Author: Ferran Blasco, user of the Montilivi Occupational Center.
The history of our library began with a personal concern. As a user of the Occupational Center of Montilivi , of the public libraries of Girona and a lover of reading, being the delegate of the group where I work, I presented the idea to the annual meeting of delegates. The proposal was approved and, later, I was collecting information, with the support of the different direct attention professionals from the center and also from the different librarians of Girona. My main objective was to encourage reading between each user with functional diversity (Down Syndrome, mental illness, etc ...) and from this moment on, the assembly of our library was carried out: shelves , Tables, chairs, etc.
The library consists of shelves and a hundred books, music CDs, magazines and newspapers. Each book is classified, according to the CDU (Universal Decimal Classification) and adapted to users in a simplified way. There are also internal rules that must be met when using the library. We have a schedule to assist users and any doubts that may arise. This timetable is: Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Organization system:
• The books are cataloged one by one, putting their description: author, title, publisher, etc.
• In each book, according to its typology, a color gomet is placed in order to identify it and thus, to find it more easily.
• Also, each user has the opportunity to take their books home, having a stipulated time to return them. It takes control of each person who uses the loan service.
Book donations:
The books are obtained by donations from the Salvador Allende Library (charm space), from individuals and from the Foundation's own staff.
Poll:
A survey was carried out on all the users of the center in order to know the topic that most interested them and to go back to Salvador Allende Library to obtain more books.
Targets:
• Encourage the habit of reading among the users of the occupational center.
• Offer books adapted to the needs, demands and preferences of the users.
• Create a consultation space, with loan service, books and multimedia material.
Proposals for improvement:
• Have adequate and correct space for each user.
• Have the equipment necessary for the proper functioning of the library. (Shelves, tables, chairs, separators, etc.)
• Update the file for all books.
• Ensure that the person in charge of the library acquires the appropriate training to get a good operation and optimize the resources available.
• Ask local newspapers to subscribe to get them every day. (Diari de Girona, El Punt-Avui).
• Promote dynamics and activities to attract more users.
• Have a computer in the room to computerize the activity.
Throughout the year, students visit the occupational center, and one of the spaces they visit is our library. And I, as responsible for the same, teach them and give them explanations of how they work. The students are very satisfied and leave happy.
The library, within our center, is a very important part because we have many users who use it. It should also be said that the beginnings have been difficult, because initially they did not know where or how to remove books from the library, but with the help of the monitors (who have worked hard enough), and from me I can say that in the end the project of making a library in our center has come true. For me it has been a great satisfaction to have reached the end of the road and have made a dream come true.
Article published in the Annual Magazine of the Ramon Noguera Foundation 2017. Read more articles: MAGAZINE FRN 2017
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