| Abstract [eng] |
Public libraries are open organizations which are accessible to each and everyone. They are institutions of democratic culture, education and information. Public libraries provide basic conditions for individuals, public groups and all the community to have an unrestricted access to their premises, resources, knowledge and technologies as well as possibility of life long learning and individual quest in pursuit of personal achievements and self development. A public space as the public domain and its communication sector help to develop public opinion and raise awareness. A properly functioning public space is a prerequisite for a civic society and democracy, since the circulating information and discussions happening in this space help people to take relevant and justified decisions. A public space is in every dialogue or gathering when people discuss issues of public interest. The subject of the master’s thesis “Public Library as a Public Space” is topical for every citizen who is concerned about the future of their society, its development, education, culture, traditions, and other matters related to a human being and its existence in the cultural and social context of the society. The object of the thesis is the public library as presented in the context of a public space. The aim of the paper is to examine the role of public libraries in terms of public space and analyse the situation and prospects of public libraries as a public space in Lithuania through the method of questionnairing. The thesis consists of an introduction, tree main parts, conclusions, bibliography, references and annexes. First part elaborates on the concept of public space, its interpretation in the context of public libraries as well as the current public attitude towards public libraries. Part two focuses on accessibility of the public library as public space. It is analysed from both social as well as physical point of view. Part tree dedicated to the description of the study of the problems related to the public library as public space and the analysis of the results as well as their interpretation supplemented by visuals. The public space theory is mentioned, criticized and development in numerous sources of literature in different context of social, philosophical, political, literary, and communicative and media theories. |
