The librarian as agent of change in contexts of social vulnerability: an experience with young women in Uruguay

Abstract

Describe a research experience from the Department of Information and Society -Institute of Information, School of Information and Communication of the University of the Republic- with young women and adolescents in Zone 9, an area of unfavorable conditions in the city of Montevideo, Uruguay. The project “Towards the construction of information services for the community: a study of access to and use of information by women in unfavorable environments (Zone 9 of Montevideo)” intended to recognize the needs and behaviors of the above mentioned citizens with reference to their access, search and use of information-both as users and non-users of it- regarding basic topics. The research strategy, based on qualitative methods, was developed by an interdisciplinary team that worked with social actors from diverse organizations in the area as well as with the women themselves. Through the findings and recommendations evidence the significant work of the librarian as a social professional.