With the emerging of Internet and the diversificati
on of usages, libraries are
going through an identity crisis and they try to re
define their missions. The third-
place library model seems to characterize a lot of
new organisations. Acting as
real living places, cultural centres of the communi
ty, those libraries gather users
around cultural and social projects. They propose a
large offer and new services.
They are not afraid to use marketing techniques and
run for competitions in the
merchandising universe. Can we still speak of libra
ries ? What are the theoretical
fundaments and the benefits of this model ? How can
it be a way for the future ?