Conceptual Modelling of the Public Sphere in Public Libraries

Widdersheim, Michael Majewski; Koizumi, Masanori

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/73675 Copy

Description

Title

Conceptual Modelling of the Public Sphere in Public Libraries

Author(s)

• Widdersheim, Michael Majewski
• Koizumi, Masanori

Issue Date

2015-03-15

Keyword(s)

• communication studies
• history
• theory and philosophy of information
• qualitative research methods

Abstract

Public libraries have been associated with a Habermasian public sphere, but articulations between public libraries and the public sphere remain undefined. To make fuller sense of the public sphere as it relates to public libraries, we used qualitative content analysis as a research methodology to study 12 Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh annual reports from 1900 to 2010. We identified 6 dimensions of the public sphere in public libraries: Core Criteria, Internal Public Sphere, External Public Sphere, Collect and Organize Discourse, Perform Legitimation Processes, and Facilitate Discourse. Using the dimensions we found, we developed a model to explain how public libraries function as instruments of the public sphere.

Publisher

iSchools

Series/Report Name or Number

iConference 2015 Proceedings

Type of Resource

text

Language

English

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/73675

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Copyright 2015 is held by the authors. Copyright permissions, when appropriate, must be obtained directly from the authors.

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