STATISTICS TO PLAN: STATISTICAL DEVELOPMENT IN A REGIONAL SYSTEM OF

PUBLIC LIBRARIES

(VALENCIAN COMMUNITY – SPAIN)

Milagros Ortells Montón

Ignacio Latorre Zacarés

Generalitat Valenciana

World Library and Information Congress: 71st IFLA General Conference and Council

Satellite Meeting in Bergen

VALENCIAN COMMUNITY (SPAIN)

Valencian Library System• Valencian Community:

- 4.600.000 inhabitants

- 542 towns integrated in 3 provinces (Alicante, Castellón and Valencia).

• Valencian Library System:

- Created in 1987. Policies of establishing libraries and extension of the urban library networks.

- 532 public reading centres (2004).

- 98’3% of the Valencian population live in towns that have public library service.

- 98% of public libraries belong to the local administration.

Department of Books and Libraries of the Valencian Autonomous Government

• Objectives:

- A reliable knowledge of the public library system.

- Establishment of a regional library electronic network.

- New grants for the public libraries.

- Legal adaptation of the library system.

- Creation of new aid instruments for the libraries and its professional staff.

Department of Books and Libraries of the Valencian Autonomous Government

• Actions:

- Map of Valencian Public Reading.

- Improvement of the statistical system.

Reasons for an improvement of the statistical system I

• Deficiencies of the Valencian Library System:

- Lack of suitable budgets.

- Lack of professionals in small towns.

- Small size of many of the libraries.

- Lack of renewal of the bibliographical resources.

- Reduced timetable for attending the public.

- Lack of library service in small towns.

- Limited presence of mobile libraries.

- Lack of computerization.

- Lack of legal adjustment.

Reasons for an improvement of the statistical system II

• Map of Valencian Public Reading (2000-2001). On-the-spot surveys.

• Creation of a powerful database.• Library Inspection Service.• Valencian Public Reading Electronic Network.

http://xlpv.cult.gva.es/• The whole statistical process should be kept in

the hands of the officials of the Department of the Books and Libraries. No outsourcing.

XABIB: database of the Valencian Library System

• Centralization of all the quantitative and qualitative information of the Valencian libraries.

• Database Oracle9i, PowerBuilder Release 7.• Application client- server integrated in a network

managed by Windows2000 servers.• Large storage capacity of information .• Web applications

XABIB: database of the Valencian Library System II

• Tree structure:

- Maintenance.

- Observations.

- Annual data.

- Monthly data.

- Lists.

- Local aid.

XABIB

Update and check of the directory of

Valencian libraries

• On-the-spot surveys of the Map of Valencian Public Reading.

• Telephone contacts with all the city councils.• Continuous updating on line.

• Priority is given to data entailing a change in the

directory.

Integration of information into the Spanish statistical system of public

libraries

• Spanish Group of Statistics of Public Libraries (1997).

• Cooperation between the Spanish Ministry of Culture and the institutions in charge of library policies of the different Spanish regions.

• ISO 2789:2003.• Annual picture of the situation of the public library

system in Spain.

Update of statistical questionnaires: monthly statistics and the annual

questionnaire • Historical series of monthly statistics: Inclusion of

loans of special material and loans in foreign language.

• Annual survey: all the parameters applicable to public libraries .

• Delivery statistical data: Ministry of Culture; National Statistical Institute (INE); Valencian Statistical Institute (IVE); Valencian Autonomous Government.

Simplification of the sending procedure of statistics

• New electronic models of monthly statistics.• Sending of statistics via e-mail .• Introduction of the monthly statistics in XABIB

directly by the libraries via Internet. • http://www.cult.gva.es/DGLB/bibliotecas-f_e.htm

• Annual surveys: dispatch of statistics is only made through postal or electronic mail.

Consistency of data: process of

filtering and checking of data

• Time factor: professionals are improving the ways of compiling and providing the information required.

• Annual statistics: Special effort of filtering and checking of data.

• Clear questionnaire.• Explanatory notes.

Creation of the on-line Directory of Valencian Libraries

• Open, versatile and on-line consultation of the principal data of the Valencian Library System.

http://biblioportal.cult.gva.es/• Researching: typology of libraries, town councils,

region, province, number of inhabitants, etc.• Results: directory, timetable, services, facilities.• Connexion XABIB-Electronic Network of

Valencian Public Reading.

http://xlpv.cult.gva.es/

2005: The Dynamic Map of Valencian Libraries

2005: The Dynamic Map of Valencian Libraries

http://appweb2.cult.gva.es/hdfi41/ESLAB-BIBLIO/bibliotecas_c.jsp

• Open and on line version of the internal programme for obtaining data.

• Intuitive consultations.• Historical consultations.• Graphics.• 18 sections 200 parameters.• Criteria: year,geographic distribution, demographic

magnitude, library typology.• Excel Versatility.

Practical applications of statistical management and approaches for the

future I

• Provision of the data annually requested by different institutions.

• Making reports.• Adoption of measures of improvement.• Reports in specialised magazines. • Media.• Research in the Valencian Library System.• Project Tibidabo.

Practical applications of statistical management and approaches for the

future II

• Data Analysis Information Knowledge Making decisions.

• Library dates demographic, economic and sociological variables indicators and ratios.

• Graphics.• Zonal studies.• Objective: to obtain each time a greater

consistency level in the data.