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This paper gives an overview of library and information science provision in Spain, describing the first and second cycle courses open to students wishing to study LIS, and the constraints of the current system. It describes in detail the provision of LIS courses at the University of Barcelona, in particular the University of Barcelona's financial backing for teaching innovation, resulting in funding for specific activities related to the transition to the European system of credits. Also analyses and evaluates pilot projects regarding this transition carried out in the LIS Faculty at the University of Barcelona.

The aim of the DECIMAL Project is to produce an integrated Decision Support Module for library management systems. This is being developed from an assessment of the needs and practices of library managers in small to medium size libraries in the UK, Spain and Italy. The Project, which commenced in February 1995, comprises four Phases — Management, Research, Technical Development and Evaluation. The objectives and structure of the Project are described, with an account of progress in the technical development to date and a summary of the findings of the Research Phase. The Module is being developed to incorporate both textual and numeric information to support the decision process.

The term “library management” covers many different aspects of the way that a library is operated and conjures up different concepts in the minds of different people, depending on their own interests, agendas and requirements. Research into the subject is even more difficult to define because the application of research in one field can be vital to the development of another. Some researchers would not consider their research central to library matters at all, whereas the practising librarian might well see it as casting new light on a difficult area of understanding or development.