Search

The article is a reflection on the importance of a library as a public space as well as a "third place". Public libraries are far from being just the institutions that collect, catalogue, store and make available library materials. They are social spaces able to connect people of different believes, cultures and interests. They are a part of public cultural and educational infrastructures at a local level that are available to everybody on equal terms. The importance of library spaces for their users is multi-layered and it depends mostly on their needs and the needs of the local community. Public libraries are institutions of lifelong learning that not only offer basic services but also provide the feeling of homeliness, warmth, well-being, safety and shelter. However, they must be a regular feature in the life of people who are using them. "Third places" are informal spaces, which enable people to meet socialize and connect and to make new friendships. Thus, they provide the space for social interactions, and building social capital. A literature review presents and explains the concept of a "third place" that has been emerging for a long time in connection with the development of public libraries, but is difficult to understand - to what purpose it serves or what it actually is. This article determines to what extent the activities of the France Bevk Public Library Nova Gorica meets the definition of the "third place". It is mostly based upon subjective observation and reflection on the subject, on personal experience and perception. It is also supported by the exchange of opinions with members and visitors attending the events at the France Bevk Public Library and the users of its services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The article presents a practical example of the space optimization in the school library at the Simon Gregorčič Primary School Kobarid, finished in 2016/17. It describes the historical development of the school library and lists the main reasons for the optimization of the place where the school library has been situated since 1998. By means of the design elements and the principles used before and after the place optimization, it explains the positive effects of the optimization on the place and the users alike. Due to the unsuitable spatial library design, a more ambitious vision for the quality solution of the basic spatial problem is also proposed. Methodology/approach: The article transparently describes the contextual, visual and practical viewpoints of the space optimization in the school library. Results: The processes and results of the optimization have been analysed and summarized for the first time. It is evident that the described school library space optimization can be listed among the examples of good practices in renovating the school library premises in Slovenia. Research limitations: The optimization processes were designed and executed on the basis of impartial library space flaws and subjective evaluations of the well-being by the employees and library users alike. However, although the effects of the optimization can be scientifically measured, there are no analyses of the users' well-being before the optimization process. Therefore, the results cannot be objectively compared. Originality/practical implications: The article presents the actual library space optimization and its effects on the users' well-being, as well as promotes the considerations of the qualitative and considerate design of learning and learning-supportive environment in Slovenian schools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The paper discusses the contribution of the public library to urban environment identity, the value that the public library brings to the residents of the city and the specifics of positioning and planning of a library network in the urban environment. It is based on demographic and spatial data, which is combined with a spatial analysis of the library network. Methodology/approach: A review of professional literature and good practices on analysing and designing public library networks using the tools of geographic information systems (GIS) was carried out. Results: Based on the review, it is possible to determine whether the locations in the library network are appropriate. An overview of the toolkit was prepared, focusing on the GIS tools, through which we can store, manage and display the data. Thus, we can create visual caution maps that, on the one hand, represent the location of the library in the local environment, and at the same time, this will be the starting point for the evaluation of the library network and the implementation of its optimization. Research limitations: Regarding the size and the historical reasons, the Ljubljana City Library (LCL) network is very specific; therefore, we could only rely on foreign theoretical bases for planning the optimization of the library network, which is not transferable to the Slovenian library environment in all aspects. Originality/practical implications: The paper presents the theoretical starting points for carrying out the analysis and design of public library network optimization in the urban environment. Publicly available and free tools for obtaining the necessary data to build library support system with the help of GIS are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]