UAB libraries will take part in the 2026 Catalan Information and Documentation Conference

The Humanities Library and the Science and Technology Library (BCT) of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona will take part in the 18th Catalan Information and Documentation Conference 2026, organised by the Col·legi Oficial de Bibliotecaris-Documentalistes de Catalunya, which will be held on 4–5 June 2026 at the Faculty of Information and Audiovisual Media of the University of Barcelona. The Scientific Committee of the conference, composed of recognised professionals responsible for reviewing and validating all submitted papers, communications and professional experiences, will include the Head of the UAB Humanities Library, Sílvia Redondo.

In this context, the Humanities Library will present the paper titled “Knowledge transfer and reading promotion: developing a virtual reading club in collaboration between the university and public libraries”. This presentation will explain the origins of the reading club programme and virtual thematic communities within the Library Service of the Department of Culture of the Government of Catalonia, as well as the design and implementation process of the reading club within the public library network, and will also share insights from the hybrid sessions carried out and the results achieved so far.

Meanwhile, the Science and Technology Library will present the paper titled “Focus groups: making decisions through active listening to users”. This presentation will outline its experience using focus groups to explore in depth the changing habits of students and academic staff, particularly regarding information access and the use of artificial intelligence. This qualitative approach will enable active listening to understand the “how” and “why” behind users’ real needs, leading to the development of services such as a structured course bibliography website and a personalised database for lecturers.

Finally, the participation of UAB libraries in these conferences highlights their commitment to innovation, applied research and the continuous improvement of library services, as well as their active role in professional debate and knowledge exchange within the sector.