Navarra has made a significant contribution to the XII National Congress of Mobile Libraries, held under the theme ‘Mobile Libraries: Rights Without Barriers’ at the Ciudad da Cultura in Santiago de Compostela. The region presented two key projects focused on mobile library services in rural areas of the Comunidad Foral, including a satisfaction survey for the Bibliobús de Tierra Estella and the LAGA mobile library initiative in Leitza.
The congress took place on 23 and 24 October and explored the essential role of mobile libraries as a bridge to cultural access, equality, and inclusion in rural settings. Navarra actively participated in the professional communications segment, with presentations from Iñaki Suso Espadas and Harkaitz Delgado Tobias, who shared insights and data from their respective projects.
The presentations were part of the official congress programme, structured around discussion panels and colloquiums. The first presentation occurred on 23 October, followed by the second on 24 October. The event brought together professionals and institutions from across the national and international landscape, featuring keynote speeches, round tables, guided tours of the showcased mobile libraries, and awards from the Asociación de Casas y Bibliotecas Móviles (ACLEBIM). This gathering served as a platform for reflection on the development of library services in areas facing special vulnerabilities or geographical dispersion.
The initiative aims to highlight the social function of these services as a guarantee for the full exercise of fundamental rights for rural citizens, breaking down material barriers and promoting the development of small population centres.
Selected projects from Navarra
The satisfaction survey for users of the Bibliobús de Tierra Estella was presented by Iñaki Suso Espadas on 23 October, within the first block of communications. This presentation analysed the results and public perception of the service provided by this mobile unit in the Tierra Estella region, assessing its impact, accessibility, and community response to the library services offered in their municipalities.
The LAGA mobile library project was defended by Harkaitz Delgado Tobias in the second block of communications on 24 October. This initiative highlighted the journey and intervention model of this mobile library focused on the Leitza area, showcasing its role in fostering social cohesion, promoting reading, and cultural dynamism through a proximity service tailored to the specific needs of the rural community.
Both the Bibliobús de Tierra Estella and the LAGA mobile library were featured in the Mobile Libraries Exhibition and included in a guided tour, one of the activities scheduled during the congress.
XII National Congress of Mobile Libraries
The twelfth edition of the National Congress of Mobile Libraries, titled ‘Mobile Libraries: Rights Without Barriers’, aimed to serve as a technical meeting point to demonstrate the strategic value of reading and information as drivers of social equality. Over three days, the programme in Santiago de Compostela combined the presentation of best practices, data-driven research, and professional exchange activities aimed at ensuring that all citizens have access to quality public cultural resources, regardless of their place of residence.
