Privatisering av public libraries : en argumentationsanalys av material publicerat i amerikansk dagspress, 2000-2014

Abstract

The American public libraries rest on a foundation that dates back into the mid-19th century and are often talked about as a democratic institution. In later years some of these libraries have been outsourced or privatized and are now run and operated by private, for-profit companies. The aim of this study is to examine the arguments for and against the privatization of American public libraries as expressed in American newspapers. The essay therefore connects to the studies concerning the public libraries in general and the management of these but also privatization and outsourcing of public services beyond the library field. This essay is built on a discourse and argumentations analysis, with theoretical input from the thought about democratic ethos. My material is based on news- and debate articles from American newspapers, which connects to the idea of mass media as a creator and maintainer of discourses. From this material I’ve found two discourses which I analyze. These discourses consists of one concerning efficiency and quantitative values and one concerning the place of the public library in the community and democratic society. I also use the idea of mass media as a creator and maintainer of discourses to analyze my findings.

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