Fernando Neves

This special section represents the continuing of a project focused on cultural heritage of the agents involved in book production, circulation, and reception. Starting from the his­tory and the archives of publishing houses, collectors, bibliophiles and / or broadcasters, both the analytical introduction and the three contributions invoke the memory of these specialized agents, and discuss the threats that hang over this rich cultural heritage and offer possible solutions. Best practices from various countries impose an urgent reflection for the Portuguese context: that of concrete inter-institutional cooperation ways to ensure the filing, treatment and dissemination of a central dimension of the collective heritage and memory. The relevance of this issue is to be inextricably linked to sustainable recognition of the publishers collections’ heritage and historical status (and of other agents connected to the book) as living spaces for the construction of print culture and the history of books and publishing. The statements referred to are from Carlos da Veiga Ferreira, Fernando Paulouro Neves and Francisco Pedro Lyon de Castro.