This Libraries and Policy essay explores the interrelationships between the public library goals of supporting democracy and remaining an apolitical institution and the expectations for demonstration of value and economic contribution at a time in which public discourse emphasizes austerity from public institutions. Libraries' positions on…

Discusses theoretical conceptions of the library and suggests that modern conceptions are informed by a view of knowledge grounded in early twentieth-century positivism. The view of scientific knowledge developed by Michael Foucault is described, and possibilities for the creation of new knowledge are considered. (75 references) (LRW)

Describes four categories of censorship supported by the State of Emergency in South Africa: prior censorship and suspension of publication; restraints on information gathering; suppression of anti-apartheid views; and the growth of militarization. A comparison to traditional censorship of books is made and the possible role of librarians in…

Describes the impact of social and political reforms in Russia during the 1860s on the role of the Imperial Public Library. The discussion covers the changes in library organization and operations that reflected a willingness to adapt to changing social conditions, and the resulting perception of the library as a vital tool for progress. (80…

Ralph A. Ulveling's 1951 challenge to the American Library Association (ALA) policy on censorship is described. Ulveling's proposal to segregate materials containing propaganda and the efforts of the ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee to address lack of consensus in the profession and librarians' role in protecting intellectual freedom are…