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- Spaniards consulted 2.5 million e-books in 2023, reflecting the need to advance the digitization of the archives of these centers.
- Access to extensive and varied digital catalogs, including e-books and audiobooks, has proven to be a key driver for increasing citizen participation.
- In this context, unlimited learning ecosystems allow libraries to optimize internal processes, reducing management times by up to 30% and significantly improving operational efficiency and user experience.
Madrid, February 20th, 2025 – Public libraries are evolving to adapt to an increasingly digital environment. As the demand for access to content from any device grows, these spaces are expanding their role beyond the lending of printed books, incorporating innovative solutions that guarantee a more accessible, inclusive, and efficient offer.
In Spain, almost 85 million visits to public libraries were recorded in 2023, according to the latest report from the Ministry of Culture. This reflects a significant increase in citizen participation. In addition, book loans reached 36.2 million, of which 2.5 million (7% of the total) corresponded to e-books, consolidating an upward trend.
ODILO, a Spanish edtech specialized in the creation of Unlimited Learning Ecosystems, is helping libraries to take on their digital transformation process through its comprehensive content management platform, which makes it possible to offer e-books, audiobooks, online courses, and other educational resources accessible from any device. These are the primary keys by which digitization will help revitalize these spaces in favor of a more educated and cultured society.
More content and more use
Libraries are expanding their digital content catalog to adapt to new user demands. Thanks to solutions such as ODILO, they have achieved significant growth in using their digital resources by offering innovative experiences that encourage engagement with reading, such as digital book clubs.
These have revolutionized the way readers enjoy and share their favorite books. Their main advantage is accessibility, allowing participation from anywhere and anytime, eliminating geographical and time barriers. Through digital platforms, readers can discuss, share impressions and access complementary content, such as interviews with authors, thematic analysis or multimedia material. This fosters more profound learning and a dynamic experience. In addition, the diversity of participants enriches the literary debate.
The Madrid City Council, for example, launched the platform ‘El club de los gatos’. In addition to having access to countless titles in digital format, participants can join thematic forums, attend live chats, and enjoy meetings with authors; all available 24 hours a day to ensure maximum convenience.
Also, ‘El club de los gatos’ complements each reading with innovative proposals, such as audiovisual content, music, or conferences with experts. Users can simultaneously sign up for several reading rooms, exploring different genres and themes according to their interests. In this way, the club not only encourages the habit of reading but also creates a dynamic community where literature is experienced in an interactive and enriching way. It is also a vehicle to encourage citizen participation.
This transformation allows users to access a wider variety of titles in digital formats, eliminating the limitations of physical space and availability. They enjoy content tailored to their preferences and needs with a single click while encouraging reading and lifelong learning. This evolution reinforces the role of libraries as reference spaces for education and cultural dissemination in the digital era, as evidenced by data from the Ministry of Culture.
Efficient management and improved accessibility
Implementing digital solutions not only expands access to content but also optimizes the management of library resources. An example of this is the Almeria City Council Library, where the integration of the ODILO platform has reduced management times by up to 30%, facilitating the administration of digital loans and improving the user experience.
In addition, such solutions automate key processes, such as cataloging and content updating, which reduces the operational burden on library staff. This translates into greater efficiency and the possibility of offering users a more agile and personalized service, ensuring that access to information is immediate and without barriers.
3. Democratization of access to knowledge
The digitization of libraries also ensures that anyone has access to educational and cultural content regardless of their geographic location or condition. The Network of Public Libraries of Catalonia offers a variety of resources in different languages and formats. For example, its users can enjoy over 45 thousand e-books, more than 15 thousand audiobooks, and even more than 10 thousand scores, among many other formats.
4. Autonomous and continuous learning
Libraries are no longer just places for reference but have become training and lifelong learning centers. With access to online courses, interactive materials, and quality educational content, users acquire new skills in a flexible way that is tailored to their needs. “Our solution allows libraries not only to remain the protagonists by ensuring free and equal access to knowledge, information and culture, but also to promote early literacy and be a space for meeting and social cohesion,” explains Ainhoa Marcos, VP Education Spain at ODILO.
5. Innovation in the library offer
The future of public libraries lies in integrating advanced technologies that enrich the user experience. Implementing the latest innovations in artificial intelligence, data analysis, and content personalization allows libraries to optimize their offerings and anticipate the needs of their visitors. “With digitization, libraries offer learning experiences that are much more dynamic and adapted to each user, promoting a culture of knowledge without limits,” adds Ainhoa Marcos.
The digital transformation of libraries is an unstoppable reality. With a growing demand for remote access to content and an increasingly diversified offer, these spaces are redefining their role in society, ensuring that knowledge and education are accessible to all, at any time and from anywhere.
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ABOUT ODILO
ODILO is a digital education company that allows any organization to create its own Learning Ecosystem, offering its users unlimited access to the world’s most extensive catalog of multi-format educational content and the ability to create all kinds of learning experiences without restrictions. More than a thousand platforms have been created, providing access to 170 million users on five continents.
ODILO, the world’s largest educational ecosystem, has content agreements with more than 7,300 providers of digital educational content in all formats (courses, interactive applications, videos, podcasts, press, magazines, audiobooks, books, etc.).