Fr. Júlio Fragata, SJ Library

The history of the Fr. Júlio Fragata, SJ Library of Universidade Católica Portuguesa (UCP) intertwines with the recent history of the Society of Jesus in Braga.

With the creation in 1934 of the Beato Miguel de Carvalho Institute of Philosophy, which would later become the Pontifical Faculty, and then the Faculty of Philosophy (the first Faculty of UCP), this Library began to integrate the donations of various colleges of the Society of Jesus. The bibliographic collection has been enriched especially since 1945  – with the beginning of the publication of the Portuguese Journal of Philosophy –, through not only numerous exchanges and regular reception of books for review, but also through multiple offers from individuals, and new acquisitions, carefully adjusted to the needs of the academic community.

Its documentary collection, endowed with a considerable variety of documents and the most diverse types of support (monographs, periodicals and other materials), is formed by two main collections, the General and the Reserved. The latter includes the scientific production of theses, reports and academic dissertations of the Faculty and the ancient book collection, with volumes dated from the sixteenth to the early nineteenth century. Rare copies, first editions, autographed works, and books with out-of-print editions have also been the subject of careful stowing; the Migne and the Corpus Christianorum collections are also organized in a special section.

While maintaining a prominent place in the original building, the Library has expanded its area by two more floors and has already occupied the former classrooms and corridors of the former Faculty of Philosophy. Considered one of the most valuable nationally in the area of ​​Philosophy, the Library of the Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences now brings together a vast collection of works from various fields of knowledge: Philosophy, Literature, Linguistics, Psychology, Religion, Theology, Social Sciences, Communication Sciences, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Applied Sciences, Medicine, Arts, Sports, Geography, History, Tourism, Music and Generalities.