The Tomás Pereira Library

 
Library
 

The Macau Ricci Institute (MRI) is an independent non-profit research organization based at the University of Saint Joseph (USJ) in Macau. The MRI owns the Tomás Pereira Library which offers valuable collections in the fields of Macau Studies, Chinese Studies, History of Christianity in China, Jesuit Missions, Interreligious Dialogue, and Cross-cultural Exchange between China and the West. As a partner institution of the University of Saint Joseph, the Macau Ricci Institute and its Tomás Pereira Library collaborates with the USJ University Library by sharing joint collections in two locations (Ilha Verde Campus & Saint Joseph Seminary Campus).

 

MRI Researchers should abide by the following regulations of the USJ Library and the MRI Library:

  • All scholars and researchers from other academic institutions need to register with the Macau Ricci Institute in advance in order to use the collections of the MRI Library and the USJ Library.
  • The registered researchers of MRI should enter the USJ Campuses and Libraries with MRI Researcher Card (digital).
  • Only registered researchers of MRI may borrow USJ librarymaterials.
  • Access to holdings is by appointment / permission only. Generally, appointments are scheduled between 9:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. between Monday to Friday. Please schedule your appointment with MRI Librarian as much ahead of time as possible.
  • All materials (including archives) of MRI will be labelled as “MRI Collection”, which is non-circulating and for use only in the reading room.
  • MRI Researchers who want to borrow resources from the university collection MUST apply for the University Guest Reader permission through MRI Librarian in advance.
  • All materials (folders in boxes, documents in folders) must be kept within the order received. Do not rearrange any materials. All items must be handled with general care. Do not mark, bend, or otherwise alter materials.
  • Laptop computers are allowed.
  • Do not remove any items from their protective housing. The unauthorized removal of library material without a proper check-out procedure is regarded as a serious offense.
  • Both MRI Collections and USJ Collections are only provided for the academic research, and study of researchers, staffs and students. They shall not be used for any commercial purposes.
  • Researchers who intend to publish a reproduction of the collections and archives material agree to obtain permission prior to publication from the Institute and from all holders of copyrights. The researcher agrees to accept full responsibility for complying with laws enacted to protect copyrights and privacy rights.
  • All handling instructions provided by the staff must be followed faithfully.
  • Failure to follow these policies will result in loss of access to all collections and archives materials.
 

Book Donations

  • The Macau Ricci Institute welcomes donation of books and other materials especially the collections about Jesuit History, Christian Missions in China, Macau Studies and Chinese Studies in general. Once received, the collection(s) will be owned by the Institute. The library reserves the right to determine their retention and processing, or, when a title is a duplicate or does not meet thematic criteria of the library, their disposal in an appropriate manner. The library does not keep personal collections for subsequent retrieval.
 

Becoming MRI Academic Researchers

  • All researchers need to complete an online registration form and provide one form of valid photographic identification (e.g., Copy of ID card / passport, and one recent personal photo) via the below QR Code / link in order to apply for a research identification card. For the guidelines of MRI Academic Researcher registration please refer to the Appendix I.
    • Registering as MRI Academic Researcher:
    • For PRC region users:Click Here
    • For users from other regions:Click Here
  • For more registration details, please contact the Librarian of the MRI Library, Mrs. Sofia Sou at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / contact no.: +853 2853 2536.
 
 

APPENDIX I:

MRI Researcher Identification Card Requirements

  • When you come to the Macau Ricci Institute Library (MRI Library) to look at records, you will be issued a digital Researcher Identification Card. Your Researcher Identification Card must be presented during each research visit.
 

How to obtain your MRI Researcher Identification Card?

  • MRI Researcher Identification Cards are only issued when you are doing research in the MRI Library.
  • Please do not come in advance of your research visit solely to get a Researcher Identification Card.
 

To obtain the MRI Researcher Identification Card, an applicant must:

  • Present a valid picture identification document such as passport, identification card etc. A current school identification card will also be accepted.
  • Complete a short online form giving full name, contact email and telephone number.
  • View a short Researcher Orientation presentation emphasizing the safe handling of records and explaining the most basic research procedures, responsibilities, and rules.
  • The registration process can be started online from home. New researchers should complete the below online application form in advance.
  • Application will be approved within 3-5 working days. The Researcher Identification Card will be issued within 5-7 working days, and will be sent to the applicant’s registered email.
 

Renewing or replacing your Researcher Identification Card

  • Your Researcher Identification Card will be valid for one year.
  • You may renew your Researcher Identification Card up to 30 days before the expiration date. If your Researcher Identification Card has already expired, please contact the Librarian of the MRI Library at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
  • If you forget or lose your Researcher Identification Card, please contact the Librarian of the MRI Library at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
    • Sample of the MRI Researcher Identification Card
    • MRI Researcher Identification Card
 
 

In the aftermath of the catastrophe of the August 23rd, 2017 hurricane ‘Hato’, people have lost their love ones, their home, and their business. Time after time, nature has taught us the importance of value, however, we highly believe and have faith that all the Macanese can overcome the sorrow and despondency. The whole of Macau is still in recovery in all aspect.

The Macau Ricci Institute library, Tomás Pereira Library, has lost all precious book collections while typhoon ‘Hato’ wreaked havoc throughout the city, around 25,000 books and journals in Religion, Philosophy, History, Language and more, in both Chinese and English have been destroyed by the storm. To rebuild our library which was one of the best research libraries of religion, history and culture in Macau and had so much influence on the cultural and academic world, it requires a precise planning to move forward our rebuilding mission with efficiency.

 

Our primary goal is to get our library back in normal operational state. Therefore, the below proposal will serve as a library rebuild guideline for the next five years (2018-2022).

The Macau Ricci Institute library has been named after Fr. Tomás Pereira, S.J. (1645-1708). Father Pereira was a missionary in Beijing and a friend of the infamous Qing dynasty emperor Kang Xi (1662-1723). It is an inseparable part of the Macau Ricci Institute, to be an important role in the society to collect all valuable collections and reference books in Jesuits, Philosophy, Religion and Macau History. The library donated approximately 500 invaluable ancient books about the old Macau in 1940s, cultural exchange, literature and Jesuits missionary to Instituto Cultural (IC) in June 2017. Unfortunately, 11,341 Chinese books or series, 8,296 Western books, and 355 periodicals (201 Chinese and 154 Western titles) of our library are damaged by ‘Hato’ in August and the library was closed due to the lack of ideal place for rebuilding. We have lost approximately MOP 15,000,000 of books value.

 

After the typhoon, and under the leadership of Fr. Stephan Rothlin, we have relocated our office at St. Joseph Seminary (5 Largo de St. Agostinho Macau, next to the Ho-Tung library) and the library at University of Saint Joseph, a peaceful and sacred place for a brand-new beginning. We are grateful to have the support of the Bishop of Macau, Fr. Stephen Lee Bun Sang, who helped the Macau Ricci Institute immensely by providing us a space for our office and have the opportunity to collaborate with the University of Saint Joseph, a spacious and quiet place to rebuild our library. We are also encouraged to hold our forums and symposia inside the St. Joseph Seminary. In fact, we have already hosted the 2017 MRI International Symposium successfully at the Grand Hall of the seminary along with equally successful forums since November 2017. Our goal is to rebuild our library gradually in 5 years, to make the library re-open to the public as soon as possible and to promote our library to the public and universities.