut the ribbon at yesterday’s inauguration of the IIM library. – Photos: Rui Pastorin
International Institute of Macau’s (IIM) President of the Board of Directors Jorge Rangel (standing, second from right) addresses yesterday’s attendees of the prize presentation ceremony as O Clarim Director Eduardo Emilio Aguero, SCJ (standing, second from left), along with other guests and representatives, look on.
