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Objectiu. Aquest assaig té com a objectiu analitzar si existeix un nexe entre el paper de les biblioteques públiques a la societat contemporània i l'aplicació del paradigma de la llarga cua al món físic. Concretament, l'article es pregunta com s'han de concebre les noves biblioteques públiques centrals de grans dimensions i com s'han de replantejar les biblioteques locals i de barri dins la xarxa bibliotecària urbana. -- Metodologia. Introducció i anàlisi del paradigma de la llarga cua a partir del llibre de Chris Anderson de 2006, per tal d'entendre quines conseqüències pot tenir en la utilització de les biblioteques i, per tant, en la manera de projectar-les. L'anàlisi es duu a terme mitjançant recursos teòrics i se sustenta, per a la reflexió, en els aspectes que han posat en relleu els casos de la Biblioteca Sala Borsa de Bolonya i els Idea Stores de Londres. -- Resultats. Com a conclusió, es pot dir que el paradigma de la llarga cua fa que l'oferta bibliotecària genèrica, caracteritzada per una possibilitat d'opció massa limitada, sigui poc atractiva. Per tant, les biblioteques públiques centrals han de poder disposar d'edificis grans i funcionals, fons variats i horaris amplis, una gamma extensa de serveis i activitats d'entreteniment educatiu (en anglès, edutainment) i una gran capacitat de desenvolupar un paper social i d'entreteniment, a més de l'estrictament cultural. D'altra banda, les biblioteques locals i de barri no poden sobreviure si no tenen unes dimensions mínimes determinades, llevat que apostin per temes, cultures o llengües pròpies de l'àrea de referència i complementàries respecte a l'oferta conjunta del territori, o bé s'orienten a aquells col·lectius que no tenen la possibilitat o la capacitat de desplaçar-se extensivament per la ciutat (gent gran, nens, minusvàlids, etc.). Dit d'una altra manera, les biblioteques públiques haurien de valorar el seu paper d'intermediàries amb altres serveis bibliogràfics especialitzats presents en el territori, i alhora plantejar altres oportunitats formatives, informatives, culturals i d'entreteniment, disponibles dins l'àrea metropolitana i fora.Objective. This paper analyses whether there is a link between the role of public libraries in contemporary society and the application of the long tail theory to the physical world. Specifically, it discusses how new large central public libraries should be conceived and how local libraries should be redefined within a city's library network. -- Method. The long tail theory from the book by Chris Anderson (2006) was introduced and analysed, to understand its potential impact on the use of libraries and thus on library planning. The analysis was carried out using theoretical resources. To promote reflection, it was supported by aspects highlighted in case studies of the Sala Borsa Library in Bologna and the Idea Stores in London. -- Results. To conclude, the long tail theory may mean that library offerings are not generally very appealing and are characterized by a range of options that is too limited. Therefore, central public libraries should be housed in large, functional buildings, have varied collections, long opening hours, an extensive range of services and edutainment activities, and a considerable capacity to play a role in social, leisure and purely cultural activities. -- Local libraries cannot survive unless they are a certain minimum size or focus on specific subjects, cultures or languages related to an area of reference. They should complement the total library offerings in the region or be aimed at groups that do not have the opportunity or ability to travel large distances within the city (senior citizens, children, people with disabilities, etc.). In other words, public libraries must assess their role as intermediaries with other specialized library services in the region, and offer other opportunities within and outside the metropolitan area in the fields of education, information, culture and entertainment.

Objetivo. Este ensayo tiene como objetivo analizar si existe un nexo entre el papel de las bibliotecas públicas en la sociedad contemporánea y la aplicación del paradigma de la larga cola al mundo físico. Concretamente, el artículo se pregunta cómo se tienen que concebir las nuevas bibliotecas públicas centrales de grandes dimensiones y cómo se tienen que replantear las bibliotecas locales y de barrio dentro de la red bibliotecaria urbana. -- Metodología. Introducción y análisis del paradigma de la larga cola a partir del libro de Chris Anderson de 2006, para entender qué consecuencias puede tener en la utilización de las bibliotecas y, por lo tanto, en la manera de proyectarlas. El análisis se lleva a cabo mediante recursos teóricos y se sustenta, para la reflexión, en los aspectos que han puesto de relieve los casos de la Biblioteca Sala Borsa de Bolonia y los Idea Stores de Londres. -- Resultats. Como conclusión, se puede decir que el paradigma de la larga cola hace que la oferta bibliotecaria genérica, caracterizada por una posibilidad de opción demasiado limitada, sea poco atractiva. Por lo tanto, las bibliotecas públicas centrales tienen que poder disponer de edificios grandes y funcionales, fondos variados y horarios amplios, una gama extensa de servicios y actividades de entretenimiento educativo (en inglés, edutainment) y una gran capacidad de desarrollar un papel social y de entretenimiento, además del estrictamente cultural. Por otro lado, las bibliotecas locales y de barrio no pueden sobrevivir si no tienen unas dimensiones mínimas determinadas, salvo que apuesten por temas, culturas o lenguas propias del área de referencia y complementarias respecto a la oferta conjunta del territorio, o bien se orientan a aquellos colectivos que no tienen la posibilidad o la capacidad de desplazarse de forma extensiva por la ciudad (gente mayor, niños, minusválidos, etc.). Dicho de otra manera, las bibliotecas públicas tendrían que valorar su papel de intermediarias con otros servicios bibliográficos especializados presentes en el territorio, y a la vez plantear otras oportunidades formativas, informativas, culturales y de entretenimiento, disponibles dentro del área metropolitana y fuera.Objective. This paper analyses whether there is a link between the role of public libraries in contemporary society and the application of the long tail theory to the physical world. Specifically, it discusses how new large central public libraries should be conceived and how local libraries should be redefined within a city's library network. -- Method. The long tail theory from the book by Chris Anderson (2006) was introduced and analysed, to understand its potential impact on the use of libraries and thus on library planning. The analysis was carried out using theoretical resources. To promote reflection, it was supported by aspects highlighted in case studies of the Sala Borsa Library in Bologna and the Idea Stores in London. -- Results. To conclude, the long tail theory may mean that library offerings are not generally very appealing and are characterized by a range of options that is too limited. Therefore, central public libraries should be housed in large, functional buildings, have varied collections, long opening hours, an extensive range of services and edutainment activities, and a considerable capacity to play a role in social, leisure and purely cultural activities. Local libraries cannot survive unless they are a certain minimum size or focus on specific subjects, cultures or languages related to an area of reference. They should complement the total library offerings in the region or be aimed at groups that do not have the opportunity or ability to travel large distances within the city (senior citizens, children, people with disabilities, etc.). In other words, public libraries must assess their role as intermediaries with other specialized library services in the region, and offer other opportunities within and outside the metropolitan area in the fields of education, information, culture and entertainment.

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Summary: All over the world local governments are investing in urban planning projects aimed at revitalising neighbourhoods and creating new city centres. Public library buildings are often central to these projects as attractive magnets for the larger public. In recent years, Italy too has committed itself to such initiatives. However, rather than building brand new establishments, the local authorities prefer to renovate and adapt historical buildings to library functions. While small and medium-sized cities are proactive in this process, big cities and metropolitan areas lag behind and, even when they succeed in approving a project, they have a lot of difficulty in carrying them out. In this essay, three examples of libraries recently opened to the public are described from the organisational point of view: the Sala Borsa Library in Bologna, the San Giovanni Library in Pesaro and the San Giorgio Library in Pistoia. The BEIC (Biblioteca Europea di Informazione e Cultura=European Library of Information and Culture) project will also be outlined. The essay intends to show that these libraries are consistent with international library trends regarding mission and organisation of services and collections; however, in Italy, administrative and political constraints often raise hard to overcome obstacles, particularly in big cities. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]