Expert: Edison - 10/3/2003

Question
Hi Edison,

I'm a writer, and I'm planning to spend some time in Sao Paulo--living with a Brazilian woman I met online--in the near future.  

Can you give me any idea how easy it will be to access published books in English through libraries while I'm there?  Do the public libraries offer interlibrary loan privileges?  Also, is it possible to get a card at the University of Sao Paulo, or any other college, and might they be persuaded to allow me to have interlibrary loan privileges?  (I should mention that my friend's uncle is a well-known professor, and might have some connections with the USP

I would be grateful for any information or advice you can offer.

Best,
Michael

Answer
Hello Michael,

I don't know if I can help you a lot, since I have been living in US for the last 12 years and outside of a university in Brazil for 20 years.

However, Sao Paulo is a big city and has a lot of American companies and schools, and the best Brazilian universities, with most of their faculties educated abroad.

I think you can many books in English in Brazil, although the most recently published books would be a little harder to get. Also, I would be very difficult to suggest a library in Brazil to buy a good abroad for you. They just don't have the money.  Another option would be to register as a part-time student a USP. The public schools in Brazil are free.

Your best chance of interlibrary load would be through your contact at USP. I think your friend's uncle would be able to help you. I don't know if there are programs to get interlibrary loans between Brazil and other countries.

The English site of USP is: http://www2.usp.br/publishing/insite.cgi?template=index_en

Good luck and enjoy you time in Brazil.

Edison