Residents of small municipalities across Barcelona province are now covered by a public library service through Diputació de Barcelona's network of 13 library buses, according to the provincial authority. The service matters particularly in towns without a permanent municipal library, where the buses provide borrowing, internet access and reading-promotion activities.

The network reached full coverage of municipalities with fewer than 3,000 inhabitants after the introduction of the Bibliobús Serra de Bellmunt, which serves Osona and Lluçanès, as well as municipalities in the neighbouring areas of Moianès, la Selva and Vallès Occidental. It also reaches Vidrà and Espinelves, in Osona but within Girona province.

Diputació de Barcelona says it is working to ensure that everyone in the province has access to public reading services regardless of where they live.

Service tailored to smaller towns

Under the provincial authority's service rules, library buses are intended for municipalities of between 300 and 3,000 inhabitants that do not have a library in the Xarxa de Biblioteques Municipals, the Municipal Libraries Network. The Diputació de Barcelona is responsible for the service under Decree 124/1999 on services and staff in Catalonia's public reading system.

Stops normally last between two and three hours and run weekly or fortnightly. The Serra de Bellmunt service can operate weekly, fortnightly or monthly, depending on each town's circumstances, and uses a lighter vehicle to improve access to smaller villages.

  • Each library bus carries around 3,500 items, with a wider collection renewed regularly.
  • Services include book loans, information and advice, free internet and Wi-Fi, and loans for schools and organisations.
  • The network now comprises 236 permanent libraries and 13 library buses, according to Diputació de Barcelona.

How municipalities can request a library bus

Town councils seeking the service can apply through the Diputació de Barcelona's Local Governments Network service catalogue. Councils using the service are required to mark the stop and collaborate with library bus staff.

The Diputació's Library Services Unit can be contacted from Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 3.00pm, by email at [email protected] or by telephone on 934 022 545, extension 37551.

Primary sources: diba.cat, Diputació de Barcelona, diba.cat, Diputació de Barcelona, Diputació de Barcelona, Diputació de Barcelona, Diputació de Barcelona, Diputació de Barcelona, Diputació de Barcelona, FELIU OLLER, ANTONI. Reported by POCH CASANOVAS, ROSA MARIA, canal56.com, contractaciopublica.cat, Regió 7.