Bookspace: Collected Essays on Libraries

by Maria Inês Cruz (Editor), Lozana Rossenova (Editor), Heba El-Sherif (Contributor)

A comprehensive look at the social role of libraries is a key part of the book. In the Western World, constant funding cuts – justified with austerity measures and the economic crises – affect the functioning and closing of libraries. While in the Middle East and Northern Africa, the challenges arise from socio-political crises and military regimes. Thus, threatening the preservation and sharing of knowledge, and overshadowing those libraries’ historical roots and social roles.

The speed of technical innovation makes any discussions of future developments uncertain. A well-rounded critical debate of the current state of libraries, which for centuries have been vital sources and distributors of knowledge and information, seems to be an important step to better understand what drives our society. Recognising how patterns of information distribution and consumption are changing, we aim to suggest how they might evolve in the near future.

143 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2015

Reviews

[Víctor · Rating 2 out of 5]

A beautiful designed book, nicely produced. An overall nice object to have.

The title does not lie, this book is about libraries. From what they mean, to what their status are passing through the way they are built. I think is a good book, fill with information and ‘curiosities’ but obviously it wont be interesting for everybody.

Jorge Reis' essay was without a doubt the one that I enjoyed the most.