Biblioteka – wyzwania w epoce nowych mediów

The article presents the condition of library as an institution in the era of new media domination. On the basis of research at the Toronto School of Communication, we show the profound impact that writing and reading had on human thinking and social institutions. In particular, we focus on the ability to use abstract and universalistic categories and to be critical. These skills are a necessary base for the modern public sphere which is a sphere of freedom of opinion and a place where citizenship is being developed. According to numerous surveys the number of readers as well as the critical reading skills have been decreasing. Taking into account these trends and previous research we can assume that abilities required for full participation in the public sphere and modern society of knowledge will be weakened. There is a question of challenges that the contemporary library will have to deal with. According to a French historian of the book – Roger Chartier – the library can carry out its tasks in several areas such as: archiving all types of text carriers (even in case of complete digitalization of recourses), broadly comprehended social and educational functions which mean assisting in dealing with information overload, and active creation of cultural and community life.