Transhümanizm ve Dijital Dünyada Yaşlanma: Kütüphanelerin Aktif Yaşlanmadaki Rolü

Year 2023, Volume: 37 Issue: 4, 243 - 266, 30.12.2023

Halise Şerefoğlu Henkoğlu

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışmada transhümanizm ve bu kavram ile ilişkili olarak aktif yaşlanma konuları ele alınmıştır. Çalışmada transhümanizmin ve günümüzde giderek daha fazla önem kazanan aktif yaşlanmanın kütüphanelerin görev ve sorumlulukları üzerinde ne tür etkilerinin olabileceğini ve teknolojinin yaşlı bireylere yönelik sunulan faaliyet ve hizmetlerde nasıl kullanılabileceğini ortaya koymak amaçlanmaktadır.

Yöntem: Çalışmanın amacı doğrultusunda literatürde transhümanizm ve aktif yaşlanma kavramlarını farklı bakış açıları ile ele alan çalışmalar analiz edilerek değerlendirilmiştir. Bu kapsamda kütüphanelerin transhümanizm anlayışı çerçevesinde aktif yaşlanmada nasıl bir rol üstlenecekleri incelenmiştir.

Bulgular: Günümüzde neredeyse tüm dünyada doğum hızı gerilerken, bilim ve teknolojide yaşanılan yenilikler neticesinde beklenilen yaşam süresi artmakta ve ölüm oranları ise düşmektedir. Bu durum dünya nüfusunun çok daha hızlı yaşlanmasına ve dünyanın demografik yapısında tarihsel nitelikte önemli değişimlerin yaşanmasına neden olmaktadır. Yaşlı nüfusun toplam nüfus içindeki payının artması ise pek çok açıdan problem olarak kabul edilmekte, bu durum özellikle sosyoekonomik ve sosyokültürel anlamda birçok sorunu beraberinde getirmektedir.

Sonuç: Günümüzde nüfus yaşlanması küresel bir sorun hâline dönüşürken, bu sorunun üstesinden gelebilmek ve yaşlanmayı birey ve toplum açısından bir fırsata dönüştürebilmek amacıyla aktif yaşlanma yaklaşımı benimsenmektedir. Aktif yaşlanmada gerekli imkânların sağlanmasıyla bireyin yaşlanma sürecinde de toplumsal hayata katılım sağlayabileceğine inanılmaktadır. Kütüphanelerin de yaşlı kullanıcılarına özel sunacakları yenilikçi hizmet ve faaliyetler ile aktif yaşlanma sürecinde önemli bir rol üstlenecekleri öngörülmektedir. Bu kapsamda transhümanizm çerçevesinde teknoloji ile bütünleştirilmiş, yaşlı dostu ve yaşlıları destekleyici kütüphaneler; yaşlı bireylerin iyilik hâlini sürdürmelerine ve potansiyellerini kullanmalarına imkân vererek bu bireylerin hayatla bütünleşmelerine yardımcı olmaktadır.

Özgünlük: Ulusal ve uluslararası bilgi bilimi literatürü incelendiğinde transhümanizm kavramının ve bu kavrama ilişkin aktif yaşlanma konusunun yeterince araştırılmadığı görülmektedir. Bu çalışmanın mevcut ve yenilikçi teknolojik çözümlerin, yaşlı kullanıcılar başta olmak üzere tüm yaş gruplarındaki kullanıcılara sunulan bilgi hizmetlerini ve kütüphanelerin diğer faaliyet alanlarını nasıl şekillendireceğine ilişkin tartışmalara katkı sağlayabileceği düşünülmektedir.

Keywords

Kütüphane, Kütüphaneci, Transhümanizm, Aktif yaşlanma

Transhumanism and Aging in the Digital World: The Role of Libraries in Active Aging

Abstract

Purpose: In this study, transhumanism and active aging issues related to this concept are discussed. The purpose of the study is to reveal what kind of effects transhumanism and active aging, gaining more and more importance today, can have on the duties and responsibilities of libraries, and how technology can be used in activities and services for older people.

Method: Studies related to transhumanism and active aging from different perspectives in literature were analyzed and evaluated. In this context, the role of libraries in active aging was examined within the framework of transhumanism.

Findings: Today, while the birth rate is declining almost all over the world, average life expectancy increases, and death rates decrease due to innovations in science and technology. This situation causes the world population to age much faster than ever and the world to experience important demographic changes. Population aging is accepted as a trouble in many respects, and it causes many socioeconomic and sociocultural challenges.

Implications: While population aging has become a global problem, the principle of active aging is adopted in response to the challenges brought by population aging and to turn aging into an opportunity both for the individual and society. It is believed that people can actively participate in society while aging if necessary opportunities are provided. It is anticipated that libraries can play an important role in active aging by providing innovative services and activities for older people. In this context, libraries that are elderly-friendly, supportive, and integrated with technology within the framework of transhumanism can help older people to maintain their well-being, use their potential, and integrate into life.

Originality: When the national and international information science literature is examined, it is seen that the concepts of transhumanism and active aging have not been adequately researched. It is thought that this study can contribute to the discussions on how existing and innovative technological solutions will shape information services offered to users of all age groups, especially older people, and other activities of libraries.

Keywords

Library, librarian, transhumanism, active aging

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