Safe and Public Social Infrastructure: The Case of Dutch Public Libraries
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2025-08-08
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en
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Libraries have changed significantly in the past decades. Libraries have become a form of social infrastructure where all people should feel safe and welcome. According to Dutch law: Wet Stelsel openbare bibliotheeksvoorzieningen (WSOB), Dutch libraries should welcome everyone and accommodate everyone. This research asks the question: How do Dutch public libraries maintain their status as a public place and create a safe environment for everyone? This question is answered by conducting interviews with staff members of Rozet, a big public library located in Arnhem. According to literature safety in public libraries is achieved through strong social communities and healthy social infrastructure which is in turn influenced by use of space, maintenance and social capital.
Rozet promotes social capital through activities and staff members. Rozet promotes healthy social infrastructure through its architecture and safety through rules, protocols, maintenance work and staff training. In the case of Rozet these rules and protocols are not always clear or accessible to everyone inside the library which hurts its role as social infrastructure and the creating of social capital. To conclude: to make Dutch libraries even better they need to be clear about their rules and make sure the library is accessible to absolutely everyone.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen