users change libraries

Users change libraries

The experience of public libraries in Barcelona province

A space for the future - library buildings in the 21st century

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


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


Local administration manages only 13% of public resources

30% of the local resources are for non-compulsory duties

Diputació de Barcelona: a supralocal administration


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


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


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


Grants for construction and facilities

Consultation and process tracking (project and works)

Initial collection

ICT



Basic collection selection, acquisition and archiving

Union catalogue and interlibrary loan service

Information technology programme

Training plans

Library staff. Support staff



Statistics and service evaluation

Materials for libraries and librarians

Activities to promote reading

User training plans

External communication and promotion



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


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 (1990-1995)

Little political conviction

Difficulties in explaining the “new” model (students-citizens)

Difficulties in applying standards

Intervention in heritage buildings



From 98 public libraries to 112

From 1 mobile library to 2

From 21,973 m2 to 45,417 m2

15/1 new public libraries and 18/1 move to a new building



From 112 public libraries to 145

From 2 mobile libraries to 8

From 45,417 m2 to 105,100 m2

36 new public libraries and 24 move to a new building



Increased political support

“Expert” model

From standards to local programmes - identifying needs

ICT: new services, new spaces

New standards, more m2

Rethinking the spaces and services



Qualitative citizen´s study (1999)- The spaces are highly regarded (large, well lit and pleasant). But many still lack m2. There is a call for spaces to be segregated according to use: a silent space for studying and another for talking



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



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



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



new spaces

new users

new services

new spaces

more and different users

new needs



More users

Different users

New “library” - meeting place, information centre, cultural agent and support for the educational process

More space and with different requirementschilias.diba.es

Users with library card


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 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


Hall

Informal spaces

Periodicals area

More “flexible” Internet service

Bar

Meeting rooms

The public library as a local information centre


Information service area

Access to information resources via the Internet

More “silent” places

Study and consultation spaces

The public library as a cultural centre


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


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


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


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, 18708036 BarcelonaTel. 00-34-934022241Fax. 00-34-934022488e-mail: [email protected]: http://www.diba.es/biblioteques

Assumpta Bailac

users change libraries

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