Access the full text.
Sign up today, get DeepDyve free for 14 days.
E. Goffman (2006)
Presentation of Self
Amitai Etzioni (1995)
New communitarian thinking : persons, virtues, institutions, and communities
Gloria Leckie, J. Hopkins (2002)
The Public Place of Central Libraries: Findings from Toronto and VancouverThe Library Quarterly, 72
Anthony Giddens (1999)
The Third Way: The Renewal of Social Democracy
M. Harris (1973)
The Purpose of the American Public Library. A Revisionist Interpretation of History.Library Journal
Bob Usherwood, R. Linley (1999)
New Library - New Measures: A Social Audit of Public LibrariesIFLA Journal, 25
R. Putnam (2000)
Bowling alone: the collapse and revival of American community
H. Gans (1995)
Urbanism and Suburbanism as Ways of Life: A Reevaluation of Definitions
E. Kerslake, M. Kinnell (1998)
Reviewing the Literature on Public Libraries and Social Inclusion, 48
E. Goffman (1959)
The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life
R. Oldenburg (1999)
The Great Good Place
Laura Weiss (1997)
Buildings, Books, and Bytes: Libraries and Communities in the Digital AgeAustralasian Public Libraries and Information Services, 10
Lars Qvortrup (1998)
Det hyperkomplekse samfund: 14 fortællinger om informationssamfundet
Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to develop an improved conceptual framework for researching and discussing the public library's role as a meeting‐place in a multicultural and digital society. Design/methodology/approach – The development of today's Western societies from societies dominated by one cultural canon, and where the role of the public library is to give the public access to that canon, into societies where a multitude of cultural expressions and values are tolerated and appraised, is summarized. This development is linked to the digital revolution, which opens up for increased communication but might increase a development where people live in segregated cultural niches without being exposed to other values and interests. The general challenge of creating meeting‐places with a potential of promoting that degree of cross‐cultural communication which a community presupposes is presented. Theory and research on meeting‐places and arenas for community communication are presented. Findings – The concepts of high‐intensive versus low‐intensive meeting‐places are developed. High‐intensive meeting‐places are those arenas where people invest their primary engagement, whereas low‐intensive meeting‐places are arenas where one is exposed to the values and interests of others. The role of low‐intensive meeting‐places in promoting tolerance and community is discussed, and the public library's potential as a low‐intensive meeting‐place is analyzed. Research limitations/implications – Empirical research based on the concept of high‐intensive and low intensive meeting‐places should be undertaken. Practical implications – The concept of low‐intensive meeting‐places has practical consequences for public librarianship. Some of these are specified in the paper. Originality/value – The paper develops a new concept that might prove fruitful for research as well as for practical librarianship.
Journal of Documentation – Emerald Publishing
Published: Jun 1, 2005
Keywords: Digital libraries; Information society; Multicultural societies; Communities
Read and print from thousands of top scholarly journals.
Already have an account? Log in
Bookmark this article. You can see your Bookmarks on your DeepDyve Library.
To save an article, log in first, or sign up for a DeepDyve account if you don’t already have one.
Copy and paste the desired citation format or use the link below to download a file formatted for EndNote
Access the full text.
Sign up today, get DeepDyve free for 14 days.
All DeepDyve websites use cookies to improve your online experience. They were placed on your computer when you launched this website. You can change your cookie settings through your browser.