The Social Capital of academic community in the context of the theory of the Third Place: including in the marketing policy of the University of Ioannina Library

The Library & Information Centre of the University of Ioannina (UOI) since 2023 has been working on its marketing policy based on a people-centred orientation, openness, synergies and inclusion. It utilizes the supportive practice of its staff regarding the Social Capital development via the various and long-established cultural and political actions of personalities and groups within and outside the academic community. It is, now, taking into account in its policy-making process the satisfaction of the needs of more stakeholders, broadening its objectives - and therefore its services. It strategically uses its physical and digital places to promote Open Education and Open Science, Access for All, social contact, cultural interaction, but also personal peace and joy. This change applies to and is addressed to the extended list of selected stakeholders, but also, and to the Library staff in order for a relationship of trust to be built and consolidated. Particular emphasis is placed on the sustainable utilization of the physical space of the Central Library as a Third Space for all its guests, where Social Capital can be developed smoothly and naturally. This paper aims to point out that openness marketing can be implemented without resources expenditure or reduction in the quality of available services, while it can expand the academic library’s role and its impact. Regarding the UOI Library, in less than one year the first tangible steps have been taken in this direction. A number of different synergies took place and indeed some of them have interacted between them, producing added value of Social Capital. A first impact assessment was discussed through interviews with participants. In the context of Library-Third Place, we are called upon to respond openly to this change by changing the library's organizational culture in order to ensure openness, inclusion and accessibility in all its places.