How do public libraries exist?
You might find it interesting to this particular public library.
Readings for the Political Context
We have considered why public library supporters have worked to create the institution. Now we will be turning to how they have had to work within a political framework in order to achieve their goals.
How?
The public library does not exist in a vacuum, it exists in a political environment. The required reading below is a literature review that places the public library in North Carolina in its political setting. Again, it is a historical review that discusses the difficulties public library supporters have encountered trying to find financial support for libraries. It also discusses the social/cultural realities that also complicate the picture.
Read this one and plan to post a consideration about it.
Bergquist, R. (2008) The Political Context
How? Additional thoughts Camden County, NC
You do not have to post considerations of these two ...
but you may find you will get a fuller sense of Earnestine Rose's thoughts as you consider the required reading.
- excerpts from Rose, E. (1954) The Public Library in American Life
- The Librarian at the Nexus of the Harlem Renaissance
How? Additional thoughts Camden County, NC
We may go on to consider where the new library in Camden County, NC should fit in the political context.
Continuing to consider Camden County, NC and its public library, we find that it is a part of the East Albemarle Regional Library.
You might find this discussion of the formation of multi-county regional libraries in North Carolina interesting.
We will ask ourselves how this new library needs to fit in its relationship to its community/communities/state. We will see if we can understand our sense of where the public library exists in this political context.