20-24 septembrie 2009 - Biblioteca Metropolitana Bucuresti

Role of the library in providing access... 259and operation of the library. It is the social requirements that determinemajor transformations in the area of library science, and that, at the sametime, calls for new ways to determine the actions necessary to promote aninclusive information policy.As Lidia Kulikovski states in her study “Social Responsibility of PublicLibraries – A Synthesis between Knowledge and Action”, the modernredefining of the library’s functions occurred as a reaction to the demandsof the society, of the community, and of the Information Society – demandsto assess their role and place in the societal process. Delegating new rolesproves the high level of the library’s involvement in the public affairs ofthe community. This means the availability of the library, of the communityand of citizens to cooperate for the common benefit and for the benefit ofeach party.Integration means “the relationship established between the individualand the society”.Social integration refers to the totality of social relations betweenindividuals and social groups that are based on recognizing their integrity,values and rights. Carrying out the action of integration, the library worksfrom the individual to the social level, providing access to public informationresources in accordance with the information needs of the citizens.The social responsibility of the library may be interpreted as the resultof long-term developments and permanent efforts in promoting the primaryrole of the citizen in its affairs. The postmodern society is concerned abouthuman integration in constructive, democratic processes. The strategiesof the Council of Europe and European Union on social protection,education, social integration, and social activism contain recommendationson accessibility, communication, cultural events, recreation, within whichthe library carries out its functions. The implementation of strategicand regulatory requirements leads to establishing social inclusion. Thefundamental international concepts also influence the development offramework documents on library science in Moldova. The library legislationhas been revised and adapted to the European requirements in terms ofequal access to information. An important document that determines themission of public libraries as a social institution put in the service of thecivil society is the UNESCO Manifesto for Public Libraries. UNESCOproclaims confidence in public libraries as institutions of education, cultureand information, as important forces that promote peace and understanding,and spiritual welfare among people. These are requirements of the entiresociety – the transformation and human prosperity – that “respect the