The present paper analyses the working conditions of a specific female group: The librarians of the Spanish National Health Service. These libraries were mainly created upon the foundation of the medical specialities. The librarian occupation has been associated with women from the very beginning, originating in this way the archetype of (female) librarian. The first school of librarians, named School of Female Librarians, was restricted to women and was created in Catalonia in 26 March 1915. In 1939, it was renamed as High School of Female Librarians.
The labour relationships of these female workers can be better understood from a gender point of view: femininity, vertical segregation, lack of training activities and unprecise labour contracts. In fact, there does not exist any formal regulation to access to the librarian occupation in the Hospitals. Quite recently, we do observe the presence of men in these occupations, due in part to the implementation of the information technologies, but mainly as managers.
All these aspects will be analysed with the help of empirical data: Number of female librarians, indicators of labour relationships, skills, promotion opportunities, labour stability and equal rights.
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