The Role of Libraries in the Urban Development

Abstract

The article is devoted to the issues that are only beginning to be widely discussed among the professionals - what is the role of modern libraries in the urban development, whether the library can and should be the active element affecting the life of local communities, the development of the tourism industry, whether the investments are feasible in the development of the library system.Currently libraries start to be perceived everywhere not only as socially significant cultural and educational institution, but also as a significant agent of urban and regional development. In some cases, the appearance of the library, which is becoming «an icon of the city», is dramatically changing the way of life and the vector of economic development in the region. That’s why the attention of politicians and businessmen in the planning of large-scale urban facilities has increasingly switched to libraries. Numerous studies also confirm the growing popularity and interest to the library services and opportunities among various strata and social groups of population around the world. The libraries themselves and moreover the activities that occur around them, have a significant impact on the urban development - today it is the reality already proved by the analysis.