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Starting from the changes occurred in the larger environment libraries work in, the article deals with the new research needs libraries should cope with. In doing so, it intends to stimulate a careful consideration of the peculiar characteristics of the qualitative research methodology applied to the library user analysis, which takes into account the complex dynamics concerning the subjective and psychological aspects of motivations, needs and perceptions by patrons. By means of this analysis the article aims at explaining the reasons why, over the last years, the new paradigm of 'social librarianship' has emerged and how this change should be interpreted by libraries and librarians. In the final part of the article some considerations about future perspectives for libraries are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]