An example for this place is located within one of the oldest inventions of civil lives – public libraries. In fact, the fundamental purpose of a library is questioned in today’s society of digital media, Google, Wikipedia and other online knowledge platforms, and that has to start to reinvent themselves. Libraries have long recognized their role in providing access to knowledge and education, and more and more also start to realize their social role in facilitating the exchange and conversation. It becomes vivid, that they provide one of the fundamental pillars of a stable and educated society, as they not only give access to free knowledge but also a comfortable, welcoming, neutral, and safe public space, where citizens can work together to solve common problems.

WHERE COULD THOSE PLACES BE FOUND?

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Y A concrete implementation of this repurpose of already existing spaces away from high-end capitalistic driven initiatives is the focus on public libraries. Even though this idea of public libraries taking on the role of social change facilitators has not been elaborated much within the scope of academic literature, it found its way to the surface of society and a place to prove its efficiency - one being the implementation of a 24/7-library in Salt Lake City, US. The idea about implementing this around-the-clock-library has generated debates amongst politicians, citizens as well as global change-makers. The discussions range from enthusiasm about new chances for an all-inclusive social space to concerns that this newly designed facility would evolve to no more than an extravagant homeless shelter. The management of the Library, quoted in Christopher Smarts article published within the Salt Lake City Tribune in December 2014, assures that this initiative is not aimed to provide a place to sleep for those living on the streets. Rather, the plan is to create an environment that provides a roof for everybody who needs a safe place, this sit, to think, to meet and to share. The library aims to provide a public space that welcomes the entire citizenship.

Even though the idea only runs its trial period of two years at the moment in order to be able to evaluate the impact on the city, before applying for further funding, the thought has sparked and gives light to an important issue in modern society – the lack of spaces for conversation, spaces for understanding, for integration, and interaction; spaces that can serve as the platform for social engagement and as a catalyst for change.

But not just the library holds the ability bring people together on a common level. An open space that aims to facilitate engagement and conversation can be located nearly anywhere – it can ba a ‚city livingroom‘ - a cafe that offers a public kitchen, public fridge, tables and chairs to meet, papers and pens to create, space to share and to inform, and walls that welcome any thought - unconditionally.

No matter in what shape this place evolves the role it needs to take is very clear. It needs to offer a secure and especially neutral space that is open to everybody in a community; serve as a public gathering spot that anchors neighborhoods and communities; it needs to facilitate a public forum and serve as a conversation catalyst, framing issues of common concern, and especially provide the tools to methodical elaborate about choices for solving those problems. Places like this need to provide the room to create a deeper understanding about other people’s opinions; connect citizens across the spectrum of thought, and recommend appropriate action that reflects legitimate guidance from the whole community – these topics can range from democracy and immigration to energy and sustainability, health care and personal aspirations. An unconditional space has to serve as a public information centre, giving access to new electronics and print technologies, databases and websites, provide not only the resources, but also the expertise to use those resources in order to enhance life and encourage dialog - represent the openness of the city and the connection between city management and their citizens.

Lastly, already existing spaces lower the threshold for involvement (like the public library). Repurposing adds significance for the people and helps them to find easy access. Only then they can create a dialog from the inside and serve as an iconic symbol from the outside - defining its city, its city’s history as well as its citizens. Imagine a world in which not skyscraper, fancy bridges or other architecture defines a city’s iconic image of a ‘common space’ – from the inside as well as from the outside – a city where its citizens would be taking an active role and responsibility for its design and functionality.

A citizen forum is a place where people become an entity, creating a space that they can be proud of and identify with, a place that gives them space to make a difference. And exactly for those reasons, it is crutial to realize that the wide audience that these spaces should be able to hold are more diverse than one might think of at first glance. It is not only about the old and the young, the abled and disabled, the resident and the imigrant, it is about the night owls and the early bird, the bar tender and the banker, the workaholic and the once without work.

A social space is only inclusive if it is found in a neutral place, a place between the folk and the leaders, the private and the public. The 24/7 public library, the aound the clock cafe or a open and creative space – like a library of thoughts. A home for everyone, anytime. Social movements raise from beneath, from the crowd, even more they unite people of different backgrounds to fight for a common goal. However, in order to make movements, engagement and dialog possible witin the concrete jungle in which people live, the people in charge, the managers and architects need to provide a space to break up the concrete. Just a small crack is enough to give people the chance to raise from underneath and close the gap that segregates the human kind.