| Class Description | Public Libraries: Philosophy, Policy, Politics" is designed as an online research seminar focused on the modern American / Canadian public library. Core readings investigate three aspects of public librarianship: the philosophy that impacts public and practitioner perceptions of public libraries; the political position of public libraries, often related to those philosophical foundations; how policies, drafted in response to the philosophy, are implemented to deliver public library services. Students demonstrate their engagement with this framework by developing a case study investigating a particular implementation of one of these policies / practices in an actual library. Topics have included such elements as the impact of participation in a public library system on a single rural library(WI); the role of policy in addressing public emergencies (Iowa); the impact of intentional outreach models on the delivery of public services (MN); tax policy and its impact on library construction (WI). The research method is the case study. Online participation in discussions is highly valued in the course.
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