Bruno Raoul, in collaboration with Zineb Benrahhal and Thomas Guignard In an approach in which the cybercentre is considered as a place, this article draws on a field survey to identify and examine different facets of a new 'public space'?. It aims at showing how, by displaying itself, this place becomes (or is designed to become) meaningful in a local territory. Apart from noting the configuration of such places and the activities taking place within them, the author questions the '?public space' dimension of the cybercentre. He explains how, on the grounds of citizenship and moral considerations, tension can exist in local use between an educative and citizen approach and a hedonistic and consumerist type of practice. The host's position and role as a mediator are explored, enabling the author to show how the cybercentre depends (or can depend) as much on the host's actions as on those of the users. The contribution of cybercentres to the local public sphere nevertheless remains to be studied.