Um olhar sobre o cariri Ocidental Paraíbano: mapa da bibliotecas públicas municipais

Abstract

The public library is a relevant institution all over the world. It is responsible for memory of a nation, state or city. Acknowledging the significant role of the public library to the society, this research aimed to map the situation of the public libraries in the western Cariri region of Paraíba. The study covers libraries registered with the National System of Public Libraries. This research is characterized by being of bibliographic, documental, exploratory and descriptive nature, using qualitative and quantitative aspects as methodological approach. A questionnaire with both open and closed questions were used for data collection. For data analysis, it was used descriptive analysis, drawing a profile of the libraries' managers and the current situation of the infrastructure of those information units. As the result of the analysis, it showed that libraries' managers are not librarians and the libraries' activities are restricted to the educational function, this having slightly significant contribution to the town's culture. It concludes that in terms of human, financial and technological esources, the public libraries in the western Cariri region of Paraíba are rather deficient.