The Role of Public Libraries in Non-Formal Learning

Abstract

At present, access to information and knowledge is no longer an essential aspect, but the generation and transfer of new knowledge. The current social dynamics is characterized by the acceleration of information exchanges, both in the society as a whole and at the level of each community. In this context, the question arises whether each person is adapted to the requirements and rhythm of modern life, if everyone has equal chances to integrate into the social environment. Thus, education in the knowledge society must respond to the challenges imposed by the labor market by building an open-minded education system based on intensive and continuous training not only within the school but also without it. Socio-economic changes have often exceeded the power of adaptation of education systems to labor market requirements and values, which determined the emergence of alternative forms of learning. The present paper proposes, starting from the idea that school is not the only place to learn, to demonstrate that the activities outside the formal system have grown, namely in libraries, which meet the willingness to learn of the community members, serving their objectives and interests, providing professional information assistance. If the school prepares the individual for self-education and permanent education, the library and other information structures support this approach by using non-formal methods.