The library : Mirror of culture

Abstract

As through emerging communication systems and global trading, continents, cultures and people are closer to each other than was ever before, multiculturalism is mostly described as the living together (or clash) of different cultures. Culture in this definition is closely related to origin, and the included values and attitudes. From this point of view cultures are seen as intern homogeneous and extern heterogeneous : Al members of eg the western culture share a common set of values and attitudes, which are different to those of other cultures (eg Arabic). Multiculturalism becomes than the way how this different cultures (can) life together in one geographical area. Closer investigation reveals that the idea of a homogeneous western culture is as convenient as it is misleading. Indeed, in dept studies show that one culture is in fact a sum of different underlying cultures. The latter are predominant in how and witch choices are made by people, including choices related to library use. A commonly accepted view is that western society can be divided into high and low culture. Sociologist working in this field even refined this dichotomous model with a much broader variety of different cultures. In this approach culture is not related to a regional or racial determinant, but refers to how people use the (cultural) artifacts (clothing, newspapers and media, music, …) to express themselves and shape their cultural identity. Applied by marketers, these cultures where given the name of lifestyles. Although this form of ‘multiculturalism’ does not start from geographical, nor racial background, it doesn’t exclude them. Studies showed that a majority of the people from non western origin (easily) incorporated, applied and even shaped the existing western lifestyles. At least it could be proven that this ‘lifestyle’ approach of multiple cultures is very useful for analyzing and identifying user groups in the public library.