engleski

Rebuilding and retooling libraries: how new technologies and digital media transform libraries into community hubs of the future

Change, just as technological advancement, is inevitable. Those who are strictly defined by the boundaries of their profession, skills and knowledge will have a harder time following and adapting to the change. And instead of seeing it as a strength and opportunity to grow, they will see it as a weakness and a threat. In libraries changes are mostly caused by technological advancement and rise of new digital media, whether it refers to library's organizational and structural issues, to its services or its space. But library's historic neutrality and intellectual integrity, as well as integrity and independence of its services enables library to adapt to new digital age better and quicker than any other cultural and information institution. One of the main characteristics in this process of adaptation is the creation of library creative spaces, mostly known as library makerspaces or library hackerspaces. These spaces support the rebuilding of libraries as creative community hubs that vitalize their community and its culture and economy. They also provide their patrons with public access to technology and media services necessary to define them as a true members of information and knowledge society. In the new digital age and in the context or maker culture and hacker ethics, library's role of providing free access to information and knowledge expands to providing free access to new technology and digital media and building the culture of collaboration and participation. Connecting with its patrons, building partnerships and strengthening the ties with the community are one of the main ways to ensure library's sustainability and future, no matter the changes.

libraries ; community hubs ; new technologies ; digital media ; makerspaces

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