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- Title
KNJIŽNICE DANES, KNJIŽNICE JUTRI: AKTUALNE KNJIŽNIČNE PRAKSE IN POMEN KNJIŽNIČNEGA PROSTORA V LUČI ŠIRŠIH DRUŽBENIH FENOMENOV -- SOCIOLOŠKI POGLED.
- Authors
Čepič, Ana Vogrinčič
- Abstract
Purpose: The article uses sociological concepts in order to rethink the changes in library practices. Contemporary trends are discussed with regard to the changing nature of working habits, referring mostly to the new technology, and the (emergence of) the third space phenomenon. The author does not regard libraries only as concrete public service institutions, but rather as complex cultural forms, taking in consideration wider social context with a stress on users' practices in relation to space. Methodology/approach: The article is based on the (self-) observation of the public library use, and on the (discourse) analysis of internal library documents (i.e. annual reports and plans) and secondary sociological literature. As such, the cultural form approach represents a classic method of sociology of culture. Results: The study of relevant material in combination with direct personal experiences reveals socio-structural causes for the change of users' needs and habits, and points at the difficulty of spatial redefinition of libraries as well as at the power of the discourse. Research limitations: The article is limited to an observation of users' practices in some of the public libraries in Ljubljana and examines only a small number of annual reports -- the discoveries are then further debated from the sociological perspective. Originality/practical implications: The article offers sociological insight in the current issues of the library science and tries to suggest a wider explanation that could answer some of the challenges of the contemporary librarianship.
- Subjects
LIBRARY space utilization; SOCIAL facts; LIBRARIES -- Social aspects; READING rooms; SOCIAL structure; LIBRARY public services
- Publication
Library / Knjižnica, 2012, Vol 56, Issue 4, p95
- ISSN
0023-2424
- Publication type
Article