A biblioteca pública como ambiente de mediação da informação para o usuário da terceira idade

Abstract

Introduction: The public library must carry out activities and mediation actions that support the development of social subjects, including elderly users. Objective: To analyze the importance of the public library as an information mediation environment for elderly users and how it develops its physical space and its information mediation activities to promote the permanence and development of elderly users. Methodology: The first stage of the research consisted of mapping the state public libraries located in the city of Salvador, which have their own space for the elderly, and investigating how the mediation activities were directed to them. From this result, with the adoption of the multiple case study method, a questionnaire was applied to the librarians of the four public libraries in the state of Bahia, located in Salvador, which make up the sample of this research: the Anísio Teixeira Public Library; the Juracy Magalhães Jr. Public Library; the Central Library of the State of Bahia and the Thales de Azevedo Public Library. Results: It was found that most public libraries have been carrying out activities aimed at the elderly user. It is important to highlight that public libraries should expand their strategies to encourage elderly users to interact and share experiences. Conclusions: Public libraries try to meet the informational needs of elderly users and provide them with a leisure and entertainment environment, which contributes to improving the quality of life and the conditions conducive to the social inclusion of this elderly public.