Libraries, Policy, and Politics in a Democracy: Four Historical Epochs

Abstract

This article explores the historical relationships between libraries, policy, and politics in the United States. Far too often, policy and political discussions related to libraries have little historical context. While libraries have long viewed themselves as a pillar of democracy by supporting informed, educated, and engaged citizenry, political and policy decisions have treated libraries in a number of different ways, ranging from neglect to direct intervention. Tracing the development of the relationships between libraries, policy, and politics at local, state, and national levels over time, this article posits that these relationships have passed through four distinct phases. Understanding these phases and incorporating these understandings into library advocacy and perspectives in political and policy discourse will allow libraries to better assert the contributions of libraries to democracy, the reasons for the stances they take, and the importance of political and policy decisions that support and adequately fund libraries.

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