Bibliotecas: El largo camino del estado natural a la cooperación

Abstract

Starting with the definition of cooperation offered by economic sciences, this article presents a theoretical-practical framework of interlibrary cooperation. On the one hand, from a philosophical base it uses Hobbes' theory of the social pact as an explanatory model. On the other, and based in Library Science with a conceptual and historic perspective, it discusses the leading role that librarians and professional associations have assumed, as well as the tangible or economic reasons -and also the intangible factors- that move libraries to cooperate. A description and analysis of cooperative experiences in times of crises show how these practices have evolved.