The public library as a meeting‐place in a multicultural and digital context. The necessity of low‐intensive meeting‐places
| Date | 01 June 2005 |
| Pages | 429-441 |
| Published date | 01 June 2005 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/00220410510598562 |
| Author | Ragnar Audunson |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
The public library as a
meeting-place in a multicultural
and digital context
The necessity of low-intensive meeting-places
Ragnar Audunson
Library and Information Studies, Oslo University College, Oslo, Norway
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to develop an improved conceptual framework for researching
and discussing the public library’s role as a meeting-place in a multicultural and digital society.
Design/methodology/approach – The development of today’s Western societies from societies
dominated by one cultural canon, and where the role of the public library is to give the public access to
that canon, into societies where a multitude of cultural expressions and values are tolerated and
appraised, is summarized. This development is linked to the digital revolution, which opens up for
increased communication but might increase a development where people live in segregated cultural
niches without being exposed to other values and interests. The general challenge of creating
meeting-places with a potential of promoting that degree of cross-cultural communication which a
community presupposes is presented. Theory and research on meeting-places and arenas for
community communication are presented.
Findings – The concepts of high-intensive versus low-intensive meeting-places are developed.
High-intensive meeting-places are those arenas where people invest their primary engagement,
whereas low-intensive meeting-places are arenas where one is exposed to the values and interests of
others. The role of low-intensive meeting-places in promoting tolerance and community is discussed,
and the public library’s potential as a low-intensive meeting-place is analyzed.
Research limitations/implications – Empirical research based on the concept of high-intensive
and low intensive meeting-places should be undertaken.
Practical implications – The concept of low-intensive meeting-places has practical consequences
for public librarianship. Some of these are specified in the paper.
Originality/value – The paper develops a new concept that might prove fruitful for research as well
as for practical librarianship.
Keywords Digital libraries,Information society, Multiculturalsocieties, Communities
Paper type Conceptual paper
1. Introduction
Today’s globalised society is characterised by two profound, at the surface seemingly
unrelated developments. One is the cultural and social changes caused by migration
and the growth of the multicultural society; the other is related to digitisation and the
growth of the so-called information or knowledge society. Both developments have
fundamental effects on librarianship in general and public librarianship in particular.
The Emerald Research Register for this journal is available at The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/researchregister www.emeraldinsight.com/0022-0418.htm
ACK: The research on which this article is based has been made possible via a grant from The
Freedom of Expression Foundation – Fritt Ord (www.fritt-ord.no/artikkel.asp?AId ¼1 & MId1
¼2)
The public
library
429
Received 5 March 2004
Revised 5 August 2004
Accepted 8 August 2004
Journal of Documentation
Vol. 61 No. 3, 2005
pp. 429-441
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0022-0418
DOI 10.1108/00220410510598562
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