Library spaces in the strategic plans of Spanish university libraries

Objective: The strategic plans of Spanish university libraries are studied with the main objective of analyzing the references to the library spaces. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study sample is composed of libraries of the 47 Spanish public universities. Strategic plans available for public consultation (28 plans) are gathered. Content analysis is performed to know its structure and, above all, find references to spaces. Results/Discussion: Out of the 28 plans, the following are analyzed: chronological coverage, name of the plans, structure, etc. The plans with mentions to the spaces are 24. A list including the space typology is established and, above all, how the new trends of library spaces are reflected is specified. Conclusions: The actions related to the spaces are a priority in the libraries analyzed (present in 85.7% of plans). From the spaces that libraries see necessary to incorporate, the following stand out: group work; multifunctional or versatile; collaborative work and social interaction. It is verified that in the analyzed libraries there is a purpose to adapt to the trends of the 21st century: to adopt spaces in support of the new modes of teaching-learning; and to adopt spaces that facilitate interrelation and coexistence. Originality/Value: The study of library spaces today is a way of learning about the transformation and innovation that libraries are undergoing. In this paper, a study of spaces of Spanish university libraries through the strategic plans is performed for the first time.