The UOC Strategic Plan is the road map that accompanies the University's strategy.
About the library
- Presentation
- Learning resource
- Quality policies
- Library's regulations
- Institutional relations
- Agreements
- 2022-2023 Internships
- Strategic Plan UOC
- Global impact #2030Agenda
The Library is integrated into the UOC classrooms, too, and you will find many of its resources in the Learning resources section of the Virtual Campus.
Presentation
The UOC’s Library forms part of the University’s educational model. It is a key service made available by the University to support learning, teaching, research and management.
The Library was created and has been developed online since the UOC itself began. It is, then, a tool designed in and for a virtual world to meet the needs of its users and those who use the web for research, training and academic documentation.
Learning resource
Learning resources are a key part of the University's educational model. Without them, it would not be possible to perform the activities proposed in the classroom.
The team of professionals support the faculty in choosing and producing the most suitable learning resources to help students.
What are the UOC's learning resources like?
The resources' characteristics, how they are produced, and how they are chosen.
Before the start of a new academic year, the teaching staff ask the University to prepare new learning resources. If this is not feasible, they ask for input from their faculties' reference librarians about choosing other resources that are already available on the publishing or audiovisual market.
The UOC's eLearning Innovation Center (eLinC) supports faculty in the courses' and programmes' instructional design and works from different disciplines to offer students the best learning experience.
The UOC's production team is also involved in creating new learning resources. Their role is to assure the contents' quality and their compliance with intellectual property rights. These professionals contact the content providers and track the editing process until the final result's validation with the teaching staff.
Quality policies
The Library is closely involved with the implementation of internal quality assurance (QA) systems, and thus participates in all the initiatives arising therefrom for the continuous improvement of processes.
The library participates in the UOC's QA model, which is based on the AUDIT internal QA system manual, ensuring continuous improvement in the services it offers its different types of users.
Each year, the library provides data on its services' performance for a course monitoring report. Additionally, it produces a report on its overall functioning, containing details of how the different departments and their teaching staff have helped shape its collection, information on user satisfaction and suggestions for improving the way it operates.
internal QA system (IQAS)
In accordance with its quality policy, which has always been integral to the way it operates, the UOC opted to participate in the AUDIT programme to design an internal QA system (IQAS). As the IQAS is applicable to each of the UOC's departments, it covers every activity the University carries out or looks to carry out. It thus guarantees the quality of teaching at the UOC, giving the University's different types of users greater scope for participation, as well as establishing continuous improvement and review mechanisms.
The adaptation of the design of the IQAS to the whole of the UOC was ratified by the AQU (Catalan University Quality Assurance Agency) on 1 October 2009. The revised manual will affect all the courses leading to official qualifications being taught at the UOC when the IQAS is implemented, and all those authorised for academic years subsequent to 2008-2009.
In relation to the library, the UOC's IQAS specifies the following:
“Data on use and satisfaction is obtained for all services. Those responsible for each service periodically analyse its specific data. The data corresponding to all services is analysed as a whole in a report on results. Once the data has been analysed, proposals are made and set out in the corresponding evaluation report. The library produces a report on its QA activity each academic year. The report serves to raise awareness of the activity in question, its results, and the improvement-oriented measures and innovative steps taken to fulfil users' requirements and enhance service quality.”
The library also actively participates in the REBIUN (University Libraries Network) Statistics Work Group.
Library's regulations
The UOC Library's regulations were originally approved by the Executive Board on 9 December 2013. An updated version was approved by the Board on 26 July 2021.
These regulations set out the Library's services and establish the rules to ensure the university community use them correctly. The regulations are currently being updated, which means that some of the names of the services do not match those currently used on the new website. Take a look at the table showing which services correspond to which (in the Key changes section).
The latest version of the regulations includes the improvements made to the number of items and the length of time for loans.
Institutional relations
Belonging to associations, participating in networks and work groups, and establishing agreements are key factors in improving services and maximising the amount of content available to users of the UOC’s Library.
CBUC
The Consorci de Serveis Universitaris de Catalunya (CSUC) aims to improve library services through cooperation.
In addition to the UOC, which has been part of the association since 1995, the CSUC’s members include the University of Barcelona, the Autonomous University of Barcelona, the Technical University of Catalonia, Pompeu Fabra University, Rovira i Virgili University, the Library of Catalonia and the Catalan government’s Ministry of Universities, Research and the Information Society
The CSUC’s two main projects are the Catalan University Union Catalogue (CCUC) and the Digital Library of Catalonia (BDC).
The UOC’s Library participates in the following CSUC work groups:
- Union Catalogue
- Online Teaching Materials (MDX)
- Repositories
- Mendeley
- Open-Access Catalan Journals (RACO)
- Electronic Resources (RELECTRO)
- Online Doctoral Theses (TDX)
- Support for Research
- Association Inter-library Loans and Access (PICA)
REBIUN
The Red de Bibliotecas Universitarias Españolas (REBIUN) is a network of public and private university libraries in Spain and the libraries of the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC).
REBIUN has created a union catalogue for all of its member libraries with the aim of carrying out cooperative activities to improve library infrastructure and services.
The UOC Library is taking part in Strategic Line 3: The Digital Library 2.0 and Social Networks and the Working Group on Repositories
LIBER
The UOC’s Library has been a member of LIBER, the Association of European Research Libraries, since 2010 and participate with Working Group on Research and Education.
LIBER aims to represent the interests of European research libraries, their universities and their researchers. It promotes innovative, efficient, high-quality information services for teaching, learning and research, as well as access to research information in any format and the preservation of cultural heritage.
The Open University Library
The Open University Library and the UOC’s Library signed an agreement in 2002 to share experiences and work together on research projects related to digital libraries.
EADTU
The UOC's Library is leading a group of experts in Knowledge Resources as part of the international EMPOWER project from the European Association of Distance Teaching Universities (EADTU). The aim of EMPOWER is to link knowledge assets with learning units, creating specific knowledge libraries bound to specific subject curriculums in traditional and online universities.
COAR
Coinciding with the recent presentation of the UOC Open Knowledge Action Plan, and in keeping with the tools and processes the University must carry out for a model more committed to scientific knowledge as a public asset, the UOC has become a member of the Confederation of Open Access Repositories (COAR).
COAR is an international association with over 140 members and partners worldwide that represent libraries, universities, research institutions, government funders, repository networks and others. Its mission is to improve the visibility and application of the research results through a global network of open access repositories based on international cooperation and interoperability.
ECPR
As a full member of ECPR (European Consortium for Political Research), the UOC community enjoys a wide range of benefits the consortium offers. Once you have registered (using your UOC email address) on their web site, you will be able to access publications from the ECPR Press, the Comparative Politics book series, the Research Methods book series and the following journals:
- European Political Science (EPS)
- European Journal of Political Research (EJPR) and its Political Data Yearbook (PDY)
- European Political Science Review (EPSR)
- Political Research Exchange (PRX)
To get full details on the services offered, visit.
Agreements
The UOC Library has signed a series of collaboration agreements with different universities and institutions, most of which provide library access and use of loan services respectively.
Below is a list of university libraries and institutions with which we have some kind of agreement. It is important to pay close attention to the conditions established for each university or institution.
If you have questions on how to use these agreements or experience any problem when using them, please contact the Virtual Library.
Please note: Regarding the possibility of accessing the facilities of some university libraries, we must point out that the University of Barcelona, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Technical University of Catalonia and Pompeu Fabra University have agreed to set access restrictions for people who not members of their university community in times of excess demand, as for example during exams or exams.
Casa Asia
Access to facilities: allows the use of their services (reading room, loans and interlibrary loan).
Loans:
- A maximum of 4 books for 15 days.
- If the material is multimedia (CD, DVD, VHS), the loan time is 7 days.
Identification required: you must identify yourself with your ID card.
Association of Industrial Engineers of Barcelona (CETIB)
The agreement with this institution is for dissemination of CETIB publications and exploitation of these resources for teaching, research and services.
With this agreement, members of the UOC community will have access to books from the Theknos Collection published by the Association and issues of the Technological Debates (DT) journal that it publishes periodically. The Association benefits from the dissemination of their publications to the UOC community.
Illustrious College of Lawyers (Bar Association) of Tarragona (ICAT)
Access to facilities: allows the use of the services in the reading room and the loan service.
Loans: One book and/or DVD/CD for a week. With previous assessment by technical staff, the number of loans can be increased to a maximum of two.
Identification required: UOC student card and ID card.
Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB)
Access to facilities: permitted. There is a collaboration agreement that allows you access to their libraries, except the Study Rooms. Priority is given to members of their own university community in times of excess demand, as for example during exams.
Loan: see Catalan University Libraries Loan section.
Identification required when requested by staff: UOC ID card.
University of Alicante (UA)
Access to facilities: permitted. The collaboration agreement allows access to the libraries, except the Study Rooms.
Loans: as established by the loan rules of the UA library.
Identification required: go to any loan desk with your UOC ID card, or if you do not have one, with a photocopy of registration and identification. You will be registered as a user and staff will explain to you how to use the service.
University of Barcelona (UB)
Access to facilities: permitted. There is a collaboration agreement that allows you access to their libraries, except the Study Rooms. Priority is given to members of their own university community in times of excess demand, as for example during exams.
Loan: see Catalan University Libraries Loan section.
Identification required when requested by staff: UOC ID card.
University of Girona (UdG)
Access to facilities: permitted. There is a collaboration agreement that allows you access to their libraries.
Loan: see Catalan University Libraries Loan section.
Identification required when requested by staff: UOC ID card.
Universitat de la Corunya
Access to facilities: the University of A Coruña allows access and use of different services from their libraries to professors, scholars and students from other universities with the requirements established by the libraries of each Department, except the Study Rooms.
University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Access to facilities: permitted. The collaboration agreement allows access to the libraries, except the Study Rooms.
Loans: a maximum of 2 works for 7 days.
Identification required: go to any loan desk with your UOC ID card, or if you do not have one, with a photocopy of registration and identification. You will be registered as a user and staff will explain to you how to use the service.
University of the Balearic Islands (UIB)
Access to facilities: permitted. There is a collaboration agreement that allows you access to their libraries, except the Study Rooms.
Loans: a maximum of 3 works for 7 days.
Identification required: go to any loan desk with your UOC ID card, or if you do not have one, with a photocopy of registration and identification. You will be registered as a user and staff will explain to you how to use the service.
University of Lleida (UdL)
Access to facilities: permitted. There is a collaboration agreement that allows you access to their libraries, except the Study Rooms.
Loan: see Catalan University Libraries Loan section.
Identification required when requested by staff: UOC ID card.
University of Santiago de Compostela (USC)
Access to facilities: permitted. The collaboration agreement allows access to the libraries, except the Study Rooms.
Loans: a maximum of 5 works for 7 or 10 days depending on the library.
Identification required: go to any loan desk with your UOC ID card, or if you do not have one, with a photocopy of registration and identification. You will be registered as a user and staff will explain to you how to use the service.
University Jaume I de Castelló (UJI)
Access to facilities: permitted. The collaboration agreement allows access to the libraries, except the Study Rooms.
Loans: a maximum of 3 works for 7 days.
Identification required: go to any loan desk with your UOC ID card, or if you do not have one, with a photocopy of registration and identification. You will be registered as a user and staff will explain to you how to use the service.
Technical University of Catalonia (UPC)
Access to facilities: permitted. There is a collaboration agreement that allows you access to their libraries, except int the Study Rooms. Priority is given to members of their own university community in times of excess demand, as for example during exams.
Loan: see Catalan University Libraries Loan section.
Identification required: UOC ID card.
Pompeu Fabra University (UPF)
Access to facilities: thanks to an agreement between the member universities of the Consortium of Academic Libraries of Catalonia (CBUC), entrance to the PFU library is guaranteed to professors, researchers, PhD students, postgraduate and master’s degree students, and management staff. This agreement does not benefit 1st and 2nd cycle students from any other Catalan university.
Priority is given to members of their own university community in times of excess demand, as for example during exams.
Loan: see Catalan University Libraries Loan section.
Rovira i Virgili University (URV)
Access to facilities: permitted. There is a collaboration agreement that allows you access to their libraries, except the Study Rooms.
Loan: see Catalan University Libraries Loan section.
Identification required: UOC ID card.
2022-2023 Internships
The UOC Library has opened six calls for applications for non-curricular internships.
What we offer
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You’ll learn alongside a team of professionals. Get to know us!
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You’ll have a flexible timetable so you can combine the internship with your studies.
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You’ll get to know a Library born in the digital era that mentors students, researchers and teaching staff in their work.
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No fetching coffee or making photocopies! On this internship, we want you to say what you think and play an active role.
The internship will take place online, although we may ask students to attend occasional in-person team meetings at the internship centre, located in the UOC's Barcelona centre (Rambla del Poblenou, 156).
Internship offers
Support for the Library and selection of learning resources
The home of the learning resources kitchen.
Responsibilities:
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Selection and dissemination of content. Our faculty reference librarians provide support to the teaching staff and help them choose the best learning resources for UOC courses. These professionals know which sources to go to and how to find the necessary information at any given time. In this internship you will help the subject librarians choose the best information sources to meet the needs of each case.
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Production of learning resources. When a teacher asks for new material at our University, a multidisciplinary team helps the teacher choose the format best matched to the course (a video, a website, a novelette, etc). From that point onwards, the gearwheels start turning: the project is planned and monitored. In this internship you will be providing support for management and editorial control.
Communications and administration for a scientific journal
Learn about the inner workings of the ETHE.
Responsibilities:
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Content dissemination. You will participate in communication tasks related to the dissemination of content published in the UOC's ETHE focuses on research into online higher education.
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Social media management. You will be involved in publishing content for these journals on academic and generalist social media platforms, the aim being to consolidate their positioning. You will also participate in the production of monitoring reports to analyse the results.
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Editorial support. You will liaise with the journal's community of collaborators and users (editorial committee, authors, readers, etc).
Learning resource language review
You will become familiar with linguistic quality analysis methods and strategies, which is a fundamental aspect of the work done by a professional language consultant.
Responsibilities
- You will assist with ensuring the quality of the learning resources produced by the UOC by carrying out language reviews of the texts.
- You will check content written in Catalan and Spanish for linguistic accuracy (spelling, grammar, vocabulary and graphic and typographic conventions) and help with tasks related to the identification and resolution of translation issues.
Academic publishing support
You'll be providing support for the university's academic publishing of books and journals.
- You'll help with the publication management, indexing and communication tasks for our academic journals.
- You'll be involved in the management and monitoring of data for Editorial UOC and our academic journals.
- You'll lend a hand in communication and marketing for Editorial UOC.
Requirements
- For the duration of the internship you must be enrolled on one of the following programmes: bachelor's degree, diplomatura, llicenciatura/licenciatura, enginyeria/ingeniería, master's degree, postgraduate course or specialization course.
- If you are on first cycle or bachelor's degree programmes, you need to have passed 50% of the programme's credits (from the total of all the credits you have passed, recognized and enrolled on).
- The internship must be related to your programme.
How do I sign up?
If you’re a UOC student, access the internships tool and select the option UOC non-curricular internships. Register and you’ll be able to access the list of offers.
If you’re not studying at the UOC, send an email with your CV to coopedu@uoc.edu, indicating the title of the internship.
Strategic Plan UOC
The UOC Strategic Plan is the road map that accompanies the University's strategy and helps prioritize decision making. To reinforce the operating stage of the plan, each of the six action plans is led by a member of the Executive Management Committee.
Global impact #2030Agenda
The UOC is a global university committed to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The Library team is also contributing to overcoming our major global challenges by fostering open knowledge and the incorporation of the gender perspective in teaching and research.
The international library organization IFLA has acknowledged the UOC Library's contribution to the United Nations SDGs.
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The UOC is part of the Library Map of the World project, where it shares its experience in quality education and in promoting the gender perspective in teaching and research.
Our commitment to achieving the SDGs has led us to work with the Camilo José Cela University Library to undertake joint awareness-raising actions related to the 2030 Agenda. For example, this collection of content about Emilia Pardo Bazán highlights the legacy of women writers.
The Library and the gender perspective
The Library has been actively involved in the UOC 2020-2024 Gender Equality Plan [CA], which is our roadmap for reducing gender inequality in the university context. Specifically, it is involved in eight of the Plan's actions, in the strategic areas of teaching, research and organization.
Since 2019, the Library and Learning Resources department has had a member of staff specializing in the gender perspective, Mireia Castillón, who identifies areas for improvement and suggests new proposals related to gender issues.
Mireia Castillón
Operative subgroup: Law and Political Science resource manager, vocational training, gender perspective Operative group: Library for LearningTeaching
We engage in collaborations to mainstream the gender perspective in teaching and to ensure that all courses have learning resources and content that are free of gender bias and highlight the role of leading female figures.
Compiling the UOC's resources on gender studies(Link opens in a new window)
The Library has identified and compiled educational materials on this subject, which the UOC has prepared for use in its classrooms.
Action 1.1.4 of the UOC Equality Plan (Teaching Area):
Create a collection of UOC-made learning resources that address the topics of gender, women, feminism and sexuality.Updating citation guidelines
We have adapted the information about APA and Vancouver citation styles to encourage people to write the full names of authors.
Action 1.1.9 of the UOC Equality Plan (Teaching Area):
Update citation guidelines to make women's contributions more visible in references.UOC Equality Unit special collection(Link opens in a new window)
We have compiled a series of content on equality plans and the gender perspective that are updated jointly with the Equality Unit and with the GenTIC research group.
Action 1.4.5 of the UOC Equality Plan (Organization Area):
Curate an Equality Unit collection in the UOC Library.A guide containing guidelines and tools for producing learning resources(Link opens in a new window)
This kit is aimed at authors who produce educational resources for the classroom, so that they can incorporate the gender perspective in their content.
We also provide content and resources in library guides, and news reports on key dates to provide students and teaching staff with materials related to gender studies or which affective, sexual and gender diversity.
Research
We provide support for promoting and highlighting gender equality in research and knowledge transfer content.
Compiling the UOC's resources on gender studies(Link opens in a new window)
The Library has identified and compiled educational materials on this subject, which the UOC has prepared for use in its classrooms.
Action 1.1.4 of the UOC Equality Plan (Teaching Area):
Create a collection of UOC-made learning resources that address the topics of gender, women, feminism and sexuality.Analysis of parity in the UOC's academic journals(Link opens in a new window)
An annual analysis based on gender parity of the authors and reviews in the open access digital journals published or co-published by the UOC.
Action 2.2.4 of the UOC Equality Plan (Research Area)
Undertake a gender-based analysis of open access digital journals promoted by the UOCNew titles on gender studies at Editorial UOC(Link opens in a new window)
Editorial UOC creates a new collection for the contribution within the field of communication to the sustainable development goals (SDG) of the 2030 Agenda and incorporates new titles on gender studies.
Action 2.2.5 Promote the incorporation of new titles on gender studies, women, feminisms and sexualities to Editorial UOC (research axis)
Library guide: Women, science and technology
We have selected encouraging initiatives to motivate girls to choose STEM careers, and a list of female role models which the female researchers and scientists of the future can use for inspiration.
Library guide: The gender perspective in research
We provide a selection of content to support research staff in the application and incorporation of the gender perspective in research.
Decalogue of good practices for gender equality in scientific journals(Link opens in a new window)
Journals are key pieces of science, of academic careers and of scientific communication, and for this reason they have a central role in such an important issue as guaranteeing gender equality in scientific research and its social impact. This is a decalogue of good practices.