The public library as public sphere: a longitudinal analysis
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JD-02-2022-0031 |
| Published date | 09 May 2022 |
| Date | 09 May 2022 |
| Pages | 112-126 |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Records management & preservation,Document management,Classification & cataloguing,Information behaviour & retrieval,Collection building & management,Scholarly communications/publishing,Information & knowledge management,Information management & governance,Information management,Information & communications technology,Internet |
| Author | Leo Appleton,Hazel Hall |
The public library as public sphere:
a longitudinal analysis
Leo Appleton
Information School, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK, and
Hazel Hall
Centre for Social Informatics, Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh, UK
Abstract
Purpose –The research was undertaken to explore the role of the UK public library asa 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.
Keywords Social capital, Focus groups, Public libraries, Value, Impact, Public sphere
Paper type Research paper
1. Introduction
In this paper an extended understanding of the public library in the early twenty-first
century, and its epistemic functions, is presented. It is based on an analysis of longitudinal
focus group data collected from public library users in two nations of the UK for a part-time
doctorate awarded in 2020. The period of data collection fell towards the end of a long period
of austerity in respect of public library funding in the UK that resulted from the global
recession of the early 21st century (Appleton et al., 2018, p. 275).
The importance of informational exchanges between public library staff and users and in
user-to-user interactions as transactional capital (Kostagiolas, 2013) is uncovered as a key
component of value relevant to the epistemic functions of the public library. This main
finding is discussed with reference to the concept of the public library as “public sphere”
(Habermas, 1962), as elaborated below. The novelty of the contribution is evident in the
context of the prior work in Library and Information Science (LIS) on public library value that
is dominated with accounts of societal and/or economic impact, frequently derived from
quantitative studies (Appleton et al., 2018). The report of 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. Furthermore, unlike other work
JD
79,1
112
Theauthors thank Dr Briony Birdiand Rachel Salzano for theirhelpful comments on an earlierdraft of this
paper. They also acknowledge their former EdinburghNapier University colleagues Dr Robert Raeside
and Dr AlistairDuff, who co-supervised the doctoralstudy alongside Dr Hazel Hall as Directorof Studies.
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
https://www.emerald.com/insight/0022-0418.htm
Received 7 February 2022
Revised 7 April 2022
Accepted 14 April 2022
Journal of Documentation
Vol. 79 No. 1, 2023
pp. 112-126
© Emerald Publishing Limited
0022-0418
DOI 10.1108/JD-02-2022-0031
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