With the goal of promoting free access to books and encouraging reading habits, the “ Fundação MEO ” continues its project to repurpose old telephone booths, giving them a new mission to serve the communities. Located in Gouveia, at Praça de S. Pedro, the renovated “Reading Booth” remains available free of charge to residents and visitors, facilitating book exchanges and establishing itself as a cultural gathering place in the city center.
Developed in partnership with the Gouveia City Council and the Escola Velha Teatro de Gouveia, this initiative reflects the commitment of the Portuguese Telecommunications Company ( Fundação MEO ) to promoting culture, education, and social inclusion, while balancing the preservation of the country’s telecommunications heritage with the creation of value for local communities and their residents.
Gouveia’s “Reading Booth” is the fifth to be reopened by Fundação MEO in 2026, following renovations carried out in Lisbon, Porto, Oliveira de Azeméis, and Benavente. The initiative will continue to expand across different regions of the country, with new reopenings already planned through the end of the year.
"Phone booths have left their mark on generations and hold a special place in the collective memory of the Portuguese people. Reinventing this infrastructure means returning these spaces to the community, now with a new mission: to promote reading, bring people closer to culture, and create meeting places accessible to everyone," emphasizes Carolina Pita Negrão, Director of Fundação MEO.
In addition to serving as a space for reading and sharing books, the new Reading Booths feature a revamped design, a contemporary look, and incorporate new features, including:
• Digital content accessible via QR code;
• An Instagram-worthy wall that encourages sharing;
• A space dedicated to children;
• Postcards available to take or leave;
• A mailbox for positive messages, inviting all visitors to read, write, share, and leave a message for the community.
Through this initiative, the MEO Foundation reinforces its commitment to promoting literacy and cultural inclusion, as well as to developing community-based projects that contribute to the cultural revitalization of local communities.