A New Book Culture in the Digital Age?

Abstract

Cultures are complex, versatile concepts. A concept of book culture, as it has been presented within the context of this work, can only describe some but not all aspects and offer a starting point for future discussion. Book culture is a construct of – justly and unjustly attributed – values, which are based on traditions rooted in the millennia of human cultural development, and of institutions upholding these traditions. Furthermore, there is a set of more current values such as free access to information, education and knowledge for everyone. The changes which book culture is currently undergoing are influenced by this set of values. On the one hand, these changes have initiated a loss of functions of the book. On the other hand, some functions have been emphasized and have gained importance, such as the role of the book in constructing national identity.