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About Costa Rica

Costa Rica

Region: Latin America and the Caribbean

Area: 51,100 km²

Population: 5,129,910

Libraries (Service Points): 1,088

Libraries in Costa Rica

Last update: January 2024

Costa Rica has a decentralised library system.

On the one hand, there is the National System of Libraries of the Ministry of Culture and Youth, which oversees the National Library and public libraries.

The Department of School Libraries of the Ministry of Education overlooks country’s libraries of educational sector.

By law, each university (public or private) must have its own network of libraries. The most recognised are academic libraries of the University of Costa Rica (UCR), the National University (UNA), the State Distance University (UNED) and the Autonomous University of Central America (UACA).

On the other hand, each organisation or public or private institution has its own specialised library. The most recognised are libraries of the Central Bank, the Costa Rican Institute of Electricity (ICE), the National Institution of Women (INAMU), and the National Library of Health and Social Security (BINASSS).

In addition, the Municipality of San José maintains its own system of municipal libraries consisting of seven libraries distributed among its districts and localities.

The only association of librarians in the country is Costa Rican Association of Librarians (Colegio de Profesionales en Bibliotecología de Costa Rica, COPROBI). The main objective of COPROBI is professional support of its members, the continuous updating and dignification of the profession.

There is no entity in Costa Rica that takes care of or finances libraries in a centralised manner. Each ministry or institution has its own regulations and its own funding.

The priorities of libraries in Costa Rica are education, access to information, information and technological literacy, promotion of reading and social development.

Library systems of different library types (public, school, university) have recently been able to link and make plans and projects together, especially in the area of reading promotion and copyright.

A section for libraries was included in the National Development Plan of the Ministry of Education as a public policy seeking the modernisation and transformation of libraries in the educational sector. It is an important achievement increasing the visibility of libraries of the educational sector which previously were not visible.

Library data

Libraries (Service Points) 1,088
Main Libraries 62
Branch Libraries 0
External Service Points 0
Mobile Libraries 1
Libraries (Administrative Units) 1,013
Libraries with Internet Access 1,011
Full-Time Staff 1,416
Volunteers 99
Registered Users 510,299
Physical Visits 1.3 M
Physical Loans 629,464
eBook Loans 10,549
Audio Book Loans
Downloads 4.5 M

Contextual data

Population and Geography
5,129,910

Population

No Data Available

Population Growth

27.3%

Proportion of Population Younger than 15

17.7%

Proportion of Population Older than 64

100.0

Population Density
people per sq km

79.3%

Population Growth

Information and Infrastructure
100.0%

Access to Electricity

85.4%

Internet Users

85.5%

Female Internet Users

No Data Available

Male Internet Users

Poverty and Employment
30,062.8%

GDP per capita

1.3%

Poverty Rate
2011 PPP

45.8%

Inequality
2011 PPP

6.9%

Unemployment

18.3%

Inactive Youth
2011 PPP

Education and Literacy
6.2%

Education Spending
% of GDP

97.4%

Adult Literacy Rate
% of people age 15+

94.1%

Female Adult Literacy
% of GDP

94.1%

Male Adult Literacy
% of people age 15+

99.6%

Female Youth Literacy
% of GDP

99.0%

Male Youth Literacy
% of people age 15+

Innovation and Skills
0.3%

Research Spending
% of GDP

0

Researchers
% of GDP

711

Research Spending
% of GDP

Library data

Library type

Total

National

Academic

Public

Community

School

Other

Libraries (Service Points)

Library service point is a fixed or mobile facility through which library provides a service to its users. Central libraries, branch libraries, mobile libraries, and external service points located in different geographical locations and managed by one administrative unit are all each individual service points. Number of libraries is the total number of central/main libraries, branch libraries, external service points and mobile libraries.

1,088

1,088

2019

1

2019

74

2018

62

2019

7

2019

944

2019

Main Libraries

Central/main library is usually part or those parts of an administrative unit where the main administrative functions and the important parts of the library collection and services are located. An administrative unit comprising several branch libraries does not necessarily include a central library.

62

62

2019

1

2019

61

2019

Branch Libraries

Branch library is a part of a larger administrative unit providing, in separate quarters, a service for a particular user group (e.g. children, faculties) or for a locally defined clientele. Institute, departmental and other affiliated libraries are included. Mobile libraries and external service points are excluded.

0

0

2019

0

2019

External Service Points

External service point is a point away from library premises at which a certain service is regularly offered to users. This includes places within a locality at which library material is deposited for informal circulation to a restricted group of users but without other library services, for example, old people’s homes, community centres, collections for hospital patients. Mobile libraries and their stops are not counted as external service points.

0

0

2019

0

2019

Mobile Libraries

Mobile library is a library, sometimes a division of a public library, using transport means to provide documents and services directly to users as an alternative to access on library premises.

1

1

2019

0

2019

1

2019

Libraries (Administrative Units)

Administrative unit is any independent library, or group of libraries, under a single directorate or a single administration. The term “independent” does not imply legal or financial independence but only that the library is a recognisably separate unit, typically within a larger organisation. The administrative unit can be a single library or a larger organisation, typically containing a central/main library, branch libraries and administrative functions.

1,013

1,013

2019

1

2019

61

2019

7

2019

944

2019

Libraries with Internet Access

Libraries (Service Points) that provides internet access from at least one workstation available to the public regardless of whether access is free, and/or provides a wireless network allowing users to connect to the Internet.

1,011

1,011

2019

1

2019

74

2018

61

2019

7

2019

868

2019

Full-Time Staff

Full-time equivalent (FTE) staff are all library employees who work for the library in return for payment. It includes professional staff, qualified staff, project staff and assistants. Other staff (library employees who work in security and on domestic duties, for example, cleaners, porters, caretakers and catering staff) and volunteers are excluded.

1,416

1,416

2019

35

2019

322

2018

184

2019

56

2019

819

2019

Volunteers

Volunteer is a person working on library tasks without payment. In counting volunteers, the concept of headcount is used.

99

99

2019

0

2019

29

2018

0

2019

70

2019

0

2019

Registered Users

Registered user is a person or organisation registered with a library in order to use its collection and/or services within or away from the library. Users may be registered upon their request or automatically when enrolling in the institutions.

510,299

510,299

2019

157,233

2019

128,100

2018

49,696

2019

74,000

2019

101,270

2019

Physical Visits

Physical visit is a person (individual) entering the library premises.

1.3 M

1,295,601

2019

117,038

2019

974,192

2019

103,101

2019

101,270

2019

Physical Loans

Physical loan is a direct lending or delivery transaction of an item in physical form. Physical loans include loans of items in non-electronic form (e.g. books) and loans electronic documents on a physical carrier (e.g. CD-ROM).

629,464

629,464

2019

74,789

2019

280,296

2018

157,112

2019

29,101

2019

88,166

2019

eBook Loans

eBook is a non-serial digital document, licenced or not, where searchable text is prevalent, and similar to a print book (monograph). eBooks can be lent to users either on portable devices (eBook readers) or by transmitting the contents to the user’s PC or other device for a limited time period.

10,549

10,549

2018

10,549

2018

Audio Book Loans

Audio book (or talking book) is a sound recording of readings of a book, magazine, or newspaper, usually designed for use by visually impaired people. Audio books can be lent to users either on a physical carrier or other device, or by transmitting the content to the user’s PC or other device for a limited time period.

Downloads

Download is a content unit that is successfully requested from a library-provided online service or other internet service (e.g. database, electronic serial or digital document).

4.5 M

4,533,735

2019

157,233

2019

4,219,390

2018

157,112

2019

Population

Costa Rica

Region

World

Population

Total population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship. The values shown are midyear estimates.

total

5,129,910

2024

662,186,388

2024

8,141,808,945

2024

Proportion of Population Younger than 15

Age dependency ratio, young, is the ratio of younger dependents--people younger than 15--to the working-age population--those ages 15-64. Data are shown as the proportion of dependents per 100 working-age population.

percentage of working-age population

27.3%

2024

33.3%

2024

38.0%

2024

Proportion of Population Older than 64

Age dependency ratio, old, is the ratio of older dependents--people older than 64--to the working-age population--those ages 15-64. Data are shown as the proportion of dependents per 100 working-age population.

precentage of working-age population

17.7%

2024

14.5%

2024

15.7%

2024

Population Growth

Annual population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.

annual percentage

0.5%

2024

1

2024

1.0%

2024

Population Density

Population density is midyear population divided by land area in square kilometers. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship--except for refugees not permanently settled in the country of asylum, who are generally considered part of the population of their country of origin. Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes.

people persq. km of land area

100.0%

2023

32.6%

2022

61.6%

2022

Urban Population

Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The data are collected and smoothed by United Nations Population Division.

percentage of total population

79.3%

2024

81.3%

2024

57.6%

2024

Information Infrastructure

Costa Rica

Region

World

Internet Users

Internet users are individuals who have used the Internet (from any location) in the last 3 months. The Internet can be used via a computer, mobile phone, personal digital assistant, games machine, digital TV etc.

percentage of population

85.4%

2023

81.7%

2024

71.2%

2024

Female Internet Users

This indicator refers to female individuals who have used the Internet (from any location) in the last 3 months. The Internet can be used via a computer, mobile phone, personal digital assistant, games machine, digital TV etc.

percentage of female population

85.5%

2023

81.3%

2024

68.2%

2024

Male Internet Users

This indicator refers to male individuals who have used the Internet (from any location) in the last 3 months. The Internet can be used via a computer, mobile phone, personal digital assistant, games machine, digital TV etc.

percentage of male population

-

81.3%

-

Access to Electricity

Access to electricity is the percentage of population with access to electricity. Electrification data are collected from industry, national surveys and international sources.

percentage of population

100.0%

2023

98.4%

2023

91.6%

2023

Economy, Poverty, and Employment

Costa Rica

Region

World

GDP per Capita

This indicator provides values for gross domestic product (GDP) expressed in current international dollars, converted by purchasing power parities (PPPs). PPPs account for the different price levels across countries and thus PPP-based comparisons of economic output are more appropriate for comparing the output of economies and the average material well-being of their inhabitants than exchange-rate based comparisons. Gross domestic product is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period. It can be measured in three different ways: using either the expenditure approach, the income approach, or the production approach. This series has been linked to produce a consistent time series to counteract breaks in series over time due to changes in base years, source data and methodologies. Thus, it may not be comparable with other national accounts series in the database for historical years. The core indicator has been divided by the general population to achieve a per capita estimate. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. The PPP conversion factor is a currency conversion factor and a spatial price deflator. PPPs convert different currencies to a common currency and, in the process of conversion, equalize their purchasing power by eliminating the differences in price levels between countries, thereby allowing volume or output comparisons of GDP and its expenditure components.

current international $

30,063

2024

22,880.9

2024

24,405

2024

Poverty Rate

Poverty headcount ratio at $3.00 a day is the percentage of the population living on less than $3.00 a day at 2021 purchasing power adjusted prices. As a result of revisions in PPP exchange rates, poverty rates for individual countries cannot be compared with poverty rates reported in earlier editions.

percentage of population

1.3%

2024

4.5%

2024

10.3%

2024

Inequality

Gini index measures the extent to which the distribution of income (or, in some cases, consumption expenditure) among individuals or households within an economy deviates from a perfectly equal distribution. A Lorenz curve plots the cumulative percentages of total income received against the cumulative number of recipients, starting with the poorest individual or household. The Gini index measures the area between the Lorenz curve and a hypothetical line of absolute equality, expressed as a percentage of the maximum area under the line. Thus a Gini index of 0 represents perfect equality, while an index of 100 implies perfect inequality.

percentage

45.8%

2024

0.0%

-

Unemployment

Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.

percentage of total labor force

6.9%

2024

5.5%

2024

6.2%

2021

Inactive Youth

The share of youth not in education, employment or training (also known as “the NEET rate”) conveys the number of young persons not in education, employment or training as a percentage of the total youth population. Youth not in education are those who were neither enrolled in school nor in a formal training program (e.g. vocational training). For the purposes of this indicator, youth is defined as all persons between the ages of 15 and 24 (inclusive).


percentage of youth population

18.3%

2024

18.4%

2024

-

Education and Literacy

Costa Rica

Region

World

Education Spending

General government expenditure on education (current, capital, and transfers) is expressed as a percentage of GDP. It includes expenditure funded by transfers from international sources to government. General government usually refers to local, regional and central governments.


percentage of GDP

6.2%

2021

3.8%

2023

3.5%

2023

Adult Literacy Rate

Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.


percentage of people ages 15 and above

97.4%

2011

3.8%

2023

87.7%

2024

Female Adult Literacy

Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.


percentage of females ages 15 and above

94.1%

2018

94.7%

2024

84.6%

2024

Male Adult Literacy

Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.


percentage of males ages 15 and above

94.1%

2018

95.2%

2024

90.9%

2024

Female Youth Literacy

Youth literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15-24 who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.


percentage of females ages 15-24

99.6%

2018

98.9%

2024

92.0%

2024

Male Youth Literacy

Youth literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15-24 who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.


percentage of males ages 15-24

99.0%

2011

98.5%

2024

94.1%

2024

Research and Innovation

Costa Rica

Region

World

Research Spending

Gross domestic expenditures on research and development (R&D), expressed as a percent of GDP. They include both capital and current expenditures in the four main sectors: Business enterprise, Government, Higher education and Private non-profit. R&D covers basic research, applied research, and experimental development.


percentage of GDP

0.3%

2022

0.6%

2020

2.7%

2022

Researchers

The number of researchers engaged in Research &Development (R&D), expressed as per million. Researchers are professionals who conduct research and improve or develop concepts, theories, models techniques instrumentation, software of operational methods. R&D covers basic research, applied research, and experimental development.


per million people

462

2022

582.7

2014

1,516

2018

Scientific Articles

Article counts refer to publications from a selection of conference proceedings and peer-reviewed journals from Scopus in science and engineering fields, according to the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics Taxonomy of Disciplines.


fractional count

711

2022

130,281.9

2022

3,338,192

2022

National Library Associations

Costa Rican Association of Librarians, COPROBI / Colegio de Profesionales en Bibliotecología de Costa Rica (COPROBI)

COPROBI is a professional association recognized nationally and internationally consisting of groups of responsible and committed librarians to provide society with greater and better opportunities to access sources, resources and information services. There are around 1,500 members from different types of libraries.

National Library “Miguel Obregón Lizano” / Biblioteca Nacional "Miguel Obregón Lizano"

The National Library is responsible for collecting and conserving the national bibliographic heritage. It is the depositary institution of three copies of every publication made in the country (according to Printing Law and Law of Copyright and Related Rights).

Ministry of Culture and Youth / El Ministerio de Cultura y Juventud

The Ministry is responsible for the National Library and Public Libraries System. Through its  Directorate of the Library System (SINABI) is the governing body of the regulations and administrative and regulatory provisions for public libraries and the National Library. The SINABI is organized in the National Directorate of SINABI, Headquarters of the National Library and Headquarters of Public Libraries (67 public libraries).

Ministry of Public Education / Ministerio de Educación Pública

The Ministry issues policies on school libraries in Costa Rica through the Department of School Libraries, which designs programs, plans,  and regulations to be applied in all Costa Rican school libraries. Within the 2015-2018 National Development Plan proposed as a Public Policy, provisions were established for the modernization and financing of libraries of educational sector, seeking the transformation of libraries and resource centers for learning (BIBLIOCRA) and the incorporation of technologies in the educational libraries. At the moment, 40% of the educational libraries became BIBLIOCRA.

The National Library System, SINABI / El Sistema Nacional de Bibliotecas, SINABI

SINABI is a network of libraries spread throughout the country, consisting of the National Library and the Network of Public Libraries; it also has a Portal (www.sinabi.go.cr) and a Bibliobus. The SINABI is organized in the National Directorate of SINABI, Headquarters of the National Library and Headquarters of Public Libraries (67 public libraries). SINABI also administers the ISBN National Agency and the ISSN National Agency.
It establish policies, programs, projects and actions aimed at the development of the National Library System that promote education, research, recreation and national culture for the efficient provision of services.

National Policy for Libraries

Reading Promotion Policy / Política de Fomento de la Lectura

This document sets out the relevant rules, at ministerial level, to encourage the reading process at national level. In addition, it enhances language skills and makes it possible to strengthen the development of writing in the student community.

National Development Plan 2015-2018 / Plan Nacional de Desarrollo 2015-2018

The plan establishes objectives, strategies and financing models for  development and  modernisation of libraries of the educational sector (transforming libraries into resource centres for learning).

Executive Decree N °. 23382-C National Systems of Libraries / Decreto Ejecutivo No. 23382-C Sistema Nacional de Bibliotecas 6 de Diciembre de 1999

The National System of Libraries is created by decree N° 23382-C, constituted by the General Direction of the SINABI, the National Library Miguel Obregón and the Direction of Public Libraries with 57 official and semi-official public libraries.  This network of libraries is distributed in the seven provinces of the country.

Professional Qualification Requirements

Professional Qualification Requirements

The position of librarian in Costa Rica requires at least a bachelor’s degree from university. Three public and one private university offer the librarianship education. In the labour market, both in the public and private sectors, it is required to have at least the bachelor’s degree. Generally, librarians are trained in bachelor or master level degree; the wage will be different based on the level of the academic degree. Also, to work in the profession, librarians must register at the Costa Rican Association of Librarians, COPROBI (Colegio de Profesionales en Bibliotecología de Costa Rica), which is the body that oversees the legal practice of the profession in Costa Rica.

Education

The Costa Rican librarianship training is in the hands of three public universities: The University of Costa Rica (Universidad de Costa Rica), the National University (Universidad Nacional), and the State Distance University (La Universidad Estatal a Distancia). There is also the Autonomous University of Central America (Universidad Autónoma de Centro América, which is private. These four universities offer different aspects of librarianship: Library Science and Information Science with emphasis on school libraries; Library and Documentation; Librarianship and Information and Communication Technologies with emphasis on school libraries and resource centres for learning. The private university offers it at the bachelor level. The preparation of librarians in Costa Rica is at the excellent level, given that the academic offer fits the labour and educational requirements demanded by the Costa Rican society.

e-Information Sciences – Portal of UCR Magazines / e-Ciencias de la Información - Portal de Revistas UCR

e-Information Sciences is a free, open-access scientific-academic electronic journal which belongs to the School of Librarianship and Information Sciences of the University of Costa Rica. Its objective is to disseminate research in the different disciplines related to the information sciences: librarianship, documentation, information and communication technology, research, statistical analysis and bibliometrics, archives, and information systems. Its target audience is researchers, undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate students, professionals in the area of information sciences as well as the general public interested in related topics.

Libraries Magazine – School of Library Science Documentation and Information / Revista Bibliotecas - Escuela de Bibliotecología Documentación e Información

Libraries Magazine is an academic journal of the School of Librarianship, Documentation and Information of the National University of Costa Rica. Its main objective is the dissemination of scientific knowledge resulting from research carried out by professionals in librarianship, documentation, information and related subjects. The journal is published every six months in the following periods: January – June, and July – December, with the methodology of continuous publication. The articles are received throughout the year, as well as editorial efforts for publication. It is aimed at professionals in the areas of librarianships, teachers, practicing librarians and students in training.

Professional Update Days / Jornadas de Actualización Profesional

Every year in September, Costa Rican Association of Librarians (COPROBI) is organising the days of professional training for its members. In this event, specialists, both national and international, are getting acquainted with latest updates in various important professional topics. The event usually is two days long during which various lectures, conferences, workshops, seminars and exhibitions of successful projects are presented.