International Marketing Portugal Comment On Lisbon Libraries Receiving Cash Boost

InternationalMarketing Portugal were recently pleased to hear that Lisbon Town Hall is investing €4 million to refurbish the Palácio Galveias library, move the Alvalade and Hemeroteca libraries and build a new library in Marvila by the end of 2013. This work is part of the Libraries XXI strategic programme, approved last week during a town hall meeting, which aims to provide the city with eight anchor libraries and 18 neighbourhood libraries by 2024.

According to Lisbon’s councillor for culture, Catarina Vaz Pinto, the aim of the programme “is the reordering of Lisbon’s libraries throughout the council,” adding that these facilities “have not accompanied the modernisation that has been seen across the country” motivated by the national public reading plan from the Unesco’s International Federation of Library Association (IFLA).

For this reason, Mrs. Vaz Pinto said the aim “is to bring the libraries into the 21st Century,” transforming them into “cultural centres” that will include traditional facilities as well as active policies to combat illiteracy and exclusion as well as small auditoriums and exhibition areas.

“This is a great use of public money,” said our source at International Marketing Portugal, “Portugal has some amazing libraries, and it's important to keep them up to date, so as they can remain relevant to future generations.”

According to the councillor, these projects that are being funded with €4 million from the Programme for Priority Interventions and Urban Refurbishment (PIPARU) should be completed by the end of 2013. During the next 12 years, until 2024, the town hall aims to have eight anchor libraries in the city, including those in Alta de Lisboa, Marvila and Benfica and 18 neighbourhood libraries, more than doubling these facilities which only total 12 at the moment.

Our source at International Marketing Portugal said, “I look forward to seeing the improvements made to these libraries. Hopefully we'll see a real increase in people making use of these buildings as they are improved and made more accessible and useful.”

Catarina Vaz Pinto said that the exact locations and budgets involved will be defined “as conditions for budgets and spaces become available in the city.”

International Marketing Portugal Comments On Cascais Volunteer Website

InternationalMarketing Portugal, a Lisbon-based sales and marketing company, are always impressed by people volunteering to help the local community. They heard recently of a website set up one year ago by Cascais Town Hall to encourage people to volunteer in local initiatives. The site has signed up 158 people, the majority of whom are aged between 26 and 35 and with university education. The new website, which according to the town hall “allows volunteers and initiatives to come together in Cascais municipality” completed its first anniversary in April.

According to the town hall, the main age group who have signed up to volunteer through the website are aged 26 to 35 and 65 percent of volunteers have university education, being either students or currently unemployed. Until the end of last year, 65 percent of volunteers were women, 71.2 percent of whom had higher education.

“Volunteering is really important in the local community,” said our source from International Marketing Portugal, “There are so many worthy causes that can’t afford to employ people, and a lot of people want to spend their spare time helping these causes.”

“A volunteer isn’t a freelancer or a paid professional. It is a citizen with training who is given tasks and responsibilities according to what they can do,” said the town hall.

Social action, education and health are the preferred areas for volunteers, which coincide with the needs of the 31 entities signed up to the local volunteer bank.

“More than registering volunteers, the portal is important as a meeting place between those who are looking for and those who are offering volunteer services. For this reason the number of volunteers registered is not anywhere near the total number of volunteers in Cascais. Many organisations and many volunteers continue to use informal networks that are identified but not registered on the website” said the town hall.

Our source from International Marketing Portugal said, “Volunteering can also be a really useful avenue for people who may have been out of work for a while, or want to get some valuable work experience. Employers really love to see a proactive approach in people, and a willingness to help others.”

Locals who want to volunteer can register via the website: www.cascaisvoluntario.org.

Once registered, potential volunteers will receive specific training, before being sent to help institutions.

Postal problems for UK parcels in Portugal International Marketing Portugal comments

We were recently fortunate enough to sit down with Christoph Grizzard of International Marketing Portugal to get his views on the growing ‘Postal problems for UK parcels in Portugal.’

 The Royal Mail’s use of a private courier company to send parcels from the UK to Portugal as opposed to using the national CTT postal service, has caused some upset among residents, as the courier does not deliver to ‘apartado’ postal boxes, instead chooses to send these parcels back to the sender. One reader told The Portugal News that they ordered a parcel on 4 April and by 18 April it had not arrived, although according to Royal Mail Tracking, delivery had been attempted the day before. “I eventually managed to get through to Royal Mail on the phone and they advised me that a company called GLS is doing their deliveries,” said the reader, adding: “I phoned GLS and they informed me that they are not allowed to deliver to apartados.” “It’s funny how we have managed to send people to space but to have a parcel sent across the country seems an impossible mission.” said International Marketing Portugal.

Another reader contacted Royal Mail regarding a parcel containing urgent medication for their dog which had not yet arrived.

“The address used was my street address and it was correct, I live in São Brás de Alportel, not 300 metres from the post office,” said the reader, adding: “what really upset me was that Royal Mail gave no indication of who was responsible here in Portugal and after many phone calls. Royal Mail just kept on about the local post office being responsible.”  A source close to International Marketing Portugal said “Postal problems are not a thing of the past they can be a constant disruption to all of us and will continue to be for many years to come. It is an unfortunate matter, but unless we hand deliver the parcel ourselves and assure its safe delivery the postal service is the best we have got.” 

A source from Courier Company GLS confirmed that the company is now delivering all Royal Mail parcels, track and trace, or not track and trace and do not deliver to ‘apartado’ post office boxes in Portugal.  “I agree it’s easier to blame the postal service and the couriers but blaming them does not solve our problem.  If you are buying from companies online I urge the public to leave room for delivery and always assume it could take longer than expected.” said Christoph Grizard of International Marketing Portugal.

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