Social Functions of Public Library in the Studies of Domestic Library Scientists

Abstract

The article is devoted to one of the most debatable topics of library science — the problem of social functions of library. Domestic researchers in the area of library science repeatedly addressed the question on the mission of library and considered its role in the society. The author notes that the term “social function” occupies an important place in the conceptual apparatus of library science; however, the generally accepted classification of social functions has not been developed to date. The author traces the history of formation of the ideas about the social functions of library. The article examines the main theoretical approaches and directions of research of social functions related to their classification, definition of functions of different types of libraries, search for the essential (generic) function, etc. The author emphasizes that, in the course of evolution of library science, the ideas of library scientists on the composition and content of social functions of library had been changing, and the choice of particular function as the dominant one depended on the specific historical conditions. The article notes that in the modern library science there is a tendency to expand the vision of social functions of library. The author believes that this trend will continue in the future, and this is a naturally determined process. To the traditional functions of library — information, cultural, educational — added the function of social protection. The most striking model of the modern public library, implementing this function, embodied in the concept of “third place”, according to which the library positions itself as part of the urban space, a comfortable area for self-development, informal communication and social adaptation. For people with special needs (disabled, unemployed, homeless) library often becomes a “lifeline”, giving the opportunity to find their place in society. The expansion of the range of activities of libraries through the development of additional social functions does not detract from the importance of library-information services as a leading area of work. How justified are the attempts of libraries to “fit” into the life of modern society, to attract attention, to become necessary, can be judged only in the course of time.