the “Open Work”
I was made aware of Eco’s “open work” metaphor by an article by David Carr about museums. In the article, Carr speaks of the museum in the context as a ‘cultural institution.’ To my line of thinking libraries readily fall into this category also. Eco proposed the “open work” in various contexts of culture and art. Where the “work” is in movement or in process which allows for new ways for the contemplation and utilization of the work. Judgment, decision-making, and improvisation are all components being brought to bear in realizing the work by each audience member. A quote from Carr’s article illuminates the ideals of the “open work”:
In cultural institutions of all kinds it is useful to envisage the user who would want to know of objects and resources available, other than those on display; would want to be able to consult at times with an experienced other person; would want to know what to read; might want to be connected to others thinking in similar ways; might need help in knowing how to resolve difficult questions; might need to access to the curator’s thoughts; might want to write, photograph, draw; might need to experience and understand related contexts. Possibly also, beyond these basic suggestions and supports, the museum might invite its users to participate directly in the construction of the museum’s leading ideas. – (CARR p.181)
Within this quote, it seemed wholly applicable to be able to replace MUSEUM with LIBRARY and be able to dervice the same understanding of the “open work” concerning libraries and their relations with patrons.
The idea of the “open work” is like jazz. There is a structure, an understanding, which frames the overall composition but the musicians are free to interpret the work, add, delete, use, repeat… to make it their own. This “openness” applies to the audience as well. Each member is allowed to enjoy the work, dislike, rebroadcast, record, mash-up, whatever they want to their own ends. In as much, as there is freedom to imagine and re-imagine, it is not an individualized effort but one that is also a shared experience defined by the structure of the work itself. This is how I view libraries encompassing all the things libraries want to be:
- Libraries as ‘place’
- Libraries as ‘cultural institutions’
- Libraries as ‘research centers’
- Libraries as ‘community’
- Libraries as ‘communication’
Each library is an “open work”, a work in progress, in motion, a lump of clay for each patron to mold into the uses they find most valuable to them. It is our job as librarians and educators to help guide this process and illuminate the potential every library has for each patron.
Carr, David (2001) A Museum is an Open Work. International Journal of Heritage Studies 7:2 173-183
Eco, Umberto (1989) The Open Work. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press
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