national assessment of the national network

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NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF THE NATIONAL NETWORK OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES 1*

Ministry of Culture of ColombiaMariana Garcés Córdoba MinisterMaría Claudia López SorzanoDeputy MinisterEnzo Rafael ArizaGeneral Secretary

National Library of ColombiaConsuelo Gaitán GaitánDirectorSilvia Mora SierraNational Reading and Writing Plan ManagerSandra Suescún Barrera Group of Public Libraries Coordinator

Project Use and Appropriation of ICT in the National Network of Public LibrariesAndrea López Naranjo Director Lina María Cruz SilvaImpact Evaluation Specialist

Diego Merizalde ArboledaPlanning and Monitoring Specialist

Jorge Andrés Cortés CastellanosAdministrative Coordinator

Henry García GaviriaAdvocacy Specialist

NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF THE NATIONAL NETWORK OF PUBLIC LIBRARIESMinistry of Culture, Republic of Colombia, National Library of Colombia, Bogotá, December 2014

It is absolutely prohibited to completely or partially reproduce this content in any printed or digital means without explicit and formal authorization from the National Library of Colombia

Project Use and appropriation of ICT in the National Network of Public LibrariesAssessment Coordination Agricultural Assessments International Corporation (AAIC)Assessment development Regional Center for the Promotion of the Book in Latin America and the CaribbeanAssessment Analysis Andrea Descans CastroDesign and layoutDiego Merizalde Arboleda, Milton Ramírez, Henry García Gaviria,Wilson Andrés Ríos Álvarez, DLB Group, Rafael Manosalva, Felipe RochaPhotographyPublicaciones VIDPrepress and PrintingPrinted in Colombia © 2014

* The National Network of Public Libraries of Colombia (NNPL) is composed by the state public libraries, which are grouped in departments, districts, and municipalities networks. Public libraries are departmental, of districts, municipal, rural, community councils and indigenous reserves.

The content of this publication (in text and image) is reserved, as provided in the Constitution and the Law. Photographs within this publication illustrate and document the themes addressed in the text; therefore they are not used for commercial or similar purposes, but in order to disseminate the results of a national study.

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Main reading room

Municipal Public Library Ramón Correa Mejía

Pereira (Risaralda)


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Child user

Municipal Public Library

Toca, Boyacá


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Contents

Overview 8

Introduction 14

General Aspects 16Coverage 18Physical Area 20Users 22Borrowing Items 23Collections 24Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) 25Personnel of the library 30An International Comparative View 36

Actual and Potential Users 40Information needs 42Main information needs and interests 44Perceptions of actual and potential users 48

Use of information and communicationtechnologies in public libraries for development 50

Project Use and appropriation of ICT in public libraries 60Context 60Pilot Description 62Participating libraries 66Pilot outcomes 68


8

Overview

Between September 2011 and May 2014, the Ministry of Culture of Colombia

developed the first phase of the Project “Use and Appropriation of ICT in the

National Network of Public Libraries”, hereafter NNPL, within the framework

of the National Plan of Reading and Writing “Reading is My Story”, in order

to contribute to the generation of greater and better living opportunities for the

people, through the access to the Information and Communications Technologies

from Public Libraries.

With a grant of USD 4.2 M, out of which USD 3.2 M were contributed by the

initiative of Global Libraries of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the result of the

first phase of the Project was the designing of a proposal for its implementation

at the national level 1, which included the knowledge acquired in pilot program

in 25 public libraries at the national level and from the national assessment

of the NNPL. This document presents, for the knowledge of the cultural and

librarian sector of the country, the data obtained from such assessment, in a

summary prepared by the Regional Centre for the Promotion of the Book in Latin

America and the Caribbean.

1 The National Network of Public Libraries of Colombia (NNPL) is composed by the state public libraries, which are grouped in departments, districts, and municipalities networks. Public libraries are departmental, of districts, municipal, rural, community councils and indigenous reserves.


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Children users


Nimaima, Cundinamarca


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This document contains the main findings of the national assessment of NNPL,

under the Project “Use and appropriation of Information and Communications

Technology (ICT)”.

The assessment aimed to have a baseline of the physical and technological

conditions of public libraries for the definition of plans of technological provision

and physical infrastructure adequacy of public libraries; to know aspects

related with librarians and services provided by libraries, and identify possible

services to be implemented in public libraries of the country, starting from the

acknowledgment of the information needs of users and non users’ communities,

and to generate action to contribute to improve the image of public libraries,

based on the perception thereof.

The study, which field work was performed by Agricultural Assessments

International Corporation (AAIC), between July and September of 2013,

covered 98% of the public libraries ascribed to NNPL, and applied three

information collection instruments addressed to public libraries, potential users

and current users thereof. The analysis and summary of the final data was

commissioned to the Regional Center for Book Promotion in Latin America and

the Caribbean (Cerlalc-Unesco). The document consists of three parts. In the

first part, a characterization of public libraries is done from the library structure,

location, attributes, staffing, library services and library staff, with a comparative

description of some indicators in Colombia with respect to the international

context; the second part makes the analysis of the information needs of actual

and potential 2 users of public libraries, and at the end, is studied the use of ICT

in libraries for the development.2 Actual users correspond to people that assure having used the library in the last year. Potential users are equivalent to the

people who manifested they had not used the library in the last year.

Executive SummaryAs a supplement to the summary, data of libraries participating in the pilot were

only included in the analyses of national coverage, physical area, technological

resources and amount of people working in a library. The National Library was

not included in this overview due to its specific conditions of access and to the

collections it houses.

Some findings are summarized below:

• The public state libraries’ assessment carried out in 2013, surveyed

1302 libraries, throughout the national territory, of the 1404 libraries

registered in the NNPL as of June, 2013 3. The assessment records an

average of 40 libraries per departmental territorial entity. More than half

of the libraries are concentrated in six departments (Antioquia, Boyacá,

Cundinamarca, Valle, Santander and Bogotá); these departments

lodge 52% of the national population.

• In 2013, there was a public library per each 35.509 inhabitants in

Colombia. This indicator is similar to that of other countries.

• The total built area in the state public libraries infrastructure is 354.930

square meters, which corresponds to an average size of 267 square

meters per library. 61% of surveyed libraries share their physical space

with other entities. Regarding access to main public services, public

libraries in Colombia have a connection to electric energy in 99%;

aqueduct in 86%; sewerage in 82%, and cleanliness in 99%. The

connection to telephone services is notoriously lower, 29%.

3 Out of 1404 libraries registered in NNPL as of June, 2013, 77 libraries were not surveyed because 60 of them were found closed, 14 did not exist, and 3 were not visited due to public order. Furthermore, 25 public libraries of the pilot carried out in the framework of the planning of the project of Use and Appropriation of ICT were excluded. The above for a total of 1302 public libraries surveyed.


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Youth users

Municipal Public Library Su Señoría Felipe Santiago Cuervo

Ciénega, Boyacá


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• Regarding the staff responsible for the provision of library services, the

survey shows a total of 2,868 people linked to the library personnel

(68% female and 32% male). 72.5% of libraries are served by a

person who is part of the library staff. In line with the concentration

of the population at the nation level, 54% of the total personnel linked

concentrates in Antioquia, Bogotá, Valle, Cundinamarca and Boyacá.

In accordance with the concentration of the population at the national

level, 54% of the entire personnel concentrate in Antioquia, Bogotá,

Valle, Cundinamarca, Boyacá and Santander.

• In relation with the time in the position of people responsible for the library,

the assessment shows low seniority and therefore low permanence and

continuity: 51% has less than two years in the library. It is worth to state

that 51% of staff responsible of libraries works under service provision

orders or agreements. Only 44% of librarians have been appointed in

the staff. The remaining 4% is hired under a different system.

• Regarding the interests of real users and the identification and valuation

of some information subjects, 52,6% stated as very important the

“studies” (accomplish tasks), and 54.9% pointed out “entertainment”

as important. Other well rated topics that would help to assess the

library collections are health, education, welfare and culture. These

results encourage to think that is school population or population under

academic training process, what promotes the design strategies,

implementation and strengthening of communication skills of students

and literacy skills taught in educational institutions.

• Courses, trainings, workshops, free Internet and computers availability

are activities and conditions that would encourage potential users to

attend to a public library. For real users, on their turn, learning, knowledge,

research and reading are the main reasons to attend to public libraries.

• The total number of items borrowed in the last year, is estimated in

2 million volumes. Only 7% of state public libraries have a digital

catalogue of their collections.

• The study identifies 14.345 computers (PCs and laptops) available in

public libraries (an average of 11 devices per library). Of this total,

90% is working. Among computers that work, 62% have Internet

access, and 55% are computers for public and shared use; in other

words, intended for users, and for activities related to the administration

of the library.

• Internet service is found in 60.5% of public libraries in the Network.

The speed of the Internet connection is relatively low. Only 22% of

connected libraries have a speed above 4 megabytes. However it is

noteworthy that 16% of respondents (128 libraries) declared to ignore

the bandwidth of the network access.

• The annual average of users using the service of external borrowing in

each department is 41.392. The monthly average number of visitors to

the total public libraries in the Network is 1.803.060.

• The results of the survey made between actual and potential users of

public libraries show that actual users are, to a greater extent, young

people between 12 and 17 years old (49,8%) and between 18 and

25 years (19%), concentrated – in almost 95% – in the socio economic

levels 1, 2 and 3. Regarding the potential population, age distribution

changes, since 64.5% of respondents are over 26 years.

• According to the perception of librarians, users groups mostly attending

more to the library are those in school age, which demands from

libraries a redefinition of collections, types of services, schedules, needs

of support staff and technological equipment, according to the needs of

another type of population, to stimulate their attendance.


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• The public library is a privileged place for the contact of the population

with Information and Communications Technologies (ICT). 44% of

real users connect to Internet in the library, which makes it the main

connection place, above home and the access centers. In the group of

real users, only 9% does not have access to Internet. This contrasts with

the group of potential users: 37% said not to have access to Internet.

• Availability of computers to have access to Internet constitutes an

important added value within the public library. 75% of the users go

to the public libraries having access to Internet and Computers for

public use. Besides, the service rating is directly correlated both with

availability in amount of devices as with the network access quality.

• Twelve of every 100 real users declared that their first contact with

Internet was at a public library. Availability of ICT in most libraries of

the NNPL has motivated its use in activities that are complementary to

academic performance. More than have of the responses assure that the

most frequent activities carried out in the library, using ICT, are referred

to reading newspapers and magazines (61%); interacting with parents

and friends, through email and social networks (61%), and create

contents to share (51%). To a lesser extent, but equally important, real

users perform commercial transactions, look for work, and participate in

governmental processes or services (request appointments, download

or fill out forms, request certificates, etc.).

• The expectations of use of ICT in the public library by potential users are

concentrated, to a high degree, in similar activities to those performed

by actual users. It is noteworthy that more than 80% of potential users

would use ICT for recreation and communication purposes. P. L. Ramiro Moreno (Baranoa, Atlántico)


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Introduction

In the last years, Colombia has strengthened public policies addressed to the

development of the library system. They have turned into an integral part of

the government agenda, with the purpose of increasing reading and writing

levels in the country and helping the generation of opportunities that enable

people to improve their living conditions. In the recent past, the issue of the

General Law of Culture (397 of 1997); Conpes Document 3162, 2002,

“Guidelines for the Sustainability of National Plan of Reading and Libraries”

2001-2010”; Document Conpes 3222 in 2003, “Guidelines of the National

Plan for Reading and Libraries”, and Law 1379 of 2010: “Public Libraries Act”

and its consequent implementation have laid the foundations for sustainability

and growth strategy of public libraries in Colombia.

Since 2010, upon the implementation of the National Plan of Reading and

Writing “Reading is my story” (PNLE as per wording in Spanish), the promotion

of reading and public libraries has been the focus of action of the Ministry

of Culture of Colombia. Resulting from this emphasis, a significant amount of

resources has been allocated to strengthen the libraries’ collections, terms of

connectivity and training of library staff in the libraries of the country.

Within this Framework is located the Project “Use and Appropriation of ICT

in the NNPL” which looks to contribute the increase of the reading index in

the country, through access to technology from the public libraries, and to

demonstrate that libraries are current, necessary and fundamental places for the

achievement of a reading, educated and prosperous society.

The assessment was performed in 98% of libraries ascribed to the NNPL, and it

also furthered a sampling for actual and potential users of public libraries where

the needs, interests and uses of offered services by the NNPL were collected.

As the overview complement, data of libraries participating in the pilot, were

only included in the analyses of national coverage, physical area, technological

supplies and amount of people working at a library.


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Child user

Cultural Center and Public Library León de Greiff

Marsella, Risaralda


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General Aspects

The purpose of this section is to provide an overview of the current situation

of the NNPL in Colombia, from its structure, departmental location, attributes,

manning, equipment, library services and library staff. It also includes a

comparative description of some indicators of Colombia in the international context.


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Child participating in the project “Fostering reading”


Marsella, Risaralda


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Coverage

Main indicators of Public Libraries in some departments 4

Table 1/ Colombia / 2013

DepartmentsNumber of

libraries in the NNPL

NNPL coverage Index 4

Number of libraries in

Compensation Funds Network

Number of libraries in the Banco de La República Network

Total public libraries

Number of inhabitants per

library

Number of libraries per each 100.000

inhabitants

Antioquia 154 98% 16 170 37.059 2,7

Bogotá, D.C. 19 100% 9 1 29 264.633 0,4

Bolívar 67 100% 1 1 69 29.697 3,4

Boyacá 124 98% 2 1 127 10.022 10,0

Caldas 40 100% 2 1 43 22.886 4,4

Cauca 55 100% 1 1 57 23.767 4,2

Córdoba 34 97% 1 35 47.373 2,1

Cundinamarca 143 99% 1 1 145 17.919 5,6

Huila 38 100% 2 1 41 27.471 3,6

Nariño 77 100% 2 79 21.542 4,6

Norte de Santander 50 98% 2 52 25.623 3,9

Risaralda 23 100% 3 1 27 34.862 2,9

Santander 93 98% 3 96 21.260 4,7

Tolima 68 98% 4 2 74 18.921 5,3

Valle del Cauca 118 100% 17 1 136 33.239 3,0

Remaining 301 99% 12 8 321 31.671 3,2

Total 1.404 99% 76 21 1.501 31.393 3,2

Source: AAIC / Estimations: Cerlalc

4 The coverage index represents the amount of municipalities with NNPL libraries per department. The number of inhabitants per library and the number of libraries per 100.000 inhabitants includes libraries of the Family Compensation Fund and the Banco de la República Network.

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Overall, growth in coverage in the public library system in Colombia 5 is evident.

The coverage ratio (percentage of municipalities with public library) increased

from 73% in 2002 to 99% in 2013. Outstanding cases of growth in coverage

between 2002 and 2013 are in departments that in 2002 recorded average

coverage per municipality below the national average, as it was the case

of Casanare, Nariño, Vaupés and Vichada, among others. This reflects the

objectives of the government’s actions in terms of giving priority to investment in

areas with major deficiencies in the library infrastructure.

5 With the aim of showing the progress of the library system as a whole for the national and departmental coverage indicator, data of libraries of the National Bank Network and the Family compensation fund network esa included.

Coverage index in some departments Table 2/ Colombia / 2002-2013

Departaments Coveragerate per municipality 2002

Coveragerate per municipality 2013

Amazonas 50% 50%

Boyacá 62% 98%

Casanare 26% 100%

Chocó 32% 97%

Cundinamarca 57% 99%

Guajira 67% 100%

Magdalena 63% 100%

Nariño 44% 100%

San Andrés 50% 100%

Santander 55% 98%

Sucre 36% 96%

Vaupés 33% 100%

Vichada 25% 100%


Comparing the results of the assessment of 2013 with the results of 2002, and

including, in addition to libraries of the NNPL, the Network of Compensation

Funds and Libraries of the Network of Banco de la República, in 2013 the

number of public libraries increased to 1.501 institutions, located in 1.093

municipalities, which implies an increase of 20% in libraries and an increase

of 26% in coverage. In 2002, 1.194 public libraries were identified in 798

municipalities, which represented a national coverage per municipalities of

73% (Ministry of Culture, Ministry of National Education, Planning National

Department, 2003).

P. L. Abraham Ayala (Istmina, Chocó)

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Physical Area

The surface of national libraries is 701.367 square meters, which gives an average size of 728 square meters per library. Regarding the built area 6, the study

identifies a total of 355 thousand square meters which represents an average rate of 267 square meters per public library. The six departments concentrating the

highest number of public libraries (Antioquia, Boyacá, Cundinamarca, Valle, Santander and Bogotá) are also the greater part of the built area (63%).

Bogotá, Meta and Antioquia record in average greater areas in relation with the remaining departments.

Main indicators of the physical area of the National Network of Public Libraries in some departmentsTable 3 / Colombia /2013

DepartamentosTotal area in m2 of libraries by department

Built area in m2 of libraries by department*

Total area in m2 per library by department*

Built area in m2 per library by department*

Total area in m2 per 10.000 inhabitants by department

Built area in m2 per 10.000 inhabitants by department*

Antioquia 93.034 55.910 660 397 148 89

Bogotá, D.C. 114.569 52.762 5.728 2.638 149 69

Bolívar 14.529 8.548 246 145 71 42

Boyacá 37.217 23.026 313 193 292 181

Cesar 12.118 7.875 466 303 121 78

Cundinamarca 69.916 35.330 530 270 269 136

Huila 9.573 8.756 274 250 85 78

Meta 64.758 12.864 2.159 444 700 139

Nariño 10.374 10.251 140 140 61 60

Santander 39.507 22.791 395 230 194 112

Tolima 28.614 17.013 440 262 204 122

Valle del Cauca 50.603 35. 217 496 345 112 78

Remaining 156.425 64.587 173 72 108 45

Total 701.237 354.930 528 267 149 75

Source: AAIC / Estimations: Cerlalc *The indicator does not include libraries in the pilot test

6 Total area corresponds to the area of the building where the library is located and includes external spaces (squares, gardens, terraces among other). The built area corresponds to the area of internal spaces the library has to provide services.


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When analyzing the library surface, Bogota`s case is atypical since the average

area of each library is 2.638 square meters. This explains somehow the

outstanding differences in relation with the number of square meters of library

per each 10.000 inhabitants. Bogotá has an indicator of 383.718 inhabitants

per library, but the average built area is almost ten times higher to the national

average, which is 267 square meters.

On a scale of sizes, 43% of the universe of public libraries is concentrated in

small institutions (less than 150 square meters per library), 42% in medium-sized

libraries (between 150 square meters and 600 square meters) and only 14%

recorded over 600 square meters sizes.

State public libraries by built areaChart 1 / Colombia / 2013


The distribution of built area shows that 32% goes to consulting rooms; 10%

reference rooms; 10% are children rooms, and 7% auditoriums or halls for

cultural events, among other places.

In smaller libraries (measured per square meters), the general room and the

reference room, are the most significant spaces, since they represent 56% of

the total built area. In larger libraries, the general ward loses share (25% of

total floor area), and auditoriums gain spaces (10%), as well as spaces for

exhibitions or art exhibitions (7%).

38.5% of public libraries have site dedicated solely to the library function. Most

(61.5%) of public libraries, therefore, share the site with other establishments:

houses of culture (28.5%), educational institutions (8.1%), town halls (6.2%),

social centres (2.3%), and other institutions of public administration (16.4%).


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Users

An important issue for libraries is perception: the perception of libraries bosses of who are their users, and what services can meet the needs and interests of the

visitors. In recent years, challenges in this field have been transformed as a result of developments in communications, information abundance and changes in the

ways users access such information.

Main indicators of users of the National Network of Public Libraries in some departmentsTable 4 / Colombia / 2013

Department

Monthly average of users visiting

the library according to departament

Monthly average of users

per 10.000 inhabitants

according to department

Number of users per M2

built according to department*

Number of users with external

borrowing according to department in

2012

Average of materials

borrowed by user 2012*

Participation of users from 7 to 12 years

identified s typical

according to department*

Participation of users from

13 to 17 years identified as typical

according to department*

Bogotá, D.C. 409.483 534 8 617.017 1 65% 10%

Antioquia 375.589 596 7 284.064 1 51% 27%

Cundinamarca 125.390 483 4 76.386 1 66% 16%

Boyacá 70.649 555 3 56.105 2 69% 17%

Valle del Cauca 153.132 339 4 42.967 2 71% 24%

Santander 58.488 287 2 42.167 2 56% 25%

Nariño 41.774 245 4 38.828 2 64% 27%

Caldas 42.803 435 6 29.608 2 65% 15%

Casanare 27.399 796 4 28.775 2 76% 14%

Meta 38.700 418 3 16.550 1 52% 38%

Bolívar 49.354 241 6 14.408 4 66% 22%

Córdoba 21.212 128 4 13.929 1 74% 21%

Remaining 389.087 258 5 63.741 2 52% 22%

Total 1.803.060 383 5 1.324.545 2 63% 23%

Source: AAIC / Estimations: Cerlalc / *The indicator does not contemplate libraries of the pilot test


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First, it must be taken into account that heads of libraries of the NNPL have counted

a monthly average of 1.803.060 visitor users, at a rate of 1.359 per library. When

trying to demographically locate the most typical users of libraries, the assessment

invited the librarian to consider the most typical user per age ranges. According

to the responses, the typical group of users, in an 86% of surveyed libraries, is the

population in school age (between 7 and 17 years old). This consideration could

demonstrate the complementation of public libraries with information access needs

of the population attending school. In terms of public policy, this perception of users

groups, demands from libraries a redefinition of the collections, types of services,

schedules, needs supporting staff and technological equipment, depending on the

needs of other type of population, encouraging their attendance.

The perception of librarians would be ratified as indicated in the publication

of Reading habits, attendance to libraries and book consumption in Colombia

2012, where it was found that 22.5% of people aged 5 and older (7.3 million

people of the population in consideration) attended libraries that year. Of these,

the largest proportion -64% of the population who attended a library in the last year-

was concentrated in younger populations; that is, in the segment of 12 to 25 years.

Borrowing Items

An additional indicator in the measurement of effective users is that referred

to borrowing, where it was found that around 50% of public libraries made

external borrowings in 2012, with a record of 2.002.740 borrowed items.

1.324.545 users were benefitted with this service, with a rate of 1,5 materials

borrowed per user. The most borrowed collections are the first childhood

collections and children collections followed by newspapers and magazines.

Affiliation conditions for borrowing of materials are several. A 5% of libraries

charges for the service, 90,6% allows renewals of borrowings, 21,2% demands

a carnet to borrow, and 81,1% requests any document different from the carnet.

Marsella, Risaralda


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Collections

52,6% of total volumes is represented by collections of general interest (information/documental), 17,6% by literature collections (youngsters and adult), and 11,5%

by children collections.

Main indicators of collections of the National Network of Public Libraries in some departmentsTable 5 / Colombia / 2013

Departments Total volumes according to department*

Average volumes per library according to department*

Average volumes per each 10.000 inhabitants per department*

Bogotá, D.C. 1.490.068 74.503 1.942

Antioquia 1.534.657 10.884 2.436

Caldas 262.515 7.500 2.668

Valle del Cauca 698.687 6.850 1.546

Guainía 6.527 6.527 1.624

Casanare 133.530 6.070 3.881

Meta 165.054 5.502 1.785

Cundinamarca 707.838 5.362 2.724

Arauca 35.464 5.066 1.382

Amazonas 5.031 5.031 675

Santander 435.482 4.355 2.134

Tolima 277.331 4.267 1.981

Remaining 1.991.156 3.082 997

Total 5.740.600 4.326 1.218


The use of the children collection is high: it is used in 82.8% of public libraries. A similar dynamics occurs with collections for early childhood, used in 75.4% of

libraries. However, these collections only represent, respectively, 11.5% and 3.7% of the total volumes of public libraries. Other collections that have a high use by

the library community are collections for reference (58.8% of public libraries stated in this sense) and literature for youth and adults (50.7%).


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Information and Communications Technologies (ICT)

Main indicators of the technological infrastructure in the National Network of Public Libraries in some departmentsTable 6 / Colombia / 2013

Departments WebPage at the Library (Number)* Internet service at the library Web catalogue in the library* Number of libraries per

services using ICT*

Yes Under construction No NA Yes No Yes Partially No Uses ICT Does not

use ICT

Antioquia 21 4 62 54 128 13 28 9 104 96 45

Cundinamarca 5 5 64 57 98 34 7 4 120 84 47

Santander 1 3 38 57 71 29 7 2 90 74 25

Boyacá 6 3 62 48 67 52 9 2 108 93 26

Valle del Cauca 2 3 60 37 59 43 5 4 93 76 26

Tolima 0 2 25 38 53 12 2 7 56 29 36

Nariño 3 0 56 14 41 33 5 4 64 55 18

Bolívar 1 3 21 34 28 31 3 11 45 42 17

Atlántico 0 0 21 2 25 2 1 2 20 19 4

Norte de Santander

0 2 14 24 24 20 0 4 36 7 33

Meta 1 2 12 14 23 7 1 1 27 6 23

Caldas 0 1 18 15 21 14 1 0 33 23 11

Bogotá, D.C. 15 0 4 1 20 0 20 0 0 20 0

Remaining 1 11 158 197 149 230 5 23 339 186 181

Total 56 39 615 592 807 520 94 73 1.135 810 492


The adoption of ICT in library institutions contributes to the efficiency of services provision, makes visible the portfolio, improves access to information by the community

and enhances the scope of services in relation to traditional libraries (International Federation of Library Associations and Institution, IFLA, 2011).


26

60,5% of public libraries have Internet. Bogotá and Atlántico present the

greater coverage percentage with 100% and 93%, respectively. Below the

national level, at the departmental level are Bolívar (47%) and Norte de

Santander (55%).

Regarding the use of ICT in services provision, 62% of public libraries offers

public library services with the support of TIC, represented library room

consultation (48.8%), access to Internet (43.7%) and reading promotion

(38.3%). Moreover, where there is greater lags in the case of cultural activities

(26.0%) and local information service (27.4%).

The layout of a webpage gives libraries the opportunity not only to provide

information about library services, but to learn about the users’ needs.

However, only 4% of public libraries have a website. However, it must be

taken into account that some municipal library networks, such as Bogotá

(Biblored) or Medellin (Library Network), offer basic information hosting

service of associated libraries. 3% of the institutions are in the process of

building their website, 47% do not have one, and 45% did not know or did

not answer.

With respect to availability of catalogues of collections of public libraries via

Internet, the answer was yes to 7% of libraries. 6% of the respondents asserted

that there is a partial catalogue in the web. 87% of public libraries do not

have this tool that is crucial to improve the delivery of library services.

P. L. Nimaima, Cundinamarca

P. L. Simón Bolívar (Cúcuta, Norte de Santander)


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Main Indicators of the technological infrastructure in the National Netwrok of Public Librariesin some departmentsTabla 7 / Colombia / 2013

Departments Total computers per department *

Total computers working*

Total computers working with

access to Internet per department*

Total computers for public

and shared use working with interent connection*

Average of computers, per

library, per department*

Average of computers

working with Internet, per library, per department*

Average of computers

working with Internet, for

each 10.000 inhabitants*

Antioquia 2.264 2.082 1.786 1.569 16 13 2,8

Cundinamarca 1.482 1.300 993 867 11 8 3,8

Santander 396 385 239 216 4 2 1,2

Boyacá 1.716 1.555 854 754 14 7 6,7

Valle del Cauca 482 463 259 219 5 3 0,6

Tolima 746 728 570 545 11 9 4,1

Nariño 306 287 112 102 4 2 0,7

Bolívar 725 618 318 290 12 5 1,6

Atlántico 407 264 244 233 19 11 1,0

Norte de Santander 228 226 103 84 7 3 0,8

Meta 136 127 84 78 5 3 0,9

Caldas 546 490 297 278 16 9 3,0

Bogotá, D.C. 839 834 693 467 42 35 0,9

Remaining 4.072 3.524 1.487 1.363 11 4 1,2

Total 14.345 12.883 8.039 7.065 11 6 1,7


The libraries have 14,345 computers nationwide, with an average of 11 equipment per public library, and 121 users per computer. 90% work (12,883 computers); of this percentage 62% have access to Internet (8,039), and out of this total, 55% is public and administrative use. In conclusion, 49% of computer users are allocated to the users and have access to Internet, which means that, for every 251 users,


28


Abraham Ayala

Istmina, Chocó


29

there is one computer running. The departments with the highest rate of coverage in computers are Tolima (73%) and Antioquia (69%). The opposite cases are Nariño (33%) and North Santander (37%).

Main indicators of the technological infrastructure in the National N etwork of Public Libraries in some departmentsTable 8 / Colombia / 2013

DepartmentsBandwidth agreed for the intenet

service below 4 megas according to department*

Bandwidth agreed for Internet service above 4 megabytes according to department*

Without information of bandwidth according to department*

Antioquia 44% 41% 16%

Cundinamarca 42% 37% 21%

Santander 84% 10% 6%

Boyacá 82% 11% 7%

Valle del Cauca 47% 36% 17%

Tolima 66% 6% 28%

Nariño 86% 14% 0%

Bolívar 75% 25% 0%

Atlántico 0% 100% 0%

Norte de Santander 68% 22% 10%

Meta 71% 6% 24%

Caldas 51% 13% 36%

Bogotá, D.C. 32% 59% 9%

Remaining 64% 15% 21%

Total 62% 22% 16%


In terms of the bandwidth with which users can carry out their information search or browse the catalogue, the results show that 62% of public libraries have Internet

connection speeds lower than 4 megabytes, 22% have more than 4 megabytes and 16% ignores the bandwidth in use. It is noteworthy that libraries from the Atlántico

department have in total a bandwidth higher than 4 megabytes, while in Nariño 86% of institutions have a service lower than to this connection speed.


30

Personnel of the library

The assessment inquires for the library staff in two categories. The first one is referred to personnel in general, linked to the plant, which includes the heads of libraries

and staff that provides support. The second one is related to the managers or heads of libraries of the NNPL.

Main indicators of human resource in the National Network of Public Libraries in some departmentsTable 9 / Colombia / 2013

Department

Men linked to the library staff according to department

Women linked to the library staff according to department

Number of people linked to the

library staff per department

Average of people linked to the library staff according to department

Average of people linked to the library

staff per 10.000 inhabitants

Average of m2 per linked personnel, per department

Antioquia 189 312 501 4 8 112

Bogotá, D.C. 118 223 341 17 4 155

Valle del Cauca 76 156 232 2 5 152

Cundinamarca 52 176 228 2 9 156

Bolívar 58 85 143 2 7 60

Santander 35 102 137 1 7 173

Boyacá 17 114 131 1 10 176

Norte de Santander

37 78 115 3 9 84

Nariño 35 75 110 1 6 95

Atlántico 36 61 97 4 4 27

Tolima 14 78 92 1 7 185

Meta 21 68 89 3 10 146

Cauca 28 45 73 1 5 62

Remaining 190 389 579 2 1 122

Total 906 1.962 2.868 2 6 130



31

Reading promoter


Tibacuy, Cundinamarca


32

The general staff of public libraries amounts 2,868 people, of which 68% are

women and 32% men. 72.5% of libraries are served by a person that is part

of the staff. In Bogotá, larger libraries, representing 20% of the total have an

average of 60 people, while the remaining 80% has in average 6 people, of

the 20 public libraries in the local network.

People in charge and heads of public libraries devote a weekly average of

42 hours to the library tasks; while the other people linked to the library devote

38 hours, in average, per week. While the survey does not enter into matters

related to the time intensity of linked personnel, it would be interesting to deepen

in the study of this variable given the perception people have about users’

typical groups in school age.

P. L. Luis Antonio Escobar (Villapinzón, Cundinamarca)

P. L. El Cármen de Tonchalá (Cúcuta, Norte de Santander)

P. L. Monseñor Luis Pérez Hernández (Cúcuta, Norte de Santander)


33

Main indicators of human resources of the National Network of Public Libraries in some departmentsTable 10 / Colombia / 2013

DepartmentAverage number of years of seniority of the director or in

charged of the library *Type of formation of the person in charged of the librarya*

Less than 2 years

Fron 2 to 5 years

More than 5 years

NAProfessional in Librarianship

Professional in other areas but with training in

librarianship

Professional in other areas

Technicians Technologist Otro NA

Antioquia 74 17 48 2 23 10 13 39 21 32 3

Bogotá, D.C. 10 5 5 0 18 1 0 1 0 0 0

Valle del Cauca 35 19 47 1 1 22 20 23 12 23 1

Cundinamarca 74 25 27 5 5 31 11 40 7 37 0

Bolívar 31 9 19 0 0 9 9 26 5 9 1

Santander 54 16 26 3 1 24 19 9 12 33 1

Boyacá 56 22 35 6 4 25 7 23 25 35 0

Norte de Santander 29 4 6 1 1 8 9 7 1 14 0

Nariño 45 11 17 0 5 11 10 22 6 17 2

Atlántico 7 0 11 5 1 6 0 5 11 0 0

Tolima 29 13 17 6 2 18 9 14 6 15 1

Meta 12 5 12 0 2 10 2 5 2 8 0

Cauca 21 10 10 4 5 9 8 13 5 4 1

Remaining 182 42 119 13 9 65 60 97 28 94 3

Total 659 198 399 46 77 249 177 324 141 321 13


6% of people responsible for (heads of libraries or librarians) of public libraries have studied Library Sciences, while 19% are professionals in different disciplines,

trained in each area.


34

Personnel responsible of public libraries, acording to professional training Chart 2 / Colombia / 2013


26.8% of those responsible for public libraries have less than a year in office and are more technicians or professionals in other areas. Managers who have been

in office from one to less than 2 years represent 23.8% and are mainly technicians or professionals in other areas. The heads of libraries that have been in office for

more time (over 5 years) are professionals from other areas trained as Librarians.


35

Library services


Tuta, Boyacá


36

In a 51%, the labour relationship of heads of public libraries is via service

provision agreement, while other 44% belongs to the permanent staff. The

remaining 4% is linked via a different system.

83,6% of the heads of libraries receives a monthly income below two minimum

current legal monthly salaries. Only 2,3% of heads of libraries receive more

than 4 current minimum monthly salaries.

An International Comparative View

An attractive complement for the analysis of the characterization of public libraries

in Colombia is the possibility of establishing some international comparative

indicators of the system. To this end, comparable information sources have been

used to analyze the situation of the NNPL in terms of coverage, density and

user. Below are the data of Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Spain.

Coverage

In Colombia, 96% of the municipalities have public library. The situation in other

countries is as follows:

• In Brazil, 98% of the municipalities of the country have a public library.

• In Spain, out of 8.117 municipalities, 63% has a service point of the

public library. 3.440 municipalities have fix service points and 1.927

have mobile service points. 215 municipalities have fix and mobile

service points.

• In Mexico, coverage of public library system reaches 93% of

municipalities.

International Comparative Coverage rate of libraries per municipalityChart 3 / Ibero-american

Sources: Colombia: AAIC, estimations of Cerlalc / Brazil: National System of Public Libraries (NSPL) / Mexico: CONACULTA; Spain MECD

Library Density

Colombia has 2,8 public libraries per each 100.000 inhabitants, which is

a very similar result to Brazil and Dominican Republic for example; but it is

substantially different with respect to the result in Mexico and Spain, where there

are 10,4 and 6,9 libraries per each 100.000 inhabitants, respectively.


37

International Comparative Number of libraries for each 100.000 inhabitantsChart 4 / Ibero-american

Sources: Colombia: AAIC / Mexico: II / Honduras: INE / Guatemala: INE / Spain: MECD

International Comparative Indicators of public librariesTable 11 / Ibero-american

CountriesNumber

of libraries

Number of inhabitants per library

Number of libraries for each 100.000

inhabitants

Spain (2012) 4.755 9.552 10,4

Mexico 7.388 15.205 6,9

Brazil (2014) 6.062 33.449 3

Colombia (2013) 1.327 35.509 2,8

Dominican Republic (2011)

275 37.832 2,6

Guatemala (2013) 389 39.764 2,5

Honduras (2007) 189 39.878 2,5

Panama (2007) 83 40.238 2,5

Sources: Panama: DEC / Colombia: AAIC / Mexico: INEGI / Honduras: INE / Guatemala:

INE / Spain: MECD


38

Reading room

Public Library Julio Pérez Ferrero

Cúcuta, Norte de Santander


39

Borrowings and users

In Colombia, each user who had access to the service of external borrowing,

had access in average to 1,5 materials. The rate of borrowings per user in the

other countries is between 1 and 3,3 materials. Spain records the maximum

borrowings with 3.3 materials by registered user. In Latin America, Chile

makes 2.4 home borrowings in average. In Panama, 1.5 borrowings between

registered users and in Mexico1,3 borrowings per serviced user. Except for

Chile, the volume of materials provided by public libraries is still relatively low

and may be the result of a collection that does not meet the expectations of users

or for logistical difficulties in borrowing materials.

Indicators of public libraries according to borrowings and usersTable 12 / Ibero-american

Country Average of materials borrowed by user

Total volumes for libraries

Chile (2009) 2,4 s.d.

Spain (2012) 3,3 10.169

Colombia (2013) 1,5 4.326

Panama (2007) 1,5 7.508

Mexico (2007) 1,3 5.066

Sources: Colombia: AAIC / Mexico: INEGI / Spain: MECD / Panama: DEC

International ComparativeAverage of materials borrowed by userChart 5

Sources: Colombia: AAIC / Spain: MECD / Mexico: INEGI / Panama: DEC


40

Actual and Potential Users


41

Child user

Municipal Public Library Ramón Correa Mejía

Pereira, Risaralda


42

Actual and potential users in public libraries according to age dataTable 13 / Colombia / 2013

Age ranges Actual users Potential Users

a. From 12 to 17 years 49,8% 12,3%

b. From 18 to 25 years 19,1% 23,2%

c. From 26 to 40 years 16,9% 30,5%

d. From 41 to 64 years 11,3% 28,5%

e. More than 64 years 2,9% 5,5%

Total 100% 100%


Information needs

The identification of the needs of actual users of public libraries, as well as the

possibility to comply with the expectations of potential users, are issues that

ensure the importance and sustainability of public libraries. As stated above, the

development of ICT, with its devices, and the new forms through which people

have access to the information, demand to libraries the definition and execution

of actions ensuring their relevance in the global society of the information.

The acknowledgement of the demands of actual and potential users allows a

better management of collections, library services and complementary activities.

In order to identify services and activities to ensure the relevance of public

libraries, the assessment conducted a survey of the population of users and non-

users, in order to identify and characterize actual and potential users.

The results showed that users are, in a greater proportion, young people

between 12 and 17 years (49,8%) and between 18 and 25 years (19%),

which altogether represent 69% of the total. Regarding the potential population,

the distribution by age changes, since 64,5% of surveyed people are older

than 26 years.

Marsella, Risaralda


43

Crossing actual users by age ranges with educational level allows associating, to some extent, the type of people regularly attending public libraries; it shows that

86% are young people between 7 and 17 years with secondary studies, 89% of whom has not being completed. For the population between 18 and 25 years,

50% have secondary education and 23% university education - 44% incomplete secondary, and 73% incomplete university-. According to the above, 58% of actual

users responded that the week before the interview devoted the most part of their time to study.

Real users of public libraries according to age ranges by educational levelTable 14 / Colombia / 2013

Age RangeEducational level

None Elementary Secondary Technician Technological University Postgraduate Total

a. From 12 to 17 years ,1% 11,2% 85,9% 1,3% ,2% 1,4% 0,0% 100%

b. From 18 to 25 years 0,0% 3,2% 50,5% 14,5% 8,6% 23,0% ,2% 100%

c. From 26 to 40 years 0,0% 3,4% 35,8% 16,8% 8,0% 30,3% 5,7% 100%

d. From 41 to 64 years 0,0% 7,3% 37,5% 13,5% 6,9% 29,0% 5,8% 100%

e. More than 64 years 1,5% 27,7% 35,4% 1,5% 6,2% 27,7% 0,0% 100%

Total 0,3% 10,5% 49,0% 9,5% 6,0% 22,3% 2,3% 100%


Schooling of public libraries and therefore, the pre-eminence of young users in academic stage, should not be deemed contrary to the objectives of the Law of Public

Libraries, as it offers an opportunity to promote and improve from an early age the reading, learning, information, education and entertainment levels. However, a

strategy must be designed to strengthen and complement the informational services and the offering of activities for people whose needs are not primarily academic.

77,9% of actual users belong to social and economical levels 1 and 2. If level 3 is included, the group of actual users in these groups reaches 94,7%. This situation

is consequent with the location of public libraries in urban areas of these levels.

Potential users, identified around public libraries, are older than 25 years in a 64,5%, with an educational level in secondary school (55%) and in elementary school

(21%), of social and economic levels one and two (80%), working (67%) and performing home offices (19%).


44

Potential users of public libraries according to toge ranges per educational level Table 15 / Colombia / 2013

Rangos etarios Nivel educativo

Overall TotalNone Elementary Secondary Technician Technological University Postgraduate

a. From 12 to 17 years 0,4% 12,0% 85,8% 0,7% 0,0% 1,1% 0,0% 100%

b. From 18 to 25 years 0,2% 7,7% 63,3% 13,7% 6,0% 8,8% 0,2% 100%

c. From 26 to 40 years 0,6% 16,6% 52,5% 11,8% 5,1% 11,8% 1,6% 100%

d. From 41 to 64 years 2,5% 35,5% 41,9% 5,8% 4,7% 8,7% 0,9% 100%

e. More than 64 years 3,4% 52,6% 34,5% 3,4% 2,6% 2,6% 0,9% 100%

s.d. 0,0% 33,3% 66,7% 0,0% 0,0% 0,0% 0,0% 100%

Total 1,2% 21,2% 55,3% 8,7% 4,4% 8,4% 0,8% 100%


Main information needs and interests

Actual and potential users stated their needs of information through answers to an open question without limitations. For actual users, “humanities, social sciences,

economics and related,” “exact and natural sciences,” and “literature and grammar” prevail. For potential users, “health and welfare” prevail, and “humanities, social

sciences, economics and related” and culture stand out.

As to interests of actual users, and identification and appreciation of some information topics, previously established and classified in scales of “very important,”

“important,” “of little importance” and “not important,” 52.6% considered “study” (doing homework) to be “very important,” and 54.9% considered “entertainment”

to be “important.” Other well-appreciated topics, that would help assess the library collection, are health, education, welfare and culture. The topic of “political

participation” is the one graded as the least important by respondents (52% of answers regarded it to be of little importance or not important).

These results lead to think that these are school users or people in a stage of academic training, which favours strategies of design, implementation and strengthening

of communication skills of students, and reading and writing abilities taught in educational institutions. On the other hand, building a linking scenario between public

libraries and educational institutions is propitious and compelling form the perspective of the results of the survey of “Reading habits, attendance to libraries and book

consumption in Colombia 2012”, where a decrease was evidenced in the practice of reading books, newspapers and magazines among young people and students.


45

Children participating in the project “Fostering reading”


Marsella, Risaralda


46

Public libraries according to thematic interests of real usersTable 16 / Colombia / 2013

Thematics Very Important Important Little Importante No Important NA Total

Study (homewoks) 52,6% 42,1% 3,8% 1,3% ,3% 100%

Health (deseases, treatmeant, medical appointment, health system, personal care)

47,9% 43,2% 6,8% 1,9% ,1% 100%

Education (educational offer, formal and informal formation)

43,7% 46,8% 6,5% 2,9% ,1% 100%

Welfare (sports, exercise, etc.) 42,2% 49,5% 6,7% 1,5% ,1% 100%

Culture (artistic and cultural activities: movies, theater, concerts, etc.)

34,9% 54,7% 8,8% 1,4% ,2% 100%

Formation online (formal and non formal education)

33,7% 47,7% 13,3% 4,9% ,4% 100%

Labor performance 33,0% 42,7% 12,5% 11,1% ,7% 100%

Current affairs (news) 31,9% 54,0% 11,5% 2,4% ,1% 100%

Business opportunities or entrepreneurship 29,1% 43,9% 18,1% 8,7% ,2% 100%

Job search/implementation 27,9% 41,7% 19,9% 10,3% ,2% 100%

Entertainment 26,3% 54,9% 16,4% 2,3% ,2% 100%

Government (procedures and services of governmental entities)

17,7% 42,6% 29,8% 9,7% ,2% 100%

Political Participation (political opinions, public debates, candidates)

14,2% 33,9% 34,8% 16,9% ,3% 100%

Total 33,5% 46,0% 14,5% 5,8% 0,2% 100,0%


According to what was answered in relation to information needs by potential users, the highest appreciation as “very important” was given to the topic of health

(46.3%) and as “important” to culture (55.3%). These statements provide indications with respect to complementary actions that could be started in public libraries in

relation to services and library collection, to satisfy what potential users expect to find in libraries: information about diseases, the health system, personal care, and

artistic and cultural activities such as movies, theatre and concerts, among others, for population over the age of 26.


47

Public libraries according to thematic interests of potential usersTable 17 / Colombia / 2013

Thematic interests Very Important Important Little Important Not important NA Total

Health (diseases, treatments, medical appointments, health system, personal care)

46,3% 46,8% 5,4% 1,4% ,1% 100%

Welfare (sports, eexercise, etc.) 35,7% 50,1% 12,0% 2,0% ,2% 100%

Current Affairs (news) 34,2% 55,1% 8,7% 1,9% ,0% 100%

Labor performance 33,5% 45,7% 13,2% 7,0% ,7% 100%

Education (educational offer, formal and non formal formation)

32,9% 49,9% 11,5% 5,5% ,2% 100%

Business opportunities or entrepreneurship 32,8% 49,5% 11,9% 5,7% ,0% 100%

Labor search/implementation 31,7% 44,0% 16,4% 7,7% ,2% 100%

Study (homeworks) 31,3% 46,3% 14,6% 7,6% ,2% 100%

Formation online (formal and non formal education) 27,6% 49,2% 15,8% 7,1% ,3% 100%

Culture (artistic and cultural activities: movies, theater, concerts, etc.)

24,6% 55,3% 17,3% 2,8% ,0% 100%

Entertainment 21,2% 51,9% 22,7% 3,9% ,2% 100%

Government (procedures and services of governmental entities)

16,4% 44,8% 29,0% 9,7% ,1% 100%

Political participation (political opinions, public debates, candidates)

12,7% 32,7% 34,9% 19,3% ,4% 100%

Total 29,3% 47,8% 16,4% 6,3% 0,2% 100,0%


In addition to the information needs and the appreciation of some topics, local information that potential users would like to find in the public library is related to education (23%),

touristic information (16%) and cultural and environmental heritage (16%). Besides information related to certain fields, activities and services that would encourage attendance

of potential users to public libraries would be courses, training sessions and workshops (68%), free Internet offer (43.4%), and availability of computers (40.5%).

For actual users who attend public libraries as a practice and a habit, motivations to attend are learning, knowledge and self-training (92.1% of users), research

(90.6%) and reading (89.5%). In addition, and in relation to the question about the activities users performed in the library, 92.3% indicated reading, 77.9% said


48

consulting or borrowing printed books, and 77.1% expressed studying or doing

academic work.

Perceptions of actual and potential users

Perception of actual and potential users in relation to the public library and

its services helps to assess the scope of services provided, their quality, and

satisfaction of expectations. At the same time, it contributes to determine the

notions in the social imaginary with respect to the library and its role in personal

and professional training.

In this respect, the first considerations of actual and potential users when the

public library is mentioned are similar. They are related to the notion of the

public library as a space to study, for science or knowledge, either as a place

of quiet and respect, or as a place to access information, or a place for reading

and writing.

Given that the first considerations of actual and potential users in relation to

the term library are referred to knowledge, the aspects related to it (books or

reading and/or writing programs and/or workshops) are considered as highly

important. In addition, high appreciation is observed in aspects that would be

considered within the scope of expectations, in services related to information

and communication technologies (audiovisual material, computers and tablets,

Internet access).

For 97% of actual users, the public library is a space to be recommended, and

borrowing books, access to knowledge or the possibility of being informed

are considered and valued as “very important”. In a lower category, but no

less important, actual users recommend the library for: meeting people, attend

workshops or training sessions, gatherings, exhibitions, reading clubs or movie

projections, or to obtain information on a local matter.P. L. Villeta, Cundinamarca


49

Reasons to recommend the libraryChart 6 / Colombia / 2013


A minority group of actual users (3%) did not recommend the library, and the main

reasons for this were insufficiency and little variety of materials, facilities in not

pleasant conditions, lack of kindness and training of library personnel, difficulty in

distance to get to the library and, finally, no availability of spare time.

Potential users of public libraries identify and appreciate them in a positive

manner as centres of cultural development of municipalities (60%), as places

for access to technology (computers, tablets, Internet access), and as spaces for

access to audiovisual material.

P. L. Julio Pérez Ferrero (Cúcuta, Norte de Santander)


50

Use of information and communicationtechnologies in public libraries for development

Information and communication technologies in public libraries allow

progressing in the closing of digital gaps through digital and information

literacy, particularly in distant regions of the country. The possibilities of using

information and communication technologies in public libraries could well

exceed the limits of literacy and contribute to the generation of scenarios for

creation and consolidation of learning communities to give way to a digital

culture. With these elements, development in other dimensions is potentiated

and strengthened.

This widening of possibilities in the use of information and communication

technologies depends both on library personnel as well as on the knowledge

and use of technology by the community of users in public libraries for access,

creation and transformation of their realities.


51

Project Use and appropriation of ICT in public Libraries

Municipal Public Library Carmen Rodríguez Díaz

Suan de la Trinidad, Atlántico


52

Children user

Public Library Ramiro Moreno

Baranoa, Atlántico


53

It could be said that there is progress from this perspective considering that 12% of actual users used the Internet for the first time in the library, or that a third part of

all actual users received training or orientation in the use of information and communication technologies in the library, or that 32% learned to run easy searches of

information, or that 23% learned to use WebPages, or that other 23% learned to use office software, or that 22% learned how to send and receive electronic mails.

Training with the use of ICT in public liblrariesChart 7 / Colombia / 2013


As to access, 44% of actual users connect to the Internet through the public library. Thus, it exceeds other conventional places of connection, such as Internet access centres,

homes, or educational institutions. The main uses usually given by actual users to the Internet in the public library are related to the characteristic population using ICT (children

and young people between the ages of 12 to 17), in activities performed with a high weekly frequency, starting with consultation of study materials (47%), reading of books

and articles (44%) and checking of electronic mails (42%). On the contrary, activities with a higher than weekly frequency have minor uses, such as processes and services

(22%) and participation in virtual training courses (25%).


54

Place of Internet access to real users of public librariesTable 18 / Colombia / 2013

Place of access to Internet Percentage

Library 44%

Center of Internet access 40%

Home 39%

Educational Institute 26%

Has access to Internet 9%

Office 8%

Other 3%

Ns/Nr 0%


Other activities performed by actual users when they connect to the Internet

in the public library are referred to information and communications, starting

with reading of papers and magazines (61% of respondents), communication

through voice and video communication services, electronic mails, chats, among

others (61%), and the creation of online contents to be shared, such as blogs,

social networks, documents (51%). Other activities in a secondary place, but

as much as important for the service they provide to the library community, are

commercial transactions (8%), participation in government processes (10%),

business communications (video, electronic mail, chats, social networks)

(13%), job search (17%), and the use of government services (government

online, processes, requests of appointments, requests of certificates) (18%),

among others.

P. L. Meira Delmar (Barranquilla, Atlántico)


55

Activities performed by real users when connected to Internet of the libraryChart 8 / Colombia / 2013



56

The uses of some information and communication technology services were

possible with the consultation of the catalogue and the computers. 28% of

actual users said that they consult the library catalogue through terminals; a low

percentage that may be associated to the fact that this service is not available

online. Approximately 80% of users who consult the catalogue considered this

service as “excellent” and “good” in the parameters of operation, technical

conditions and sufficiency of terminals to consult the catalogue.

When inquiring with actual users about computers for public use, it was found

that approximately 75% visit libraries that have computers for public use, which

somehow reveals the importance of public availability of these elements.

Moreover, in the assessment of the service provided, 40% graded it as deficient

or poor due to the low amount and availability of such elements.

The use of information and communication technologies by potential users is

conditioned by the fact that 37% of them stated that they do not access the

Internet, a significant proportion considering the policy of democratization and

widespread use of information and communication technologies and Internet

access in the last years. Without knowing the reasons for this significant portion

of potential users not connecting to Internet, 85% of them consider Internet

access as very important, if it is on a free of charge basis.

63% of potential users who stated that they do access to Internet, do so mainly from

home, dedicated access centres, the workplace, or through friends or relatives.

Places of Internet access of potential users to public librariesTable 19 / Colombia / 2013

Place Percentage

No access to Internet 37%

Home 36%

Centers of Internet access 27%

Place of work 14%

Friends or relatives 14%

Public places 10%

Other 3%

Source: AAIC / Estimations: CERLALC

Some of the activities performed by potential users when they use Internet could

be complemented with services offered by the public library, such as news

information, health matters, information on occupations and/or businesses,

government information. Other activities performed by potential users, which,

by the way, match the services increasingly offered in public libraries through

information and communication technologies, are checking the electronic mail,

videoconferences and social network access. A high portion of potential users

reports that Internet is used as recreation or entertainment.


57

Time to read with the use of technology

Rural Public Library El Naranjal

Chinchiná, Caldas


58

Activities performed in Internet by potential users Chart 9 / Colombia

Source: AAIC / Estimations: CERLALC

The more frequent activities performed by potential users when they use Internet are related to recreation (watch videos and/or listen to music, check electronic mails,

and take part in social networks). In secondary places are reading books and/or articles and review study material, and, in the last place, take part in virtual education

courses or programs.


59

Distribution of activities conducted online by potential usersTable 20 / Colombia / 2013

Activity Every day

Several times per

week

Once a week

Once a month

Once every three months

At least once a year NA Total

Consult email 36% 35% 18% 6% 1% 1% 3% 100%

Watch videos/listen to music 28% 34% 18% 8% 2% 3% 6% 100%

Consult and/or participate in social networks

33% 33% 16% 6% 2% 3% 8% 100%

Consul news and/or information on current affairs

16% 31% 23% 11% 3% 6% 10% 100%

Read books and/or articles 8% 27% 22% 14% 6% 11% 13% 100%

Consult material for studies 15% 24% 15% 11% 4% 11% 20% 100%

Consult material for work 15% 24% 15% 11% 4% 11% 20% 100%

Play 14% 22% 15% 9% 5% 14% 21% 100%

Carry out procedures and services 4% 12% 12% 19% 7% 16% 29% 100%

Participate in courses/programs of virtual education

6% 12% 10% 10% 6% 21% 34% 100%

Overall Total 18% 27% 16% 10% 4% 9% 15% 100%



Project Use and appropriation of ICT in public libraries

Context

The importance of providing information systems and connectivity in public

libraries has been recognized by the Ministry of Culture through the Public

Libraries Law and the Ministry of ICT. This is a condition without which public

libraries cannot fulfill their mission of being centers of information, exchange of

ideas and knowledge. Public libraries, due to their open, democratic and free

nature, are one of the best platforms to materialize the use and appropriation of

new technologies by the communities. For some people, the public library is the

only available means to access computers and the web.


Children users

Public Library La Paz

Barranquilla, Atlántico


Pilot Description

In September 2012, the implementation of the pilot for the use and appropriation

of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) 7 began in the National

Network of Public Libraries in Colombia. The pilot sought essentially to test

in 25 libraries from different regions of the country the actions of what would

be the Project nationwide, whose aim was to advocate for public libraries as

places relevant to development, by promoting the innovative implementation of

creative library services with ICT. In this context, innovation was understood as

the ability of librarians to recognize the environment and generate, collectively,

library services that incorporate ICT in response to the needs and expectations

of the community.

The pilot was implemented in 25 libraries whose initial conditions simulated

the ones for the eventual implementation: ceilings, floors and walls in proper

condition; computers and public access connectivity in good condition; and

commitment from the Mayor and the librarian with the development of the

Project. This sought to encourage the improvement of library conditions and the

fulfillment of the role by local authorities in providing the necessary resources for

libraries to have personnel and adequate physical and technological infrastructure.

7 A library as an information unit requires the articulated operation of various technologies ranging from a system for organizing and consulting resources that integrates the identification of its users and the uses made of the resources, to the existence of specialized databases that expand the possibilities of access to information by users. Although these technological conditions are fundamental, the Project Use and Appropriation of ICT in Public Libraries focuses on the use of computers and connectivity based on the development of people and not on creating conditions for organizing and updating resources. This approach to the donation, determined by the Gates Foundation, involves promoting from public libraries, digital literacy of users and the generation of services that allow, through the Internet and computers, to improve opportunities for access to education, health, development and production procedures and governmental services.


Rural Public Library

Quiebra de Naranjal

Chinchiná, Caldas


Children participating in the project “Fostering reading”


Marsella, Risaralda


The actions implemented in the pilot were:

1. Library Advocacy. The main action was for libraries to demonstrate

their validity and relevance in local contexts through the use and

appropriation of ICTs. This involved improving the perception of

librarians of their role and the role of the public library, and the creation

of alliances such as the Friends of the Library Group (FLG) and the

achievement for resources for local authorities to improve the library.

2. Training library staff in public library advocacy in the municipality,

by using innovative and creative use and appropriation of ICT in

the delivery of services to the community. Innovation and creativity

of the process involved the identification by the librarian of the needs

and expectations of the community as well as government priorities

established in the local development plans, in order to build participatory

and concerted work plans and demonstrate the impact and relevance

of the library with local stakeholders. Likewise, creative use of ICT

implied a leveling process in digital literacy for all librarians and the

generation and implementation of a road map for the training of the

library user community.

3. Endowment with complementary technology to encourage the use

of computers and the existing connectivity and expand the supply of

library services. This technology consisted of an information display, a

projector, a group of tablets, a multifunction printer, a sound system and

headphones.

4. Monitoring and measurement of changes in user profiles, in terms of

uses and users, through the tool “Key of Knowledge” 8.

8 The Key of Knowledge (Llave del Saber in Spanish) is a web application created by the Valle del Cauca department, that allows librarians to identify the uses and users of libraries in order to develop actions to improve the provision of library services. Before the pilot, the Key of Knowledge was implemented only in the libraries of the department of Valle del Cauca and the city of Cali. The pilot experience made possible to define the necessary actions for implementation at the national level, which is carried out, in full, with funds from the Ministry of Culture of Colombia.

P. L. Ramiro Moreno (Baranoa, Atlántico)

P. L. Villanueva (Casanare)

P. L. León de Greiff (Marsella, Risaralda)


5. Testing applications and digital resources. Digital content for reading 9,

education and entertainment was installed in the tablets

6. Implementation of innovative and creative ICT services 10 that demonstrate

the generation of opportunities to contribute with the development of

the municipality. After the training, in each library ICT services were

developed, promoted within the libraries or implemented within the

framework of national projects.

Participating libraries

In this pilot 25 libraries from around the country and the National Library of

Colombia participated. The libraries selected nationwide were chosen based

on the following criteria: departmental coverage, rural coverage, ethnic

coverage, geographical coverage and exceptional conditions. The above

mentioned, provided that public libraries had computers and had connectivity

(basic conditions for the pilot to be implemented).

Its geographical distribution was:

9 From the Reading is My Story collection, PDF format of the titles from series 1, 2 and 3 were installed, the only ones existing to date.

10 (i) Bilingualism: Project developed in 12 public libraries with support from the US Embassy and the Colombo Americano Center, named EnglishNet, for autonomous English learning (ii) Health: pilot project carried out in two public libraries, with organizational support from the Hesperian Health Guidelines. This project provided physical health books and digital resources, through the creation of an online page for each library (wiki) with information developed by the organi-zation.

P. L. Rafael Milanés García (Cereté, Córdoba)

P. L. Meira Delmar (Barranquilla, Atlántico)

P. L. Ramón Correa Mejía (Pereira, Risaralda)


DEPARTMENT MUNICIPALITY LIBRARY

Atlántico Baranoa Ramiro Moreno Public Library

Atlántico Barranquilla Meira Delmar Library

Atlántico Barranquilla Barrio La Paz Popular Library

Atlántico Suán de la Trinidad Carmen Rodríguez Díaz Municipal Public Library

Caldas Chinchiná Quiebra de Naranjal de Chinchiná Rural Public Library

Casanare Villanueva Mega Public Library

Cauca Corinto Corinto Public Library

Cauca Piendamó Vereda La Florida Municipal Public Library

Cauca Popayán Rafael Maya Departmental Public Library

Cauca Timbío José Rómulo Muñoz Rangel Public Library

Chocó Istmina Abraham Ayala Municipal Public Library

Córdoba Cereté Cerete Municipal Library Rafael Milanés García

Cundinamarca Soacha Joaquín Piñeros Corpas Municipal Public Library

Meta San Juan de Arama Concepción de Arama Municipal Public Library

Nariño Colón Abraham Ortiz Muñoz Public Library

Norte de Santander Cúcuta Julio Pérez Ferrero Departmental Library

Norte de Santander Herrán Municipal Public Library of Herrán

Norte de Santander Los Patios José Ignacio Rangel Municipal Public Library

Norte de Santander Ocaña Luis Eduardo Páez Courvel Municipal Public Library

Risaralda Belén de Umbría Belén de Umbría Municipal Public Library

Risaralda Marsella León de Greiff Public Library and Cultural Center

Risaralda Pereira Ramon Mejía Correa Municipal Public Library

Risaralda Pueblo Rico Abraham Ayala Municipal Public Library

Santander Socorro "Antonia Santos" Public Library Bicentennial Center

Vaupés Mitú Jose Eustasio Rivera Departmental Public Library

Cundinamarca Bogotá Digital lab - Biblioteca Nacional de Colombia

In the case of the National Library, the object was to implement a room with technology, in order to learn about the conditions necessary for its operation and sustainability. It was determined that its focus would be the production of digital content. Implementation and results, details are in: http://www.bibliotecanacional.gov.co/content/LABN.


Pilot outcomes

Given the condition of the pilot, its outcomes are measured from the

learnings, aiming to define the implementation proposal, which resulted

in the reception of grant resources for implementation at national level.


New building

Public Library Rafael Milanés García

Cereté, Córdoba


Child user

Municipal Public Library Abraham Ayala

Istmina, Chocó


Thus, by actions, the main learnings were:

Advocacy

• In terms of resources invested by local authorities ($ 352 million COP),

the result of the library management was outstanding. 20 of the 25

libraries required adjustments in electricity, safety and adaptation of

spaces, in terms of furniture, floors and walls, with a value of COP

$ 257 Million; 12 libraries had to adapt their computer equipment

and 3 libraries bought new computers with a contribution of COP $

37.5 million. 14 libraries had to adapt bandwidth connection, which

involved an investment of COP $ 58.2 million. At the end of the

pilot, all of the libraries had physical and technological infrastructure

appropriate to continue with the activities that were promoted.

• All librarians formed Groups of Friends of the Library, in order to get

more and better resources for public libraries.

• As for the effect on the library staff, 4 libraries managed recruiting more

staff for the provision of their services. However, there were 4 cases

in which librarians were changed. This reflect the challenges of library

staff training in Colombia and the opportunities faced to improve public

library positioning.


Training for library staff

Service plans consistent with the needs and expectations of local development

were formulated and implemented, generating a favorable perception of the

role of the librarian in library and community development. In this context, 78

innovative technology and creative services were implemented, for the access

to information and knowledge of all users in favor of community development.

These services were focused on digital literacy, reading promotion and

promotion of culture.

Bogotá, Colombia

Bogotá, Colombia

Biblioteca Nacional de Colombia


Training for librarians

Project Use and appropriation of ICT

Bogotá, 2014


Children users

Municipal Public Library Abraham Ayala

Istmina, Chocó


Endowment with complementary technology

All the delivered technology was used to stimulate the provision of services. The

informational display was especially relevant, by being an effective mechanism

for the promotion of library services and activities. Although technology was

used and achieved the desired goal, the challenge is to ensure that there is

a nationwide scheme defined for the maintenance and replacement of the

complementary technology as well as computers and connectivity. In the future,

technological endowment will be an incentive for these actions to be awarded

by the responsible authorities at national and regional level.


Monitoring and measurement of changes in user profiles

The Key of Knowledge allowed the investigation on the change in user profiles

and library usage behavior as a result from project implementation. The number

of users rose from 17,377 visits in the month of June 2013 to 31,120 in May

2014 and, regarding user profile, youths, adults and older adults made more

use of libraries, as well as users with professional education. The population in

disability status increased its presence in the libraries of the pilot, being visual

disability the most representative, followed by hearing impairment and physical

disability respectively. In the nationwide implementation, the Key of Knowledge

will be implemented nationwide previous to the completion of the Project.


Children users

Public Library Ramiro Moreno

Baranoa, Atlántico


Children users

Public Library Concepción de Arama

San Juan de Arama, Meta


Testing applications and digital resources

The most used applications were the ones oriented to reading, highlighting

readings from the “Reading is My Story” collection. For the future it is essential

that institutions responsible for the creation of digital content generate a new

and diverse content range to keep the interest of people in access to quality

content information from the technology installed in the library.

P. L. Abraham Ayala (Pueblo Rico, Risaralda)

P. L. Rafael Milanés García (Cereté, Córdoba)

P. L. Julio Pérez Ferrero (Cúcuta, Norte de Santander)


Implementation of innovative and creative ICT services

As a result of the implementation of bilingual and health programs, libraries

were able to provide services regularly associated with educational institutions,

expanding the opportunities for personal development. The need to build new

alliances based on improving the living conditions of people from the public

library is evident.

Marsella, Risaralda


User with disabilities

Public Library Meira Delmar

Barranquilla, Atlántico

The expectation is to extend the results of this pilot to 1,200 pub-lic libraries nationwide between 2014 and 2018. Undoubtedly, the support and commitment of everyone will allow that through the implementation of this initiative more opportunities will be generated for reading, culture and development of Colombians.

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national assessment of the national network

Documents

state public libraries

national study

use of information

participating libraries

appropriation of ict

republic of colombia

main information needs

potential users