Third Space - A Definition
Sociologist Roy Oldenburg presented the idea of the third space in his book, The Great Good Place. He defines this as “a great variety of public places that host the regular, voluntary, informal, and happily anticipated gathering of individuals beyond the realms of home and work” (16). The first and second places are home and work (or school, as is the case with most teens, though some have both work and school to contend with).
The tenets behind the Third Place that make it effective for teens and libraries are:
1. Provides neutral ground
2. Acts as a (status) leveler
3. Conversation provides a central focus of activity
4. Meant to accommodate “people’s needs for sociability and relaxation in the intervals before, between, and after their mandatory appearances elsewhere” (32).
5. Has “regular” people there
6. Can be physically/structurally unassuming/plain
Paula Brehm-Heeger, in her article, "A Tie for for Third Place," further argues that "teens have a strong need to socialize and their third space options are becoming increasingly sparse" (27). Instead, she feels they are turning to social networking sites, and missing out on the chance to build relationships with caring adults. And while librarians create roles for themselves in these online forums, the separate physical space promote a greater level of opportunities.
The tenets behind the Third Place that make it effective for teens and libraries are:
1. Provides neutral ground
2. Acts as a (status) leveler
3. Conversation provides a central focus of activity
4. Meant to accommodate “people’s needs for sociability and relaxation in the intervals before, between, and after their mandatory appearances elsewhere” (32).
5. Has “regular” people there
6. Can be physically/structurally unassuming/plain
Paula Brehm-Heeger, in her article, "A Tie for for Third Place," further argues that "teens have a strong need to socialize and their third space options are becoming increasingly sparse" (27). Instead, she feels they are turning to social networking sites, and missing out on the chance to build relationships with caring adults. And while librarians create roles for themselves in these online forums, the separate physical space promote a greater level of opportunities.