Creative Spaces of Libraries: New Opportunities and Prospects

In recent years, the library has been actively forming new practices of organizing cultural and leisure activities aimed at meeting the needs of modern people in self-development and self-realization. For this purpose, creative spaces are created in libraries. The article is devoted to the history of creative spaces in libraries and their current state. The development of creative abilities of users is one of the means of realizing the social purpose of the library, which fulfills its essential functions. The ability to think creatively and act outside the box is a necessary component of the “flexible” skills required in the digital age. Digital technologies expand creative possibilities, help to operate complex mechanisms and devices, experiment with different forms and materials. An important element of the infrastructure of creative spaces are reference desks, whose staff provide information support for users’ creative activities and information resources as a “key” to mastering tools and technologies. Librarians have the expertise to supervise and guide creative work in collaboration with master professionals. The author’s theories are supported by practical examples. Creative endeavors offer significant promise for libraries at all levels. Libraries, traditionally perceived only as centers for accumulating, preserving and disseminating knowledge, become a hub of social life, a learning and rehabilitation space, a territory for introducing non-standard ideas, a creative platform for creativity and cultural development.