SHAPING PERSONALITIES
FUNCTIONS AND TASKS OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES TODAY AND TOMORROW
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18485/bibliotekar.2025.67.1.3Keywords:
public libraries, library functions, users, audiences, issues of modern society, library mission and tasks, new library practices, local communitiesAbstract
This paper considers the possibilities for a radical expansion of public library functions, driven by the increasing need for self-identification and self-realization among citizens in the digital age. This need arises as individuals experience growing discomfort due to a lack of clear social guidelines. The paper argues that libraries must transform from social institutions primarily providing access to documents into institutions whose mission is to create a high-quality communication environment. This environment should assist people in consciously understanding their unique place in a rapidly changing world. Achieving this goal implies a shift from primarily working with the library collection to more active engagement with the community it serves, which becomes both the primary focus and a key tool of the libraryʼs activities.
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