THE ROLE OF LIBRARIES IN THE IMPROVEMENT OF URBAN COMPETITIVENESS. THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE "CAROL I" CENTRAL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF BUCHAREST

The public libraries are logically indispensable partners in the local initiatives of urban development that focus on people and the quality of life. The libraries are, many times, available for all the inhabitants of a city, being considered as public institutions that provide a wide range of information and support services. During this age of economic transformations, the problem of public libraries is once more brought to discussion. The public access to digital information and information technology represents a new trend for libraries. The power of the new digital collections, the available technology and the training programs used make from libraries some essential partners for the local communities, in their attempts to pass from an economy based on the manufacturing and service industry to an economy based on knowledge. In its attempt to emphasise the essential role that the public libraries receive in the modern society, this paper presents the manner in which the info-documentary structures contribute to the economic development of the communities they serve by ensuring the free access to culture and knowledge, as well as to the creation of vibrant cultural spaces, which represent true urban attractions. The overcoming of Romanian libraries of inertia is one of the critical factors on which their survival shall depend within the informational society. Thus, the study supports the experts in libraries, by indicating several directions that may be considered by libraries in their attempt to get actively involved in the improvement of urban competitiveness.