P2 Rooms & Spaces

Today library space is being considered from different perspectives. There is an ongoing debate about the proper architecture and layout of library buildings; people are talking about meeting places and public spaces, considering the role of libraries in the knowledge and information society; and last but not least the connections between virtual and physical spaces of libraries are being analysed. The purpose of this panel is to present and discuss the role of rooms and spaces from different points of view. The main motivation of all approaches presented in this panel is free and open access to library spaces. Eve R. Gaus and Terry Weech will talk about the role libraries play as a space within a community, the library's role as a public space to minority populations in Denmark and the U.S. Their approach will help us to discuss how the library functions as a meeting room for cultural exchange. Jack Andersen's approach is based on a field study. The content of 'free and equal access to information' will be discussed. A café in Copenhagen provides free and equal access to information together with laundry facilities, coffee and snacks. The debate will force us to ask what kind of practices and institutions are involved in this activity in society. The discussion about strategies for free and open access will be carried forward by Olaf Eigenbrodt. He examines the concept of informational participation as a holistic approach to the problems associated with the 'digital divide'. Raoul Boers will concentrate on the virtual space of the library. His research asks what a digital library could and indeed should be. He will present the connections between the idea of open spaces in physical and informational architecture. This approach will inspire questions about the physical relevance of social computing in the digital public library.