Promoting the concept of "Fourth Space" and its applications in the Algerian public reading libraries post-Covid-19: the main public reading library for the wilaya of Adrar as a model

Abstract

 Algeria's public libraries are experiencing the same limitations as the world's libraries following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, which make them inevitable to rethink the form and format of their services in the digital environment. Librarians and the research community working in the field of libraries and information always resort to successful and pioneering international experiences to develop and innovate digital services, as well as to solve the crises and technical problems experienced by these spaces. The concept of the fourth space comes in the context of these efforts aimed at upgrading the status and services of Algerian libraries Where we try to see through this scientific paper the characteristics and components of this new model, identifying some of the indicators and evidence that highlight their features, in order to bring Algeria's public library services closer to the logic and philosophy of the fourth space, In this context, work and focus have been placed on the experience of the main Library of Public Reading, the late Mujahid El-Hashemi Kouidar of the Wilaya of Adrar, because of the place it enjoys in the policy of the custodial authorities to modernize and digitize the library network as well as for the Library's innovative pilot projects and advanced digital services. The results of this study indicate that there is no strong political will for the activity of these libraries in the digital space, as we do not find real digital projects with the return of the activity of these libraries in the physical space after Covid-19.