The public libraries as a subjective integration spaces: A case study in La Peña public Library of BibloRed, in Bogota, Colombia

Abstract

The proposed research addresses how public libraries in popular contexts can realize processes of collective subjectivity from their library services. An analysis of these libraries as agencies for the construction of the public sphere is carried out through a case study in a public library of Bogota, Colombia. It was initially proposed to illustrate the way in which the public library has addressed the question of what is a public library and what is its social and political role, identifying the reasons that we believe are necessary questioned by the social sciences. Then, reviewing the theories of subjectivity and collective subjectivity, an instrument for qualitative inquiries was built around the category of collective subjectivity, allowing to explore from subjective narratives of users, the elements to describe the processes from the selected public library. Finally, considerations are presented about public libraries as agencies of social and cultural processes, involved in training and participation scenarios.