Young adults and virtual libraries: a case study

The Cartagena Public Libraries Network has seen how young adults have been leaving the library, seeking more attractive services. In this paper, we analyse the reasons for the past success and the current decline of the service to young adults. We also review the situation of public libraries in Spain with regard to young adults, and the features of this market. We explain the answers that we are developing in order to restore the rate of use of the library by young adults. These answers are agreements with school libraries, and, particularly, the development of a virtual library, heavily controlled, classified and indexed, in order to satisfy the young adults’ needs and desires, outside the physical space of the library,