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Within a timeframe of approximately two centuries, marked by the vicissitudes inherent to Portugal's historical evolution, where the political dimension took precedence over cultural achievements, from 1796 to 1976, the National Library was managed by 18 directors, within 21 different administrations, each with their own varying durations and projects. The academic background and professional experience of some of the individuals at the foreground of the country's largest and most important library were quite distinct.
It is challenging and perhaps less relevant to identify a common ideological and political framework, particularly in view of the various political regimes that spanned this period. In contrast, there was a notable academic inclination towards literary, bibliophilic, and historical studies, coupled with public or political roles, such as in the case of teachers, MPs and journalists. This is in line with the public nature that was inherent to the library's constitution from the very start, influenced by similar institutions that had emerged in Enlightenment Europe, the cultural context that fostered these initiatives.
Nonetheless, it is worth noting that the deepest roots of the National Library werein the creation of the Real Mesa Censória [Royal Censorship Board] in 1768. This official institution was established to ensure the censorship of books while simultaneously serving as a repository for the libraries of the extinguished Society of Jesus, comprising over 60,000 volumes, and managing the literary subsidy to fund education. In this endeavour, the figure of Friar Manuel do Cenáculo Villas Boas is noteworthy. He combined his role as president of the Royal Censorship Board (1770-1777) with literary patronage. His efforts in promoting libraries led Raúl Proença to compare him to A. Carnegie, a prominent American figure of the early 20th century.
With the dissolution of the Royal Censorship Board, the literary institution gained autonomy, leading to the creation of the Royal Public Library of the Court on 29 February 1796, during the reign of Queen Mary I, under the tutelage of António Ribeiro dos Santos, a law graduate and renowned bibliophile, who had gained experience in organising the University of Coimbra Library. In a sense, it may be said that the public dimension of the National Library managed to override the censorship strand of the reading material made available to a broader audience. During this period, there were other similar libraries, such as the British Library (founded in 1700), the Bibliothèque Nationale de France (declared national property in 1792), and the National Library of Hungary (1802).
