One Hundred Years of Libraries and the Library Profession in Catalonia
Reference Type | Journal Article |
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Year of Publication |
2018
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Contributors |
Author:
Alex Cosials Author: Mònica Baró Author: Teresa Mañà |
Journal |
Libraries: Culture, History, and Society
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Volume |
2
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Issue |
2
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Pagination |
202-220
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Language | |
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Library Type | |
Chronological Period | |
Abstract |
The creation and development of the library system of Catalonia (Spain) started in 1915 with the drafting of a project to determine the structure and relevant elements of public libraries. The project was greatly inspired by the Anglo-American “Free libraries” model. This article discusses the implementation of the first “People's Libraries” that functioned as a network, with the support of the Biblioteca de Catalunya. It also describes the establishment of the Escola de Bibliotecàries, a pioneering school of librarianship, which was only open to female students. Finally, it argues that the quality of the current Catalan library system is largely due to the strength of the initial project, which was not abandoned even in the dark times of the two dictatorships in twentieth-century Spain. The uninterrupted operation of a library science school has also played a key role, as it has ensured the training of professionals who have contributed to the continuity of the public library project.
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