Breathe... and take your time. How a scientific library opens to local community adopting Slow Librarianship principles

Abstract

The Dario Nobili Library (BDN) is a research library located in the Bologna campus of the National Research Council, the largest public research institution in Italy. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, a decline in trust in science and the spread of misinformation, created a growing disconnection between society and science. As a public and scientific library, BDN felt a duty to step in and “taking slow” by following the concept of slow librarianship brought up by Julia Glassman, which invited librarians to “slow down, to notice and reflect, to focus more on being true to our values than innovating, to build relationships, to really listen”.

The BDN wanted to focus on human connection. Thanks to funding from the Ministry of Culture, we began purchasing paper books -nonfiction, novels, science fiction, and comics, suitable for the public - and made them available for loan. To highlight the collection, the "Slow Science" initiative has been launched, to create a place where people and scientists can sit down together to discuss scientific topics.

We demonstrate how librarians are applying "Slow" principles to reconnect society with the scientific community, recognizing the library as a place for retrieving reliable scientific information.

#scientific information #community engagement #critical information literacy #slow librarianship #slow science