Nubeteca: the interaction between spaces, mediation, and collections in the digital environment

Abstract

The Nubeteca project, carried out between 2018 and 2025 in the province of Badajoz, Spain, represents an innovative experience in reconfiguring libraries as hybrid spaces that integrate both analog and digital reading activities. Between 2018 and 2023, the project progressively implemented Nubeteca environments – equipped with technological devices and designed to facilitate access to digital reading – in public libraries throughout the Spanish province. According to research findings, these spaces not only contributed to a significant increase in digital lending but also fostered a renewed relationship between citizens and the library. However, infrastructure alone was not sufficient: the success of the model relied on parallel strategies of mediation, training, and above all, dynamization – understood as the continuous activation of digital reading practices. In this context, the role of the librarian became crucial as a facilitator of the transition and promoter of reading communities. Both qualitative and quantitative analysis showed a positive impact on changing reading habits, especially in rural areas or among populations with low digital literacy, as illustrated in the case study. Furthermore, the introduction of virtual reading clubs and hybrid activities strengthened the sense of belonging and enhanced the social and educational role of the library. From this perspective, the Nubeteca project stands out as a replicable model for redefining the central role of the library within the contemporary cultural ecosystem.