Abstract:
Descriptive-explanatory study on the libraries of the male monasteries belonging to the Brazilian Benedictine Congregation, through the identification and diagnosis of the current situation of their technical practices and adopted symbolic strategies. The methodological procedures for the study included the analysis of the data related to these libraries, applying a questionnaire that was divided in three sections: 1) identification; 2) organization and administration; 3) intellectual capital. We obtained answers from two institutions, namely, the Abbey of Nossa Senhora da Assunção, in São Paulo (SP) and the Santa Cruz Monastery, located in Brasília (DF). The analysis of the data collected allowed us to observe that the library, although present in the monasteries and reflecting an obedience to the Rule of Saint Benedict – a set of precepts that normalize spaces and relations in that ethos – does not meet many technical criteria, either related to identity matters, instrumental or human resources. The study concludes that the library in these spaces are not sensitive in relation to technical and management issues, which, in addition to guaranteeing a better preservation of the collections, would optimize its use and reduce expenses, whether within the monastic community or in relation to the monasteries constituting the Brazilian Benedictine Congregation.
