The Public Library and its Role in the Community
The Public Library and its Role in the Community

Summary/Abstract: The public library plays a vital role in the communities it serves, being the main institution providing information and documentation services under various forms and in different contexts. Thus, it contributes to the users’ personal development through formal education, life-long learning, after-school activities, information culture, leisure time activities or access to information. Another aspect covered by the public library is related to social cohesion, the area of the institution becoming a meeting place and a community development center. Cultural identity and local identity are problems with a significant impact on the community and which need to be publicized by the public library, and imagination and creativity increase the interest of the public for cultural activities. All these demonstrate that a public library plays a special social role in the community, and the services offered by it foster the accomplishment of this role.

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