Have Library Symbols Been Changed by Cultural Differences? A Comparative Study of the Example of the Logos of Libraries

Abstract

This article analyses some visual artifacts which are using by libraries. Due to the spaciousness of the topic they focused on two of the main and popular artifacts: the watchwords and the logos of libraries from two cultural areas, the first area of several countries connected with Muslim culture and being under the influence of such traditions. Among described institutions are libraries from e.g. Turkey, Kuwait, and Kazakhstan. Second area are countries that belonged to the Soviet sector of domination, such as Poland, Lithuania, Croatia, Russia and Ukraine. The mentioned countries are entirely different from historical, cultural and the political point of view. But now all of them are similar in common questions/developments: dynamic building or rebuilding economical consequence. One of the important instruments to gain this is good marketing the marketing of cultural artifacts including libraries and/or other information centers. This instrument shows a long and rich history and tradition in those countries. Comparing and finding some parallel points among these countries related to marketing and the socialization of information are main aims of this speech. In this work watchwords and logos of libraries will be explained and mentioned to compare information services, marketing library services and planning them, and will also mention the cultural differences of marketing library services among two separate cultures. Authors of this study used two scientific approaches: semiotics and diachronic method.