Why are fewer and fewer people going to read in public libraries?

BarcelonaThe newspapers have reported that the library that was to be installed in the old Casa de la Prensa to renovate the Biblioteca Francesc Boix in Poble-sec will finally be installed in another space, yet to be determined. If it has to be to offer a good service to the citizens of that neighbourhood, we should be happy.

However, it seems that Barcelona has certain problems in the location, construction and services of public libraries. The first major alarm bell came when the old Born market, which was intended to become the city's Provincial Library, was transformed in a space of memory of the Spanish War of Succession. There were several citizens and tourists at the beginning of the rehabilitation of the space, important conclusions were drawn regarding the archaeology of the place, but the Born ended up being an anonymous and little frequented space. It should not be forgotten that most of the architectural remains of the place have a perfectly visible equivalent, and very extended, around the Born. When they told the architect Oriol Bohigas that remains from the 18th century had been found in El Born, he asked: "From the 18th century BC?" This would have been a sensational find.

It seems that the provincial library will finally be built on a plot of land next to the Estacion de Francia, a rather inconvenient place for readers if we bear in mind that there is no metro stop around the corner. As for the few people who still visit libraries to do research or study, there is no doubt that the most suitable places are the Biblioteca de Catalunya and the Biblioteca de la Universidad de Barcelona, ​​both of which are very well stocked.

The authorities who make decisions on this matter would do well to know that fewer and fewer people are going to public libraries with the intention of reading: what they do is work on their own or a home computer, copy notes from a friend at school, chat – often in a very loud voice – and do what is now called "socialising" in the expression.

If this is the case, then the Poble-sec library should be located in a very central location in the neighbourhood, with a good café, rooms for conversational meetings and a large space for debates and cultural events. As for the books, there is no need to rush them. When the citizens have received a good literary education again and the percentage of readers increases, they will put in as many as necessary.