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/ 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. 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.