Walking around the public library in Iceland

09.12.2010Olaf Eigenbrodt, Fachbereichsbibliothek Sprache · Literatur · Medien

Walking around the public library in Iceland

Strollological examination of the public libraryin ist social, spatial and historical context


Agenda

Thinking about space

Theory: Hannah Arendt and Henry Lefebvre

Methodology: Examining space in a new way

Practice: Strolling the space of the public library in Iceland

Findings

Conclusion: Introducing strollology in LIS


Thinking about space

Physical space and digital revolution

The doom and the comeback of library space

Space and globalisation

Variety of approaches to library space

Space is more than a room or a building


Questions

Theory

Methodology

How can we get rid of pre-formulated perceptions?

Which context has to be considered?


Public space – private space

Classical dichotomy in the discourse about space

Habermas and the media

Bourdieu and the habitus

Sennet and the city

Oldenburg and the third space


Societal space

Replacing the public-private dichotomy

Multifunctional

Activity-oriented (Hannah Arendt)

individual freedom and freedom of public appearance

Sociation not communitarisation

Supporting informational participation


Space as a social construct

Materialistic concept based on Henri Lefebvre

Space is not a figurative construction but a product

Illusion of transparency – Illusion of authenticity

Not habitus (Bourdieu) but habitat

Space is being produced in a triangle


Methodology

Strollology developed from situationist performance

Lucius Burckhardt

Critique of the selective perception of landscape

Pre-formulated perspectives

Synthezised experience


Strollology

Breaking the logic of the narratives

Observing details and disorders

Social, economic and historical context

Flexible and contingent concept


Why Iceland?

Seems to be homogenous

Small population but big enough for regionalisation

Modern, differentiated library system

Interest in public libraries in rural areas







Pre-formulated Iceland

Unspoilt wilderness

Raging elements

Elves

Pop music

Financial crisis

You are travelling to Iceland to visit libraries?


National/Academic/Special Library Landmark/MuseumPublic Library


How to stroll

Walking around

Observations according town, economy, landmarks

Location and neighbourhood

Library tour

Conversation with staff members

Walking around once again














The historical context is efficacious until today


Lack of an urban tradition


Changes in transportation and buying behaviour


Societal space for the community


Active partners for the knowledge society


Conclusions

Opportunity for a critical point of view

Challenge to become aware of preconceptions

Chance to get a much broader focus

New methodological inspiration

Further development needed


Thanks to:

Goethe-Institut Copenhagen

Beate Detlefs

Matthias Platz

Anna Sigríður Einarsdóttir

Laufey Eiríksdóttir

Þórdís T. Þórarinsdóttir

All Icelandic librarians who supported the project


Thank you very much for your attention

[email protected]

Walking around the public library in Iceland

Education

spacephysical space

societal space

public libraries

comeback of library

ist social

historical contextflexible

contingent concept

henri lefebvrespace