Abstract
This paper explores how neighborhood libraries in Bucharest function as spaces of care within the urban fabric, proposing that they serve as vital components of social infrastructure that foster trust, inclusion, and community resilience. Drawing on feminist care theory and urban sociology, the study reframes libraries as relational and spatial actors that support everyday life beyond their educational function. The research is part of Care Infrastructure in Bucharest: An Urban Culture Research, a project led by Zeppelin magazine, involving an interdisciplinary team of architects, urbanists, and anthropologists. Through participatory methods—including mapping, field observations, and interviews—the project analyzed the accessibility, condition, and perception of libraries across several Bucharest neighborhoods. A comparison with Prague provides insight into alternative strategies for library development. By integrating cross-disciplinary perspectives and user input, the article demonstrates how collaborative design processes can help reimagine underutilized urban spaces as active infrastructures of care. The study contributes to the conference theme by highlighting the role of architecture in enabling inclusive, care-centered urban practices.