Social librarianship for the new welfare

Abstract

One of the most recognizable trends of our globalized world is the extraordinary technological development. One of its more or less intentional side effects is the polarization between the few able to manage and control technology, and the many who can't do anything but accept and adopt it. A new idea of Welfare can't ignore this potential multitude of passive and defenseless individuals: on the contrary, it has to provide them with the skills and competences essential for leading change and innovation. This can be a rich and productive ground for libraries and librarians, who can work as knowledge management agents, provided that they are not afraid to cross the line between a traditional and a new idea of librarianship.