What is a Hybrid Library? Evidence from Scotland and Brazil

Rafaela Carolina Da Silva,Charles Oppenheim,Rosângela Formentini Caldas

doi:10.5171/2021.921538

Abstract

Highlights

The term “hybrid” has been used in many ways relating to hybrid library professionals; libraries that combine an academic and corporate purpose or a library and museum’s purpose; the use of hybrid instruction methods; a library that combines public and private spaces; reactions of libraries to hybrid open access; and hybrid professionals
The study aimed at identifying some necessary elements to be present in hybrid libraries, and showing the differences between public hybrid libraries in Brazil and Scotland
The authors have categorised the findings of the research into Brazilian and Scottish public hybrid libraries, in order to analyse users’ and librarians’ understanding of the characteristics of social changes; their training on the use of hybrid libraries to adapt them to this context; social inclusion actions; the interaction between technology, the physical structure and humans; community development actions; and accessibility

Summary

Introduction

The term “hybrid” has been used in many ways relating to hybrid library professionals; libraries that combine an academic and corporate purpose or a library and museum’s purpose; the use of hybrid instruction methods; a library that combines public and private spaces; reactions of libraries to hybrid open access; and hybrid professionals. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO, 2017), many countries are going through major changes of traditional structures of culture One example of such a shift is the development of so-called hybrid libraries, defined as libraries in which traditional and nontraditional sources of information and entertainment are merged and integrated. The term has been used, for example, relating to hybrid library professionals (i.e., possessing several skill sets), libraries that combine an academic and corporate purpose or a library and museum’s purpose, the use of hybrid instruction methods (e.g., online and face to face), or a library that combines public and private spaces (e.g., a library and a theatre), reactions of libraries to hybrid open access (e.g., article processing charges or not), and hybrid professionals (combining different skill sets). The concept of hybrid libraries, in the course of the project, referred to that hybridity found where the traditional library could be run alongside electronics, and where the services and resources of each were integrated

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