The public library as public sphere: a longitudinal analysis.
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| Title: | The public library as public sphere: a longitudinal analysis. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Appleton, Leo1 (AUTHOR) l.appleton@sheffield.ac.uk, Hall, Hazel2 (AUTHOR) h.hall@napier.ac.uk |
| Source: | Journal of Documentation. 2023, Vol. 79 Issue 1, p112-126. 15p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Public libraries, *Library users, *Communities, Public sphere, Public value, Public spaces |
| Abstract: | Purpose: The research was undertaken to explore the role of the UK public library as a public sphere and the ways in which this role relates to the epistemic, community and political functions of public libraries. Design/methodology/approach: A longitudinal, multi-location focus group approach was developed and deployed in three phases. Data were collected from 53 active public library users in a total of 24 focus groups conducted in eight different public library services in England and Scotland in 2015–2016 (Phase 1), 2016–17 (Phase 2) and 2017–18 (Phase 3). Data collected were transcribed and coded using NVivo 10- for thematic analysis. Findings: The public library's role as public sphere aligns closely with its epistemic functions, adding a dimension to information services provision beyond access to "traditional" print and online sources. New information and knowledge emerge through the person-to-person interactions in public library space. Through such exchanges, the community function of public libraries is made evident, notably as a platform for citizens to participate actively in society, including its democratic processes. Originality/value: Unlike much extant prior work on public library value dominated with accounts of societal and/or economic impact, w hich is frequently based on the analysis of quantitative data, here the fundamental epistemic value of public library services is demonstrated. This research also adds an important perspective to the domain of Information Society Studies where, to date, the place of the public library as public sphere has been treated as peripheral. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Journal of Documentation is the property of Emerald Publishing Limited and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Education Research Complete |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: ehh DbLabel: Education Research Complete An: 161234265 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: The public library as public sphere: a longitudinal analysis. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Appleton%2C+Leo%22">Appleton, Leo</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> l.appleton@sheffield.ac.uk</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hall%2C+Hazel%22">Hall, Hazel</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> h.hall@napier.ac.uk</i> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Documentation%22">Journal of Documentation</searchLink>. 2023, Vol. 79 Issue 1, p112-126. 15p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Public+libraries%22">Public libraries</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Library+users%22">Library users</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Communities%22">Communities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Public+sphere%22">Public sphere</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Public+value%22">Public value</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Public+spaces%22">Public spaces</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Purpose: The research was undertaken to explore the role of the UK public library as a public sphere and the ways in which this role relates to the epistemic, community and political functions of public libraries. Design/methodology/approach: A longitudinal, multi-location focus group approach was developed and deployed in three phases. Data were collected from 53 active public library users in a total of 24 focus groups conducted in eight different public library services in England and Scotland in 2015–2016 (Phase 1), 2016–17 (Phase 2) and 2017–18 (Phase 3). Data collected were transcribed and coded using NVivo 10- for thematic analysis. Findings: The public library's role as public sphere aligns closely with its epistemic functions, adding a dimension to information services provision beyond access to "traditional" print and online sources. New information and knowledge emerge through the person-to-person interactions in public library space. Through such exchanges, the community function of public libraries is made evident, notably as a platform for citizens to participate actively in society, including its democratic processes. Originality/value: Unlike much extant prior work on public library value dominated with accounts of societal and/or economic impact, w hich is frequently based on the analysis of quantitative data, here the fundamental epistemic value of public library services is demonstrated. This research also adds an important perspective to the domain of Information Society Studies where, to date, the place of the public library as public sphere has been treated as peripheral. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Documentation is the property of Emerald Publishing Limited and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=ehh&AN=161234265 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1108/JD-02-2022-0031 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 15 StartPage: 112 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Public libraries Type: general – SubjectFull: Library users Type: general – SubjectFull: Communities Type: general – SubjectFull: Public sphere Type: general – SubjectFull: Public value Type: general – SubjectFull: Public spaces Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: The public library as public sphere: a longitudinal analysis. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Appleton, Leo – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Hall, Hazel IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 01 Text: 2023 Type: published Y: 2023 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 00220418 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 79 – Type: issue Value: 1 Titles: – TitleFull: Journal of Documentation Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
