Public Library Representations and Internet Appropriations

Sequeiros, Paula Public Library Representations and Internet Appropriations. Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung / Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 2014, vol. 15, n. 1. [Journal article (Unpaginated)]

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English abstract

May the changes in the representations of the public library be propitiated by readers' appropriations of the Internet? To answer this question, a theoretically-driven and empirically-based research was developed in a public library in Portugal, combining the analysis of documents uses, the ethnography of space and Internet use, of social relations developed while reading, with the analysis of representations of the public library. No clear-cut association emerged between social-demographics or user profiles, and representations, in general. No disruptive Internet "impact" was found: Internet use may contribute to reinforce traditional representations of the library, while it may also update and democratise other representations. If the library and the Internet are represented as synonymous, the former does not make sense without the latter; but an Internet widespread and intensive use conflicts with the image of an institution dedicated to high-brow culture. Changes in uses of the public library are, instead, clearly associated with new types of readers, which in their turn reflect changes in urban social composition.

Item type: Journal article (Unpaginated)
Keywords: social representations; Internet; public libraries; reading practices; readers profiles; ethnographic observation; in-depth interviews; Portugal
Subjects: B. Information use and sociology of information > BA. Use and impact of information.
C. Users, literacy and reading. > CB. User studies.
L. Information technology and library technology > LC. Internet, including WWW.
Depositing user: Ana Paula Sequeiros
Date deposited: 02 Dec 2013 08:11
Last modified: 02 Oct 2014 12:29
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10760/20809

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