Popular Documentation in the Network of School Libraries of the Municipal Education System of Vila Velha, Espírito Santo: the “Entre Versos e Rimas” Project

projeto “Entre Versos e Rimas"

Abstract

This study is situated within the field of Library and Information Science as it addresses popular documentation as an informational, cultural, and educational expression in the context of school libraries. It is based on the understanding that these spaces, due to their pedagogical and social roles, can act as agents of transformation, especially in communities facing social vulnerability. However, there is a notable gap in scientific literature regarding the presence, appreciation, and treatment of popular documentation in Brazilian school libraries, which justifies this research. The general objective is to highlight the production of popular documentation in the “Entre Versos e Rimas” project within the Network of School Libraries of the Municipal Education System of Vila Velha-ES. This is an exploratory-descriptive research with a qualitative approach, utilizing content analysis. The results indicate that the project encourages broad participation of the school community, with a significant production of texts and images addressing themes such as racism, local culture, social inequality, environment, and identity. These manifestations constitute popular documentation by expressing participants' lived experiences and critical perspectives, reinforcing student and staff protagonism. It is concluded that incorporating popular documentation into school libraries expands access to meaningful information, strengthens the educational function of libraries, and consolidates their role as promoters of citizenship, memory, and belonging.