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From the library to the Information Commons: An approach to the model’s development in Spain

Ana Reyes Pacios (Department of Library Science and Documentation, University of Carlos III, Getafe, Spain)

New Library World

ISSN: 0307-4803

Article publication date: 13 July 2015

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Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to show the progress made by 37 universities in Spain in adopting the “Information Commons” model, a strategy planed 10 years ago by the Spanish University Library Network (hereafter referred to as REBIUN) to meet the demands of the European Higher Education Area.

Design/methodology/approach

A Web survey was sent to 70 supervisors or directors of Spanish university libraries.

Findings

This paper reveals current approaches toward the goal of convergence and provides an idea of the extent to which universities have thus far managed to integrate services and resources in the Information Commons. Not all libraries have initiated this path or it is still in its early stages and the transformation is taking place at different “speeds” or degrees of implementation.

Originality/value

The paper shows, for the first time, that the incomplete, scant or absent integration of university services and resources in an Information Commons has to do with multiple factors in each library. The human factor is the key element in this type of change process. Commitment, network building and synergies are thus necessary factors in the success of this process.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the different directors of Spanish university libraries who responded to the survey for this article.

Citation

Pacios, A.R. (2015), "From the library to the Information Commons: An approach to the model’s development in Spain", New Library World, Vol. 116 No. 7/8, pp. 345-357. https://doi.org/10.1108/NLW-11-2014-0136

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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