Hybrid libraries and the development of society

Abstract

Introduction: The distinctive and fundamental libraries’ properties are changed over time, and some of these changes reflected in the nomenclature used to refer to the characteristics of the libraries. This is the case of the traditional and hybrid libraries. This research defends the thesis that hybridity paradigm for libraries stagnated in the 1990s, however, the library management changed, because of their communities’ needs. Objective: It aimed to follow the sociocultural trajectory of the concept of hybrid library. Methodology: The study is qualitative, exploratory, and carried out a theoretical-epistemological and field research. It used the Multimodal Discourse Analysis as research method. The Bibliographic Research was used as a tool to collect data in specific and related Information Science databases. The Field Research was used as a tool to collect data in hybrid library environments placed in the State of Missouri, United States of America. Results: As partial results, was possible to identify that hybridity should be understood beyond its physical infrastructure, as a representative factor to develop communities. The concept of hybridity is inserted in the context of systemic organizations, presupposing an open environment action and administrative junctions, conjecturing micro and macro informational spaces. Conclusion: The hybridity promotes ways to use technology in favor of a collective intelligence, approaching knowledge networks, which can bring new perspectives to the libraries.