The Role of Public Libraries in the Development
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Uniwersytet Gdaski University of Gdask https://repozytorium.bg.ug.edu. pl The role of public libraries in the development of social capital in local communities - a Publikacja / theoretical study, Publication Wojciechowska Maja DOI wersji wydawcy / http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/LM-10-2020-0139 Published version DOI Adres publikacji w Repozytorium URL / https://repozytorium.bg.ug.edu.pl/info/article/UOG9cd3e99a30ed4b97bc4305fc941b469f/ Publication address in Repository Data opublikowania w 24 lut 2021 Repozytorium / Deposited in Repository on Rodzaj licencji / Type Uznanie Autorstwa - Uycie Niekomercyjne (CC-BY-NC 4.0) of licence Cytuj t wersj / Wojciechowska Maja: The role of public libraries in the development of social capital in Cite this local communities - a theoretical study, Library Management, Emerald Group Publishing version Ltd., vol. 42, no. 3, 2021, pp. 184-196, DOI:10.1108/LM-10-2020-0139 The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at: https://www.emerald.com/insight/0143-5124.htm LM 42,3 The role of public libraries in the development of social capital in local communities – 184 a theoretical study Received 5 October 2020 Maja Dorota Wojciechowska Revised 2 February 2021 Accepted 2 February 2021 Faculty of Languages, University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland Abstract Purpose – 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-Felix Bourdieu, James Coleman, Francis Fukuyama, Robert Putnam, Nan Lin, Ronald Stuart Burt, Wayne Baker and Alejandro Portes. Based 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. Keywords Social capital, Regional development, Social functions of libraries, Tasks of libraries, Local communities Paper type Conceptual paper Introduction Social capital is a phenomenon that attracts the attention of researchers who analyse societies or smaller groups of people, like local communities. This does not mean, however, that it is the domain of only sociologists, as it is of interest also to spatial geographers, economists, psychologists or cultural anthropologists. Recently, it has also been analysed in the context of the work and social functions of libraries (Bourke, 2005; Hillenbradn, 2005; Kranich, 2001; Goulding, 2004; Varheim, 2007; Pors, 2007; Schlak, 2015). Due to its specific properties, it is often referred to as a “social glue”, an adhesive that connects people and their resources and builds social bonds. It unites lost individuals into a well-functioning social structure, which is supposed to contribute to the exchange of knowledge and information resources within Library Management a group. Vol. 42 No. 3, 2021 pp. 184-196 Unfortunately, social capital researchers claim that, in the era of new media and popularity © Emerald Publishing Limited of information and communication technologies, social capital is degrading. People no longer 0143-5124 DOI 10.1108/LM-10-2020-0139 tend to join groups or develop close bonds within them. This is because, on the one hand, there Pobrano z https://repozytorium.bg.ug.edu.pl / Downloaded from Repository of University of Gdańsk 2021-09-26 is less and less social space for people to integrate in (commuting long distances to work leaves Role of public little time to build bonds with one’s neighbours or engage in community activities) and, on the libraries other hand, people spend more time in front of the TV and computer, to the disadvantage of relationships with others and social capital (Mikiewicz, 2014). Also, increasingly popular mobile applications replace contact with other people (peers, friends, acquaintances). These factors also reduce the time spent in public cultural institutions, such as libraries, culture centres, museums, etc. Thus, it is worth analysing whether libraries as institutions originally intended to provide information, which is now commonly available in electronic sources, via 185 the Internet, could redirect some of their activity to social services offered either in library buildings or in the neighbourhood (parks, meeting centres, schools, etc.). The social capital theory The social capital theory is most closely linked with sociology represented by, among others, James Coleman and Pierre-Felix Bourdieu, who, alongside Robert Putnam, are believed to be the most important authors and popularisers of that theory. – They introduced the concept of social capital in the scholarly discourse. Now, the concept is popular and analysed in various research contexts and approaches. Table 1 presents the views on social capital of selected “classicists” and progenitors of the concept. It contains definitions and descriptions of the concept. Next, the paper discusses various elements relevant to the activity of libraries and their (possible or actual) social role. Despite lack of a single uniform definition of social capital, probably because of the complexity of the issue, most of the definitions have certain features in common. As can be seen, the authors of those definitions use a set of characteristic terms, such as, for example: trust, loyalty, relationships, networks, values, norms, reciprocity or cooperation, which describe the nature of social capital. This nature may differ, depending on how extensive the scope of the social capital is supposed to be. In the narrow perspective, social capital refers only to social bonds and norms, whereas in the broad perspective, it also includes relationships with institutions and social organisations (in this context, the social role of libraries may also be analysed) and even social, legal and economic concepts on a national or international scale. According to one of the universal definitions of social capital, it is a sum of networks and relationships between people, a community of social norms and historical, cultural or religious traditions, etc. In this sense, social capital comprises: (1) Social networks – networks of contacts that facilitate access to information, receive support, etc. (2) Social norms – formal and informal laws that determine the conduct of the members of a given community: reciprocity, trust, collaboration and codified norms of behaviour. (3) Sanctions – measures taken to make sure that members of a given community comply with norms: rewards or punishments for specific (desired or undesired, respectively) forms of behaviour (Sztaba, 2007). Social capital is sometimes treated as a synthesis of the individual and community dimensions characterised by: (1) Access to information and certain forms of social life thanks to relationships that are established and maintained between individuals; (2) Complete trust of actors and their readiness to engage in various projects implemented together with others; Pobrano z https://repozytorium.bg.ug.edu.pl / Downloaded from Repository of University of Gdańsk 2021-09-26 LM Represented 42,3 Author disciplines Views / definitions Hanifan Lyda Judson Sociology Social capital is a set of intangible community values, such as, (1879–1932) for example, kindness, camaraderie, solidarity and social contacts between members of a local community and their families who, as a result, form a separate social unit 186 James Coleman Sociology Social capital encompasses those aspects of social structure (1926–1995) Social policy that support the efforts of individual or corporate social actors within the structure. They make it possible to achieve goals that would be unattainable without such properties of that structure Pierre-Felix Bourdieu Sociology Social capital