„Besuch&Buch“: Soziale Bibliotheksarbeit der Stadtbibliothek Graz nach dem Vorbild der „Medienboten“ (Hamburg) im Blickfeld der Gerontologie

Abstract

In 2013 the Public Library of Graz launched a home library service which is unique in Austria up to today: volunteer book messengers visit senior and homebound citizens at their homes. “Besuch&Buch” has been inspired by the “Medienboten”, a socio-cultural project started by Hamburg Public Libraries in 2007. The author – librarian and gerontologist in Graz – has written her master thesis on “Besuch&Buch” and describes why library social projects as “Besuch&Buch” have never been more important than in today’s demographic change.

Keywords

• library social services
• demographic change
• ageing society
• gerontology
• Graz Public Library
• Hamburg Public Libraries
• AGMB annual meeting 2016