PurposeGoogle Maps is a web platform that allows users to review businesses and services, including libraries. Given the impact of online reviews on the corporate reputation of companies and institutions, it is important to understand how library users disseminate and process reviews on online sites. This study explores whether Google Maps is being used by users of public libraries in the city of Barcelona (Spain) to share their views on libraries' facilities and services and what perception of the library they transmit.Design/methodology/approachRecords corresponding to the 40 public municipal libraries in Barcelona were retrieved from Google Maps. For each library, the average “rating” (a quantitative assessment of the library) and a sample of the ten most recent “reviews” (a text and/or photograph(s) that accompanies the rating) were analysed. Reviews were categorised into eight categories: “children's areas”, “collections”, “location”, “facilities”, “general reviews”, “opening hours”, “staff” and “technology”.FindingsAll of the city's 40 public libraries are present in Google Maps and have been reviewed by users, usually with high ratings. The number of replies to users' reviews by library managers is negligible. Reviews with low ratings tend to be longer than those with high ratings. In the reviews, children's areas, collections and library location are given positive ratings. Facilities also receive positive reviews, although to a lesser extent, and two issues receive criticism: noise and lack of seating space for studying. Three aspects of the libraries attract similar numbers of positive and negative reviews: staff, opening hours and technology. The study concludes that Barcelona's public libraries should devote more resources for keeping the information in their profiles updated. They should also monitor users' opinions and create guidelines to offer feedback, especially to negative reviews.Research limitations/implicationsThe research is limited by being restricted to a single platform (Google Maps) and a single city (Barcelona). Those writing reviews in Google Maps may not constitute a representative sample of library users. “Local guides”, who tend to award higher ratings than other users, participate in a programme that allows them to earn points that may be exchanged for benefits. Therefore, it is possible that at least some “local guides” publish reviews on public libraries they hardly know (if at all) just to obtain benefits. Similarly, the large number of users commenting on study spaces suggests that young people may be over-represented.Originality/valueMany studies have analysed transaction data in online library settings, including visits, searches, downloads, etc. but there are no examples of analyses of user-generated content such as texts or photos uploaded to review sites and social media. The results of this study will help to improve the understanding of how library patrons see public libraries and to design effective strategies to respond to and generally manage their suggestions and complaints.Peer reviewThe peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/OIR-09-2019-0291

Se analiza el impacto que puede tener el real decreto RD 43/2015 de reforma de las enseñanzas universitarias en las titulaciones de biblioteconomía y documentación. La implantación en España del Espacio europeo de educación superior (EEES) estableció los grados de cuatro años, un modelo minoritario en Europa aunque muy presente en el resto del mundo. La aprobación del RD 43/2015 abre la puerta a programar grados de tres años y ha despertado el interés de algunas universidades, especialmente en Cataluña. Respecto de la formación en biblioteconomía y documentación se podría pensar en una estructura 3+1 que permitiría incluir los contenidos actuales, ofreciendo dos títulos (grado y master) y, por otro lado, también se podrían programar masters de dos años pensados para atender las demandas de graduados de otras disciplinas. El principal inconveniente, además del cansancio por los continuos cambios de modelo, se encuentra en la necesidad de asegurar que el primer año de master tenga el mismo coste que el actual grado.

This article summarizes results related to graduates in Library and Information Science (LIS) provided in a report on higher-education employability published by the Spanish National Statistics Institute (INE) in 2019. The data show that LIS graduates have a slightly lower employment rate than other graduates. Nevertheless, they enjoy greater job stability, with a higher percentage of permanent contracts instead of placements or internships. More than one-quarter of LIS graduates work part-time, and the Public Administration continues to be the sector providing more employment opportunities for them. A certain level of overqualification is observed, with significant percentages of LIS graduates stating that they hold positions for which their degree is not necessary. Salaries are lower than those of other graduates, with data showing the same gender pay gap that affects female graduates across all disciplines. LIS graduates are satisfied with their training, and most would study the same degree again. They are little inclined to international mobility during their studies and consider themselves advanced users of information and communication technologies. Se sintetizan los resultados relativos a los graduados en Información y Documentación recogidos en la Encuesta de inserción laboral de titulados universitarios 2019 del Instituto Nacional de Estadística. Los datos indican que los graduados en Información y Documentación trabajan en una proporción ligeramente inferior al resto de titulados. Sin embargo, disfrutan de una mayor estabilidad laboral, con un porcentaje superior de contratos permanentes en detrimento de los contratos en prácticas y becas. Más de la cuarta parte de los graduados trabaja a tiempo parcial y la Administración Pública continúa siendo el ámbito que proporciona mayores oportunidades de ocupación. Se observa un cierto grado de sobrecualificación, con porcentajes significativos de graduados que afirman estar ocupando puestos de trabajo para los que no es necesaria la titulación. Las retribuciones son inferiores a las de otros graduados, al tiempo que se constata la misma brecha salarial de género que castiga a las tituladas de todas las disciplinas. Los graduados en Información y Documentación se declaran satisfechos con la titulación cursada y mayoritariamente repetirían los estudios, se muestran poco proclives a la movilidad internacional durante sus estudios y se consideran usuarios avanzados de las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación.

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