Library as (Third) Space: Social Effects of Spatial Practices

Abstract

The article analyses the social effects produced by the heterogeneous use of space in eighteenth-century circulating libraries, as well as in contemporary public libraries. On that basis it questions the adequacy of the concept third space or third place, which has figured as a descriptive commonplace in library discourse at least for ten years. The author argues that the library profession has uncritically adopted Oldenburg’s understanding of the term, which in fact misses the central aim of public libraries. What she suggests is a reinterpretation of the concept for today’s library practice. The paper concludes with a broader reflection on how to think of the library in the 21st century.