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Bridging Worlds Conference 2008, SingaporeDay One Track TwoSpeaker 5 - Olaf Eigenbrodt
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Olaf Eigenbrodt X/08
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Library Spaces in the Knowledge Societies
Knotting Together Global and Local
Olaf Eigenbrodt Berlin, Germany
Olaf Eigenbrodt X/08
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Agenda
• From information society to knowledge societies
• Public spaces and Communal places• The social role of libraries in knowledge
societies• Networking and library space planning
Olaf Eigenbrodt X/08
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Common issues of knowledge societies
• Science is a direct factor of production• Concurrence between scientific generated
and other forms of knowledge• Educational and scientific policy is a central
issue of politics• Knowledge is one of the main factors of
social disparity • Changing structures of social power• Non-material necessities are important
motives for social struggles• Authority is based on expertise
Olaf Eigenbrodt X/08
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Olaf Eigenbrodt X/08
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The paradoxes of knowledge societies
• Information paradox: The more context-free information exists in our environment the more important context-bound knowledge becomes. [Läpple 2004]
• Location paradox: The bigger and easier to transact logistics becomes the higher the local integration of a business is valued. [Porter 1999]
• Social inclusion paradox:The easier access to information becomes the more less educated social groups are excluded. [Suchanek 2006]
Olaf Eigenbrodt X/08
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Knowledge societies?
Global perspective:• Cultural diversity • Different social organisation• Various economic problemsSociological perspective:• Inclusion of several other concepts• Multiple definitions
Olaf Eigenbrodt X/08
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Olaf Eigenbrodt X/08
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Public space
Beyond the classical differentiation of public and private:
• Self-awareness• Identification• Communication• Confrontation• Irritation• Leisure• Consumption
Olaf Eigenbrodt X/08
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Olaf Eigenbrodt X/08
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Types of public space
• Representative• Appreciative• Social or "Third Space"
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"Briefly put, public spaces serve human beings through their physical, ecological, psychological, social, political, economic, symbolic and aesthetic roles which make them inevitable components for societiesand cities." [Akkar, 2007, p. 119]
Olaf Eigenbrodt X/08
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Olaf Eigenbrodt X/08
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Urban Development
• Suburbanisation and reurbanisation are taking place at the same time
• Socially fragmented cities • Lifestyles are intermingling to new, partly
virtual milieus• Demographic changes • Growing engagement of the civil societies• Integration - necessity and problem
Olaf Eigenbrodt X/08
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Olaf Eigenbrodt X/08
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Informational Participation
• The individual is the centre of attention• Technology is a tool, not the thing itself• Satisfying people‘s informational needs• social, cultural and educational background• Open spaces and open access as basis
Olaf Eigenbrodt X/08
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Olaf Eigenbrodt X/08
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Societal Space
• dynamic, open concept of space• multifunctional • constituted by the activities taking place in it• interdependence of individual freedom and
freedom of public appearance • rational coordination and association of
interests • in terms of Max Weber: "Vergesellschaftung"
→ 'gesellschaftlicher Raum' – 'sozialer Raum'→ societal space – social space
Olaf Eigenbrodt X/08
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Olaf Eigenbrodt X/08
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Network
• Large meshed web made of cords interlinked with knots
• Mythopoetic metaphor related to text and web
• Sociological term for complex social relations
• Technical term for the interconnection of different devices
• …
Olaf Eigenbrodt X/08
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Network Society?
• Ubiquitous networking by technical means (computing, phone, media)
• Replacement of other media and face-to-face contacts by the internet
• "Social computing" and "social software"
• Identity as main source of meaning (Castells)
• Constant processes of change
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Criticism of the concept
• Small empirical basis • Internet integrates other media but
does not replace direct contact• For sociology the metaphor 'social' is
problematic in connection with technical systems
• Nationalistic and anti-democratic aspects in Castell's theory
• More comprehensive than information society but also technocentric
Olaf Eigenbrodt X/08
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Olaf Eigenbrodt X/08
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Local networks
• Exchange and production of context-bound knowledge
• Identification with the community• Cope with contingency• Chance for face-to-face communication• Economically important location paradox
Olaf Eigenbrodt X/08
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Olaf Eigenbrodt X/08
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Global networks
• Information seeking• Exchange of context-free information• Transnational and transcultural
contact• Virtual public spaces• Experience contingency
Olaf Eigenbrodt X/08
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Olaf Eigenbrodt X/08
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Linking local and global
• Providing and mingling physical and virtual facilities and spaces
• Freedom of information and opinion• Open access• Encouragement• Needs of the community• Customized information about virtual social
networks• High standard of comfort• Security
Olaf Eigenbrodt X/08
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Olaf Eigenbrodt X/08
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Functions of a library in a communal network
• Link to a larger informational network• Representative place for the
community• Place for informational participation • Appreciative space for amusement• Coordination of information• Portal to the virtual space of the
library system and otherwise
Olaf Eigenbrodt X/08
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Olaf Eigenbrodt X/08
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"The Neighbourhood Libraries offer convenient access to all books and networked resources of the Seattle Public Library close to where people live and work. They are gathering places for exploring and collecting a neighbourhood's common heritage and for discussing divergent views. The Neighbourhood Libraries sponsor programs and offer materials related specifically to each neighbourhood, satisfying educational and recreational needs. Each Neighbourhood Library acts as an information navigator on new electronic resources, helping anyone sort, interpret and select information." [SPL, 1998]