PUBLIC-LIBRARIES AND CULTURE IN THE LATIN-AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN CONTEXT

This paper discusses the role of the public library concerning culture, especially in Latin America and the Caribbean. It associated this role with cultivation, due to the common origin of the two words, culture and cultivation. It gives a general view of the last conference on Public Libraries in the Region, stressing its cultural role. The link between culture, education, information awareness and public libraries is stressed. Popular culture is viewed as an approach to start a dialogue with ''men as members of society'', especially common people.