The Benedito Leite public library and its relations with the identity, sociability and Maranhão state’s culture deepening

Abstract

Introduction: Since its foundation in 1826, the Benedito Leite Public Library establishes relationships with the identity, sociability, and culture deepening in the state of Maranhão, being recognized as an important locus of culture and information. Objective: The study is dedicated to reflecting the existing relations between the Public Library Benedito Leite with sociability, identity, and culture deepening in Maranhão, in the perspective of understanding what is/are its symbolic local/locals in the state. Methodology: It is an exploratory study, of analytical nature, which used the bibliographic and documentary research as instruments for theoretical background construction. Results: It discusses the concepts of identity, sociability and cultural deepening from the perspective of authors as Candau (2018), Abrantes (2011), Carneiro (2008), Weil (2001), Santos (2013), Silveira (2010; 2012; 2014a; 2014b), among others. It addresses the concepts of public library based on IFLA (1994), Bernardino and Suaiden (2011), Almeida Júnior (2003; 2015), Ferreira and Oliveira (2017). It describes the Benedito Leite Public Library based on the studies of Braga (2013), Castro, Silva and Castellanos (2011), emphasizing it as one of the most important cultural apparatus of Maranhão state. It relates the concepts of identity, sociability and cultural deepening with the Public Library, considering its capacity to keep alive the history and memory of the state. Conclusion: It concludes that the Benedito Leite Public Library materializes the social relations established in specific temporal and space markers, hence reinforcers and mobilizers for deepening Maranhão cultural and identity references.