Publication: La biblioteca pública ante el envejecimiento poblacional : repercusión en la inclusión sociodigital de las personas mayores de la Región de Murcia
Authors
García Gómez, Francisco Javier
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Escuela Internacional de Doctorado
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Gómez-Hernández, José-Antonio ; Martínez Méndez, Francisco Javier
Publisher
Universidad de Murcia
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DOI
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info:eu-repo/semantics/doctoralThesis
Description
Abstract
Esta tesis doctoral analiza el papel de las bibliotecas públicas municipales de la Región de Murcia en la inclusión social y digital de las personas mayores, en un contexto caracterizado por el envejecimiento progresivo de la población y por la creciente digitalización de la vida cotidiana. Ambos procesos plantean importantes desafíos a las instituciones públicas y, de manera particular, a las bibliotecas, que deben adaptar sus servicios, recursos y estrategias para seguir siendo espacios accesibles, relevantes y socialmente significativos.
La investigación se apoya en una triple motivación personal, profesional y académica, vinculada a más de dos décadas de experiencia en bibliotecas públicas, al contacto directo con personas mayores y a la constatación de un notable vacío bibliográfico en lengua española sobre esta temática. Desde esta perspectiva, el estudio aborda el envejecimiento poblacional y su relación con la función social y digital de la biblioteca pública, con el fin de comprender el papel actual y potencial de estas instituciones en el bienestar, la autonomía y la participación social de las personas mayores.
El objetivo general consiste en analizar la capacidad de las bibliotecas públicas para promover la inclusión social y digital de este colectivo, identificando los factores que la favorecen o la limitan, así como las percepciones del personal bibliotecario y de las personas mayores usuarias. Entre los objetivos específicos se incluyen: contextualizar la relación entre envejecimiento y acceso a la información; examinar el marco teórico, normativo e institucional de las bibliotecas públicas; identificar iniciativas y prácticas existentes; y analizar las experiencias, necesidades y propuestas de ambos grupos implicados.
Desde el punto de vista metodológico, la tesis combina una amplia revisión bibliográfica -centrada principalmente en la producción científica de las dos últimas décadas y basada en diversas fuentes de información electrónicas- con un trabajo de campo cualitativo. Este último se articula mediante un grupo de discusión con siete profesionales de bibliotecas públicas y entrevistas en profundidad a más de sesenta personas mayores usuarias, lo que permite integrar la visión institucional con la experiencia cotidiana de uso de las bibliotecas.
Los resultados evidencian que las bibliotecas públicas desempeñan una función social muy valorada por las personas mayores, especialmente como espacios de encuentro, aprendizaje, apoyo emocional y participación cultural. El personal bibliotecario señala como principales dificultades la escasez de recursos humanos y materiales, la falta de planificación estable, la necesidad de actualización de competencias profesionales y digitales, y la limitada visibilidad institucional de la función inclusiva que desarrollan. Asimismo, reconocen la creciente relevancia de la inclusión digital, que genera incertidumbre debido a la rapidez del cambio tecnológico y a la insuficiencia de recursos formativos específicos.
Por su parte, las personas mayores valoran muy positivamente la atención recibida y el componente humano del servicio, aunque identifican barreras físicas, tecnológicas y comunicativas que condicionan su participación plena. Consideran la biblioteca un recurso de apoyo clave ante las exigencias digitales de la vida cotidiana y destacan la importancia de la interacción social, el acceso a actividades culturales y de fomento de la lectura, así como la ayuda recibida en alfabetización digital.
La tesis concluye que las bibliotecas públicas poseen un elevado potencial como espacios de referencia para la inclusión social y digital de las personas mayores. No obstante, dicho potencial depende de un mayor apoyo institucional, inversiones sostenidas, planificación estratégica, colaboración interinstitucional y reconocimiento social. Se subraya la necesidad de reforzar la formación del personal, mejorar la accesibilidad física y digital, optimizar la comunicación de los servicios y consolidar proyectos de alfabetización informacional y digital adaptados a la diversidad y heterogeneidad de este grupo social.
This doctoral thesis analyzes the role of municipal public libraries in the Region of Murcia in the social and digital inclusion of older adults, within a context characterized by the progressive aging of the population and the increasing digitalization of daily life. Both processes pose significant challenges to public institutions and, in particular, to libraries, which must adapt their services, resources, and strategies to remain accessible, relevant, and socially significant spaces.The research is based on a threefold personal, professional, and academic motivation, linked to more than two decades of experience in public libraries, direct contact with older adults, and the observation of a significant gap in Spanish-language literature on this topic. From this perspective, the study addresses population aging and its relationship to the social and digital function of the public library, in order to understand the current and potential role of these institutions in the well-being, autonomy, and social participation of older adults.The overall objective is to analyze the capacity of public libraries to promote the social and digital inclusion of older adults, identifying the factors that facilitate or hinder it, as well as the perceptions of library staff and older adult users. Specific objectives include: contextualizing the relationship between aging and access to information; examining the theoretical, regulatory, and institutional framework of public libraries; identifying existing initiatives and practices; and analyzing the experiences, needs, and proposals of both groups involved.From a methodological standpoint, the thesis combines a comprehensive literature review-focused primarily on scholarly publications from the last two decades and based on various electronic sources-with qualitative fieldwork. The latter is conducted through a focus group with seven public library professionals and in-depth interviews with more than sixty older adult users, allowing for the integration of the institutional perspective with the everyday experience of library use.The results show that public libraries play a highly valued social role for older adults, especially as spaces for meeting, learning, emotional support, and cultural participation. Library staff identify the main difficulties as the scarcity of human and material resources, the lack of stable planning, the need for updating professional and digital skills, and the limited institutional visibility of their inclusive role. They also acknowledge the growing importance of digital inclusion, which generates uncertainty due to the rapid pace of technological change and the lack of specific training resources.Older adults highly value the attention they receive and the human element of the service, although they identify physical, technological, and communication barriers that limit their full participation. They consider the library a key support resource in the face of the digital demands of daily life and highlight the importance of social interaction, access to cultural activities and reading promotion, as well as the help received in digital literacy.The thesis concludes that public libraries have significant potential as key spaces for the social and digital inclusion of older adults. However, this potential depends on greater institutional support, sustained investment, strategic planning, inter-institutional collaboration, and social recognition. The need to strengthen staff training, improve physical and digital accessibility, optimize service communication, and consolidate information and digital literacy projects adapted to the diversity and heterogeneity of this social group is emphasized.
This doctoral thesis analyzes the role of municipal public libraries in the Region of Murcia in the social and digital inclusion of older adults, within a context characterized by the progressive aging of the population and the increasing digitalization of daily life. Both processes pose significant challenges to public institutions and, in particular, to libraries, which must adapt their services, resources, and strategies to remain accessible, relevant, and socially significant spaces.The research is based on a threefold personal, professional, and academic motivation, linked to more than two decades of experience in public libraries, direct contact with older adults, and the observation of a significant gap in Spanish-language literature on this topic. From this perspective, the study addresses population aging and its relationship to the social and digital function of the public library, in order to understand the current and potential role of these institutions in the well-being, autonomy, and social participation of older adults.The overall objective is to analyze the capacity of public libraries to promote the social and digital inclusion of older adults, identifying the factors that facilitate or hinder it, as well as the perceptions of library staff and older adult users. Specific objectives include: contextualizing the relationship between aging and access to information; examining the theoretical, regulatory, and institutional framework of public libraries; identifying existing initiatives and practices; and analyzing the experiences, needs, and proposals of both groups involved.From a methodological standpoint, the thesis combines a comprehensive literature review-focused primarily on scholarly publications from the last two decades and based on various electronic sources-with qualitative fieldwork. The latter is conducted through a focus group with seven public library professionals and in-depth interviews with more than sixty older adult users, allowing for the integration of the institutional perspective with the everyday experience of library use.The results show that public libraries play a highly valued social role for older adults, especially as spaces for meeting, learning, emotional support, and cultural participation. Library staff identify the main difficulties as the scarcity of human and material resources, the lack of stable planning, the need for updating professional and digital skills, and the limited institutional visibility of their inclusive role. They also acknowledge the growing importance of digital inclusion, which generates uncertainty due to the rapid pace of technological change and the lack of specific training resources.Older adults highly value the attention they receive and the human element of the service, although they identify physical, technological, and communication barriers that limit their full participation. They consider the library a key support resource in the face of the digital demands of daily life and highlight the importance of social interaction, access to cultural activities and reading promotion, as well as the help received in digital literacy.The thesis concludes that public libraries have significant potential as key spaces for the social and digital inclusion of older adults. However, this potential depends on greater institutional support, sustained investment, strategic planning, inter-institutional collaboration, and social recognition. The need to strengthen staff training, improve physical and digital accessibility, optimize service communication, and consolidate information and digital literacy projects adapted to the diversity and heterogeneity of this social group is emphasized.
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