The public library, democracy and Ranciere's poetics of politics

Introduction This paper applies the thought of Jacques Ranciere to the concept of democracy as it is traditionally understood in library studies literature. Methods A cross-section of instances of the link between democracy and the public library in library studies literature are reviewed. A close textual analysis of Michael Gorman's "Our Enduring Values" as typifying the link between the public library and democracy is presented. It critically applies The theoretical account of democracy developed by Jacques Ranciere is critically applied to Gorman's work. Analysis I argue that the link between the public library and democracy should be situated in the impropriety of the public library: the assumption of equality libraries make, and the consequent open possibility for the contestation of their function and values. Results The paper finds that the link between democracy and the public library is situated in libraries' instrumental value to democracy; libraries are typically seen as holding an educative function for democracy. Conclusion I conclude that focusing on the impropriety of public libraries is especially important in the context of their current neo-liberal restructuring. An instrumental link between democracy and the public library too easily falls prey to neo-liberal rationalisation. A link that focuses on the improper character of public libraries encourages a contestation over this restructuring.