Production and circulation of knowledge in the history of the Argentine library field

Abstract

The object of this work is to establish a series of elementary problems for the study of the relationships between the formation and development of the Argentinean library field and its consecrated ways of production and circulation of knowledge between 1870 and 1999. In theoretical and methodological terms, an articulation between the concepts “field” (which allows a synchronic inquiry) and “institution” (which provides a diachronic perspective) is constructed to study a set of documents related to the history of libraries and librarianship in Argentina. As a result, a tentative periodization consisting of three moments is presented: Emergence (1870-1910); prolongation and expansion (1910-1960); specialization (1960-1999). Each stage differs from the other by defining its problems: 1) To develop the social aspect of the library; 2) To expand the space and knowledge that are socially necessary; 3) To professionalize the library field. By way of conclusion, the original contribution of the article is evaluated, in relation to the effectiveness of the concepts used and the historiographic findings found. Among other aspects, the heuristic potential of the archive that testifies the librarian knowledge stands out.