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The role and value of public libraries in the age of digital technologies

Oslo University College, Norway, svanhild.aabo{at}jbi.hio.no

Discusses public libraries’ role and value in the age of digital technologies. Reassessments of their role due to technological development and widespread public use of the Internet are analysed. Central challenges of the digital society, including an increased digital divide and a weakening of local community identity, have resulted in lower social participation and involvement in community issues. Previous research has demonstrated that public libraries have a wide social impact on both individuals and local communities. This article focuses on the special characteristics of public libraries to assess their potentially enhanced role and value, as a public room and social and physical meeting place in the digitised age. The article identifies a need to strengthen the public libraries’ democratic role in the information society by furthering social inclusiveness and citizenship.

Key Words: digital society • challenges • public libraries’ democratic role • public meeting place • role and value of public libraries • social inclusiveness

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