Treasures of world libraries: SPbPU representatives in Madrid

Innovation of the scientific and technological festival “Polytech: Science, Technology & Creativity” that took place in Madrid (Spain) was dedicated to cooperation between information and library complexes. “The greatest treasure is a good library,” according to Vissarion Belinsky. The words of a great literary critic are unlikely to lose relevance: both many centuries ago and nowadays millions of students all over the world are keen on the libraries that still remain an indispensable and fundamental component of educational environment. The social function of libraries in modern society is increasing significantly. At the same time the tasks they face are changing as well: the university library is determined not only by the scale of its books collection, but also by its level of completeness, speed and availability of information. The modern library represents the real nucleus of the university environment, acting as an integrator of both intra-university processes, and ensuring that the university and its employees enter the global information space. That is why the interaction of information and library complexes at the international level, experience exchange, live communication of specialists and their direct interaction today is an urgent, timely and in many ways significant process.

SPbPU Vice-Rector for International Relations Dmitry Arseniev noted that “development of a close partnership in the field of information and library interaction is a new direction for SPbPU, which in the very near future will open new prospects for us in the international interuniversity cooperation”.

The scientific seminar took place in the Library of Leganes of University Carlos III of Madrid. SPbPU was represented by the Deputy Director of the Information and Library Complex of SPbPU Natalia Sokolova. University Carlos III of Madrid was represented by the Director of the Library Complex of the University Teresa Malo and other colleagues. Natalia Sokolova told about the strategy of SPbPU Information and Library Complex development.

“SPbPU Information and Library Complex is a powerful structure that is developing every day. We have a rich experience of constant interaction with the world network of libraries as well as in organizing library conferences. In order to become better, more complete and more accessible day by day, we are striving to expand cooperation with our foreign colleagues, to get acquainted with their experience and to adopt successful practices” according to the Deputy Director of SPbPU Information and Library Complex Natalia Sokolova.

Spanish colleagues presented the key issues about the Information and Library Complex of University Carlos III of Madrid. It was built not long ago, at the end of the 20th century, and is therefore particularly interesting as a sample of a complex with a new function and role within the university, designed in accordance with modern standards and requirements. The library is characterized by increased functionality and convenience, and the practices used by the complex are really worthy of imitation.

“In fact, all the library space is given to readers, representing a multifunctional co-working. We provide them with ample opportunities for independent work - comfortable desks, light, Internet connection, zones of “silence”, premises for individual and group work. You can receive and hand over books through self-service stations, you can book seats in group or individual classes through the site, as well you can rent a laptop and then return it through an automated wardrobe with cells. Everywhere the card is identified with a password. All services are provided free of charge,” - noted the Director of the Information and Library Complex of the University Carlos III of Madrid.

The library of the University Carlos III of Madrid is the center of all information and analytical work of the University: in it’s maintenance, in addition to the traditional library functions, support of the site, storage and processing of scientific data, analytics and science metrics, services for the development and support of online courses. For these purposes, two video recording studios are equipped in the library.

An equally interesting and eventful seminar was held in the library of the Higher School of Telecommunications of the Technical University of Madrid (UPM). Unlike the Information and Library Complex of the University Carlos III of Madrid, UPM libraries represent a more “classical” version of the information space. 20 schools of the Madrid Polytechnic are served by 17 libraries located in 5 campuses. Talking about the development strategy, the Spanish colleagues were united - in order for libraries to be the center of the university; it is required to integrate into the new, digital form of the organization of science and education in all the directions of the university's activity. They also succeeded: libraries fulfill new functions both independently and in cooperation with other departments of universities.

“The attendance of our libraries is very high. Thus, in the library of the Higher School of Telecommunications with 400 workplaces for library there are about 2000-2500 visits per day, and during the examination period - up to 4500”, - according to the Director of the Library of the Higher School of Telecommunications.

UPM libraries and Leganes are accompanied by digital repositories, where one can get acquainted with theses, graduate work of masters and bachelors, scientific monographs, author's abstracts and other materials. An actual and new form of scientific support is the placement of open data, since one of the requirements of the EU grants for the Horizon-2020 program is the mandatory confirmation of theses of the printed publication in the scientific journal with the initial scientific data (video footage experiments, spreadsheets, etc.). It is remarkable that the libraries participate in the consortium of university libraries in Madrid and the consortium of university libraries in Spain, which allows not duplicating the performed work.

The development of SPbPU libraries and Spanish partners is largely taking place in a single direction - the organization of a new space for readers, the development of sites and online services, digital collections and databases. However, each institution has its own specifics. Summing up the meetings, both sides noted the importance of improving their work on the basis of successful achievements of partner libraries, and also agreed to hold a Russian-Spanish Library and Information Seminar in the framework of “The International Polytechnic Week – 2018”.