Contemporary libraries and information mediation

approaches between the Vancouver public library and the libraries of IFNMG

Abstract

Objective: To analyze similarities and contrasts between information mediation practices identified at the Vancouver Public Library (VPL), Canada, and the libraries of the Federal Institute of Northern Minas Gerais (IFNMG), Brazil, considering their institutional specificities and the communities they serve. Methodology: This study adopts a qualitative, descriptive, and analytical approach, based on bibliographic research, document analysis, and direct non-participant observation. At the VPL, an institutional guided technical visit was conducted in April 2026, involving observation of spaces, services, and resources, as well as photographic records. For the IFNMG, the main sources consisted of the findings of Lima’s (2024) research on reading mediation and institutional documents from the Integrated Library System. The analysis was organized according to dimensions common to both contexts, while acknowledging the different nature of the evidence used. Results: Similarities were identified regarding access to information, reading and culture, the use of technologies, user education, and spaces for learning and social interaction. The contrasts showed that these practices take different forms according to the nature, purposes, communities served, and institutional conditions of each library. The analysis also reinforced the understanding of IFNMG libraries as multilevel libraries, considering the diversity of educational levels and information needs they serve. Conclusion: Information mediation takes different forms depending on the institutional context. The similarities identified do not imply equivalence between the institutions; rather, they reveal possibilities for dialogue between different library contexts, provided that their specificities and the limitations of the evidence analyzed are taken into consideration.