Libraries between liquid modernity and ‘ipercultura’: reflections and proposal from Apulian Community Libraries

Abstract

In this article, at the time of important innovations introduced by Apulian regional policies for libraries and especially for public ones, the author suggests some reflections about the value and the future of collections and functions, doomed to be more and more ignored and outdated by the pressure of the liquid modernity and undefined community needs.
In the light of the new guidelines of the regional notification Community Library, the libraries are seen as social containers and they are transformed into meeting boxes, while to contain the current cultural desertification it is necessary to reinforce the role of the urban presidium and to introduce a hub of widespread knowledge in the territory. Regarding this purpose, during the experience entitled Biblioteche fuori di sé, the initiatives definable as ‘ipercultura’ and organized in the shopping centers result interesting; they could be replicated permanently also in Puglia, neither with the objective to distract clients from the collective rituals of the consumer celebration, nor with the aim to convert them in strong readers, but to offer an opportunity to everyone to find himself in a renewed civic dimension.
The results of observation, made during the exportation of the public library “Ugo Granafei” of Mesagne in the Galleria Auchan, demonstrated how important is the role of the librarian as local culture promoter and global knowledge mediator. Especially nowadays, in a context in which this profession is unrecognized and underrated by citizens and policy makers, librarians, with other forces and new alliances, can and must try to contain the degradation that surrounds us, never giving up their social and cultural role, even if this means solitude and effort.