Abstract
<jats:p>The aim of this study is to develop a theoretical model explaining the mechanisms through which public libraries facilitate the social participation of elderly readers within the paradigm of active aging. To achieve this aim, the following objectives were set: to analyze the theoretical foundations of active aging and social participation; to integrate the concepts of cultural capital, genius loci (spirit of place), and participatory culture into a unified analytical framework; to construct the “Capital - Field - Creation” (CFC) model; and to identify the cultural mechanisms through which the individual resources of older adults are transformed into social value. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the development of the progressive CFC model, which conceptualizes the library not only as a service institution but also as a cultural field that enables cultural mediation and expands participants’ agency. In contrast to predominantly practice-oriented studies of library services, the proposed approach shifts the analysis toward cultural mechanismsand symbolic practices. The findings reveal three sequential stages of elderly users’ social engagement: activation of cultural capital, formation of identity through the spirit of place, and the development of participatory culture based on collaborative cultural creation. The study demonstrates that public libraries can function as cultural mediators, encouraging the transition of older adults from passive service consumers to active creators of cultural content and participants in social life.</jats:p>