URN_NBN_SI_doc-L6AS30IR

96 Omejitve raziskave: Prispevek se opira na opazovanje uporabniških praks v le nekaterih lju- bljanskih splošnih knjižnicah in prouči manjši del letnih poročil, nato pa ugotovitve utemeljuje s stališča sociološke stroke. Izvirnost/uporabnost raziskave: Članek ponuja sociološki vpogled v aktualna vprašanja biblio- tekarske stroke in poskuša s tem podati širšo razlago, ki lahko morda pomaga iskati odgovore na nekatere izzive sodobnega knjižničarstva. Ključne besede: čitalnice, tretji prostor, družbeni vpliv sodobnih tehnologij, strukturne spremembe vsakdanjika, diskurz Abstract Purpose: The article uses sociological concepts in order to rethink the changes in library prac- tices. Contemporary trends are discussed with regard to the changing nature of working habits, referring mostly to the new technology, and the (emergence of) the third space phenomenon. The author does not regard libraries only as concrete public service institutions, but rather as complex cultural forms, taking in consideration wider social context with a stress on users’ prac- tices in relation to space. Methodology/approach: The article is based on the (self-) observation of the public library use, and on the (discourse) analysis of internal library documents (i.e. annual reports and plans) and secondary sociological literature. As such, the cultural form approach represents a classic method of sociology of culture. Results: The study of relevant material in combination with direct personal experiences reveals socio-structural causes for the change of users’ needs and habits, and points at the difficulty of spatial redefinition of libraries as well as at the power of the discourse. Research limitations: The article is limited to an observation of users’ practices in some of the public libraries in Ljubljana and examines only a small number of annual reports – the discover- ies are then further debated from the sociological perspective. Originality/practical implications: The article offers sociological insight in the current issues of the library science and tries to suggest a wider explanation that could answer some of the chal- lenges of the contemporary librarianship. Keywords: library reading rooms, third space, social effects of new technology, structural transfor- mation of the everyday, discourse A. Č. Vogrinčič: Libraries Today, Libraries Tomorrow , 95-107 Library, 56 (2012) 4