Comparative Analysis of the Development of Multicultural Library Services in the Spanish Public Library Network (2007-2010)

Introduction: The percentage of foreign-born residents in Spain has multiplied almost fourfold over the last decade. Immigration has changed our society, both from a demographic and economic perspective, and from a cultural and political prospective. The Spanish public library network, a democratic institution that provides services, initially, of equal access for all users, may become in this context a bonding tool and contribute to the social integration of individuals and groups with plural cultural identities. Method: Assuming international recommendations as a reference point, we have made a comparison of the evolution in the development of multicultural library services in Spanish public libraries during 2007-2010. Results: The study is based on data provided by the respective organisms responsible of coordinating of library services in the Spanish regional administrations. The data analysis followed the guideline framework provided by IFLA's Section for Library Services to Multicultural Populations. Conclusions: The planning of library services with a multicultural approach is still ignored by the majority of the librarian coordinators in the respective regional administrations in Spain. Despite our transformation into a multicultural society and the ever-growing percentage of foreign population during the analysed period, the development of such services shows similar levels of diversity as in 2007. (Contains 8 figures.)