STATISTICS TO PLAN: STATISTICAL DEVELOPMENT IN A REGIONAL SYSTEM OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES (VALENCIAN COMMUNITY – SPAIN)

1. 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

2. VALENCIAN COMMUNITY (SPAIN)

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. Department of Books and Libraries of the Valencian Autonomous Government • Actions: - Map of Valencian Public Reading. - Improvement of the statistical system.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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

9. XABIB: database of the Valencian Library System II • Tree structure: - Maintenance. - Observations. - Annual data. - Monthly data. - Lists. - Local aid.

10. XABIB

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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/

17. 2005: The Dynamic Map of Valencian Libraries

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. 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.