Users change libraries The experience of public libraries in Barcelona province A space for the future - library buildings in the 21st century

Our experience: Barcelona province The public library network Library buildings progress Library services and library building evaluation Users change libraries

Our experience: Barcelona province

Barcelona province Our experience: Barcelona province 7,718 square kilometres 4,8 million inhabitants 311 municipalities 204 fewer than 5,000 inhabitants 10% have a population of over 20,000 inhabitants

Barcelona province: the municipalities Our experience: Barcelona province Local administration manages only 13% of public resources 30% of the local resources are for non-compulsory duties

Diputació de Barcelona: a supralocal administration Our experience: Barcelona province To ensure the municipalities are able to fulfil their functions To guarantee territorial balance To provide financial and technical assistance and cooperation in areas under municipal control Networking

The Library service Our experience: Barcelona province To act as an advisory service for town councils in setting up and maintaining their libraries To ensure that municipalities in the province efficiently assume responsibility for establishing and maintaining their libraries

The library service Our experience: Barcelona province The library as a municipal service Map, priorities and standards Networking and cooperation services from the Diputació de Barcelona for libraries and councils Agreements through a contract- programme

The library service. Central support and networking Our experience: Barcelona province Grants for construction and facilities Consultation and process tracking (project and works) Initial collection ICT

The library service. Central support and networking Our experience: Barcelona province Basic collection selection, acquisition and archiving Union catalogue and interlibrary loan service Information technology programme Training plans Library staff. Support staff

The library service. Central support and networking Our experience: Barcelona province Statistics and service evaluation Materials for libraries and librarians Activities to promote reading User training plans External communication and promotion

The public library network 145 public libraries and 8 mobile libraries, networking 4,3 million inhabitants with library service 17% of the population with library card all in the union catalogue all with public Internet access

Library use and users The public library network 9,080,399 users (114 day/library) 5,673,962 loans (87 loans day/library) 588,013 Internet users 2,1 users per inhabitant 1,31 loans per inhabitant 24% use loan service

Library buildings progress Library buildings progress ( ) Little political conviction Difficulties in explaining the “new” model (students-citizens) Difficulties in applying standards Intervention in heritage buildings

Library buildings progress Library buildings progress ( ) From 98 public libraries to 112 From 1 mobile library to 2 From 21,973 m 2 to 45,417 m 2 15/1 new public libraries and 18/1 move to a new building

Library buildings progress Library buildings progress ( ) From 112 public libraries to 145 From 2 mobile libraries to 8 From 45,417 m 2 to 105,100 m 2 36 new public libraries and 24 move to a new building

Library buildings progress Library buildings progress ( ) Increased political support “Expert” model From standards to local programmes - identifying needs ICT: new services, new spaces New standards, more m 2 Rethinking the spaces and services

Library services and library building evaluation Qualitative citizen´s study (1999)- The spaces are highly regarded (large, well lit and pleasant). But many still lack m 2. There is a call for spaces to be segregated according to use: a silent space for studying and another for talking

Library services and library building evaluation Quantitative citizen’s study (2000)- Libraries evaluated as scoring 7,3 out of 10. The least appreciated aspect is the lack of segregation according to use. 1,6 in 5 say libraries are dark and uncomfortable

Library services and library building evaluation User satisfaction survey (2001). The global evaluation score is 7,63 out of 10 Design of the space achieves a score of 7,96. Signage scores 7,59. Comfort of chairs and tables scores 7,47

Library services and library building evaluation 81,8% think the library is in a central place It does not take more than 15 minutes for 68% to walk to the library 75% walk to the library

Users change libraries new spaces new users new services new spaces more and different users new needs

Users change libraries More users Different users New “library” - meeting place, information centre, cultural agent and support for the educational process More space and with different requirements chilias.diba.es

Users with library card Users change libraries Of users with library cards, 51% are between 14 and 24 years of age. The average is 27 years Those whose main activity is studying represent only 44% of users 68,7% with a fairly high level of education

Users with library card Users change libraries Users read 12,37 books per year 82,2% have a computer at home 48,5 say they have Internet connection

The public library as a meeting place Users change libraries Hall Informal spaces Periodicals area More “flexible” Internet service Bar Meeting rooms

The public library as a local information centre Users change libraries Information service area Access to information resources via the Internet More “silent” places Study and consultation spaces

The public library as a cultural centre Users change libraries Multi-purpose hall Music area Special collection - store area Incorporation within the building of other municipal/cultural services (archive, museum, exhibition halls)

The public library as an institution to promote reading Users change libraries Informal spaces for children Multi-purpose spaces associated with the children´s areas and the adults areas (workshops) Store rooms - associated with the publishing situation in Spain

The public library as a lifelong learning centre Users change libraries Multimedia rooms, also for user training Study halls which are independent from the library but associated with it Quieter public work spaces

The key to success Users change libraries New spaces with new requisites are needed for different users with different needs Open spaces - work spaces Many changes associated with “new” library functions Physical library - Virtual library

Diputació de Barcelona library service A place for the future - library buildings in the 21st. century Comte d’Urgell, Barcelona Tel Fax web: Assumpta Bailac