Title
The value of a communitarian approach to public library board governance: Rejecting neoliberal practice
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2012
Journal
The Canadian Journal of Information and Library Science
Volume
36
Issue
0 1/2
First Page
1
Last Page
15
Abstract
Over the last several years, public library boards in Canada, like mostpublic bodies, have adopted a neoliberal marketization approach to their policy anddecision-making processes. This approach is at odds with traditional professionalpractices of librarianship. This paper focuses on two competing approaches topublic library board governance: neoliberalism and communitarianism. In theassessing of the discourse between these two models, it is contended that neo-liberalism has instilled operational procedures and an organizational culture thatare contrary to a spirit of positive public engagement, a spirit that should be thecornerstone of public library boards. In contrast, communitarianism, by providing aset of guiding principles, makes public library boards more accessible within theircommunities, and can therefore lead to the rediscovery of the public library board’spositive spirit of public engagement. Through a search for praxis, recommendationson how public library board trustees can maintain their dual responsibility ofprofessional ethics of librarianship while remaining an integral part of their localcommunity are proffered
Citation of this paper:
2012. Irwin, Bill. “The value of a communitarian approach to public library board governance: Rejecting neoliberal practice”, Canadian Journal of Information and Library Science , March 2012 36(1)