Public libraries: places creating social capital? (original) (raw)
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Social capital and public libraries: The need for research
Library & Information Science Research, 2007
Empirical research on public libraries and social capital has primarily been oriented toward discovering how libraries contribute to social capital in local contexts, rather than contributing to solving the theoretical puzzles of the social capital literature. In spite of this, it has produced interesting findings that align with new developments in social capital research. These findings emphasize the significance of institutions in generating social capital. By outlining and applying the main theoretical perspectives on generating social capital, this paper analyzes the findings of the literature on public libraries and how social capital is created. Theoretical perspectives on social capital will undoubtedly benefit the study of social capital's creation in and by the library. Including library-specific social capital research within the wider social capital research community can benefit social capital research in general.
Theoretical approaches on public libraries as places creating social capital
74 IFLA General Conference and Council, Quebec, 2008
According to librarians, public libraries create social capital and trust in most people. According to theories on the creation of social capital, this might well be true. However, there is little research confirming this. Overall, social capital theory is in an impasse regarding what factors generate social capital or generalized trust. Is it universalistic public institutions, voluntary associations, or is it interaction between people? From the point of view of social capital theory, public libraries are interesting cases because libraries are both universalistic institutions and social meeting places. In libraries, both mechanisms can be studied. Preliminary findings support that the library create social capital both ways. The specific ways that the library creates social capital has implications for social capital theory as well as library practice.
WOJCIECHOWSKA Maja. The role of public libraries in the development of social capital in local communities – a theoretical study. In Library Management. 2021, vol. 42. https://doi.org/10.1108/LM-10-2020-0139., 2021
Social capital, understood as intangible community values available through a network of connections, is a factor in the development of societies and improving quality of life. It helps to remove economic inequalities and prevent poverty and social exclusion, stimulate social and regional development, civic attitudes and social engagement and build a civic society as well as local and regional identity. Many of these tasks may be implemented by libraries, which, apart from providing access to information, may also offer a number of services associated with social needs. The purpose of this paper is to present the roles and functions that libraries may serve in local communities in terms of assistance, integration and development based on classical social capital theories. Design/methodology/approach-The paper reviews the classical concepts of social capital in the context of libraries. It analyses the findings of Pierre-F elix on their respective concepts, the paper analyses the role of the contemporary library in the social life of local communities. In particular, it focuses on the possible new functions that public libraries may serve. Findings-A critical review of the concept of social capital revealed certain dependencies between libraries and their neighbourhoods. With new services that respond to the actual social needs, libraries may serve as a keystone, namely they may integrate, animate and engage local communities. This, however, requires a certain approach to be adopted by the personnel and governing authorities as well as infrastructure and tangible resources. Originality/value-The social engagement of libraries is usually described from the practical perspective (reports on the services provided) or in the context of research on the impact of respective projects on specific groups of users (research reports). A broader approach, based on original social theories, is rarely encountered. The paper draws on classical concepts of social capital and is a contribution to the discussion on possible uses of those concepts based on an analysis of the role of libraries in social life and in strengthening the social capital of local communities.
WOJCIECHOWSKA Maja, TOPOLSKA Katarzyna. Social and cultural capital in public libraries and its impact on the organisation of new forms of services and implementation of social projects. In Journal of Library Administration. 2021, vol. 61, nr 6, s. 627-643. ISSN 0193-0826., 2021
Public libraries are institutions of culture that, apart from their basic tasks, may also perform various social functions. Since they treat all customers equally and are open to all citizens regardless of their status, they enjoy a high level of trust in local communities. Thus, they may participate in social integration and activity, social capital building and civic engagement processes. This, however, requires not only adequate facilities but also outgoing and engaged personnel. The research analyzed the attitudes of public librarians and compared them to the attitudes of librarians working in other types of libraries. Differences were reported in some areas, suggesting that certain actions are needed in library management.
Do libraries matter? Public libraries and the creation of social capital
Journal of Documentation, 2008
Purpose -Librarians and the library profession keep repeating that libraries contribute greatly to generating social capital by "building community". However, little evidence of this has been presented. This paper aims to be a first step towards correcting this situation by asking whether public libraries matter in the creation of generalized trust. Design/methodology/approach -This study used quantitative data in analyzing macro-level data on whether public library expenditure could explain social trust patterns in the OECD countries. Additionally, a few qualitative interviews with public library leaders in the USA and Norway were used to indicate by what mechanisms, or by which processes, libraries generate generalized trust. Findings -The main finding is that public libraries seem the most important factor in creating generalized trust in the OECD area, even more so than efficient/impartial public institutions. However, there is the problem of causal direction. It might be the case that it is high trusting countries that prioritize public libraries. Therefore, times series data are needed as well as qualitative data on the process of trust creation in the library. Interviews with library leaders point towards the fact that they see outreach activities as creating trust and that people trust the library. Replication of these results, however, is crucial. Moreover, the findings appear to indicate that when the library's attention is directed at disadvantaged groups of non-users it is the widespread trust in the public library institution that breeds trust among these groups too. Originality/value -The paper contributes to the understanding/theory of the creation of generalized trust in general and to the role of the public library in this process.
Role of Public Libraries in Increasing Social Capital: A Case Study of Tehran City
Purpose: The purpose of this research is to study the role of public libraries in increasing social assets and the essential components for creation and development of those assets. Method: In this research, a qualitative approach and an underlying theory method have been used. Of all the public libraries in Tehran, four of the best ranks were selected. By a theoretical sampling method, selection was also made of 41 library members, 16 librarian, and 53 citizens from the potential population of library users. The required data were collected through observation and semistructured interviews. The collected data were analyzed using a theoretical coding method. Findings: The findings show that public libraries have failed to play a key role in the development of social assets for citizens. The results suggest that the factors which cause a shortage of social assets in public libraries include the low quantity and quality of library services, low social interaction in public libraries, ...
Trust in Libraries and Trust in Most People: Social Capital Creation in the Public Library
Studies of the creation of social trust and social capital indicate that informal social contact has a positive effect. Some studies find that uncorrupt public institutions have positive effects on trust and social capital. Additionally, a number of papers show that public libraries have a similar effect. The mechanisms that generate trust, however, remain largely unspecified. Therefore, research describing micro-level processes is needed to uncover the mechanisms creating trust. This article reports a study of change in social trust among first-generation Mexican immigrants who participated in English as a second language (ESL) classes, computer classes, and civics classes in six US public libraries. These students displayed little trust outside their family and friends; however, after participating in library programs, they became more trusting of the library, the librarians, their fellow students, and other library users. These effects can be considered a starting point for a spiral of increasing generalized trust among the students.
Individual Social Capital of Librarians: Results of Research Conducted in 20 Countries
WOJCIECHOWSKA Maja. Individual Social Capital of Librarians: Results of Research Conducted in 20 Countries. In Libri. International Journal of Libraries and Information Studies. 2021, vol. 71, issue 1, s. 77-90. ISSN 0024-2667., 2021
Social capital is a concept that has attracted increased interest among researchers in social science. It was originally introduced to sociological literature in the 1970s by Pierre Bourdieu. The term "social capital" is used to signify a set of specific behaviours and social interactions that many researchers associate with a positive impact on various aspects of human life. These include: democracy, economic development, effective governance, development of communities, education and culture, individual and public health and wellbeing, or even crime prevention. It is often claimed now that libraries as institutions intended to satisfy the intellectual needs of a society and stimulate social development may participate in the development of this capital. The paper presents the results of research on individual social capital of librarians in 20 countries across the world.
Public Libraries and Social Capital in Three New York City Neighbourhoods
Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie, 2008
This study uses the social capital concept to explain geographical variation in public library use. Applying Putnam's social capital theory, we examine how social capital in three New York City neighborhoods affects usage of local branch libraries. A survey was conducted to understand differences in public library use and social capital in the neighborhoods. Diversity and segregation indices were included as additional measures of social capital. The study found that neighborhoods with higher levels of social capital, especially bridging social capital, tend to have higher public library use.
The Social Future of Academic Libraries: New Perspectives on Communities, Networks, and Engagement, 2022
This chapter focuses upon a problem with public libraries that only an academic library can fix. This problem originates in a view of public library collection development as simply a response to user demand. Where this becomes the prevailing wisdom, as it has in the United Kingdom and Australia, the result is often that quality materials, such as publications by university presses, are shunned by selectors. For readers who would ordinarily choose this material the remedies to such a state of affairs are few and far between. One remedy is for the disenfranchised reader of quality materials to use the services of an academic library. While this is certainly an option for readers who live close to an academic library, and in much of the developed world it seems that academic libraries do open their doors to these community borrowers, questions arise as to why should the academic library take on the responsibility for catering to these community borrowers