891: Course Title: Public Libraries: Philosophy, Policy, Politics
INSTRUCTOR:
Joyce M. Latham, PhD.
SCHOOL:
School of Information Studies
CLASSROOM:
TIME:
The week begins on the Monday of each week.
SEMESTER:
Spring, 2012
OFFICE:
2535, Antiseptic Hall (NWQ)
OFFICE HOURS:
PHONE:
229-3205
EMAIL:
latham@uwm.edu (use 891 in subject heading)
Catalog Description
Exploration of the advanced concepts of the public library as a political institution
functioning in the public sphere: includes investigations of legislative
foundations, funding authorities, governance and social engagement.
Course Description
This course will engage students in an exploration of the social and political
environments which stimulated and continue to affect the American public library. With
roots as philanthropic cultural centers, the public library has developed as a tax- funded
institution which retains documented legal autonomy. The relationship between the
philosophy behind the public library, the policies which attempt to incorporate that
philosophy, and the politics which surround the maintenance of an intellectual
environment in the public sphere are the main themes of this course.
This course expands on initial concepts encountered in L&I SCI 540 and736.
Students will utilize a case study methodology to investigate the political position of a
public library of their choice and document the effect on policies and practice. The
incorporation of critical theory addresses issues of diversity and alternative strategies for
effective positioning of the public library.
The prerequisite for this course: L&I SCI 501, 591, 736 or permission of
instructor.
1. Course Credit
G 3 credits
2. Course Objectives
As a result of pursuing this study, students will be familiar with:
The cultural roots and objectives of public libraries;
The legislative determinations which establish and fund public libraries;
The effects of structures of public library governance;
The relationship of local public libraries to the extended field of practice;
The case study as a strategy in research.
3. Course Materials
1. Text : Doing Case Study Research: A Practical Guide for Beginning
Researchers (Paperback) by Dawson R. Hancock, Robert Algozzine. NY:
Teachers College Press, 2006. ISBN 10: 0-8077-4707-6 (ppbk.)
2. Text: Box, Richard C. Public Administration and Society: Critical Issues in
American Governance, Second Edition . M.E. Sharpe, 2009.
3.
Supplemental Course Materials (* e-reserves)
a. Available either through e-reserves or linked through Contents in D2l
(indicated in syllabus)
b. Sample case studies
i. Council on Library Resources: Sample case studies:
http://www.clir.org/pubs/reports/case/case.html
ii. Sutton, Brett. Public Library Planning Case Studies for
Management. Greenwood Press, 1995.
iii. Case Study of the Round Mountain Public Library:
http://www.webpages.uidaho.edu/~mbolin/bryant.html (student
paper)
5 Course Grading
Grading Element
Participation
Response Papers (2)
IRB approval
Assignment One
Assignment Two
Final Assignment : Written
Final Assignment :
Presentation
96-100 A
91-95
88-90
84-86
80-83
77-79
Title
Posts / Contribution to discussions
Written preparation for required
readings by week
Secure IRB approval for project
Presentation of Research Focus
Presentation of Initial Findings
Case Study Write Up
Presentation of Case Study
Findings to Class
superior work
AB+
B
satisfactory, but
undistinguished work
BC+
6. Attendance & Class Participation:
74-76
70-73
67-69
64-66
60-63
below 60
Percentage of grade
25%
10%
10%
10%
10%
25%
10%
C work is below standard
CD+
D unsatisfactory work
DF
Class participation is critical to the successful completion of the course. Students will
engage with assigned readings for the week via class discussions and presentations.
Students will develop the final project through the several weeks of the class. The final
project will be a case study of an issue within a public library of their choice, once
approved by the instructor.
The quality of writing and presentation is an element in the grading of assignments;
for students in need of support it is available through the Writing Center.
7. Course Schedule
Week
1:
1/23
Topics : Philosophy



2:
1/30
Resources



Introduction to
goals of class /
review of
syllabus
Elements of
research
Box, Chapter 1
Critical thinking (video)
21st century
Enlightenment (video)
Assignment




.
IRB
Roots of the public
library in America


Ditzion, Sidney. Arsenals
of a Democratic Culture,
Chapter Four,
“Democratic Strivings”.
(1947).
IMLS Strategic Plan:
http://www.imls.gov/as
sets/1/AssetManager/St
rategicPlan201216_Brochure.pdf



3:
2/6
Introduction to case
study
Roots of the public
library, continued.



Hancock, pp. 3-30
Round Mountain Public
Library Case
Thomas Augst, “Faith in
Reading” from
Institutions of Reading,



Introduce yourselves
to each other
Engage in discussion
of Box reading on
D2L
Visit the IRB site
Start work on
Assignment One
Read the Ditzion
first, and make notes
concerning the most
relevant concepts
that emerge in his
history;share notes
for discussion.
Review the new IMLS
strategic plan and
note the most
relevant concepts
that emerge in their
document.
Respond to D2L
discussion
Lecture on Hancock
and case study
Discussion of Augst
and Ditzion
Select 3 of the case
studies listed on the

4:
2/13
Influence of the public
library, local.


5:
2/20
Federal Legislation and
Policy :
Roots and Changes


2007, University of
Massachusetts Press
Latham’s Notes on
Ditzion
Hancock, pp. 31-38; 7177
Latham, Joyce M. “A
Liberal and Dignified
Approach”: The John
Toman Branch of the
Chicago Public Library
and the Making of
Americans, 1927-1940.
(Contents)
Hancock, pp. 46-55
Dain / Molz, Civic Space
/ cyberspace, pp. 89-122






Week
6:
2/27
Topics : Politics
Governmental
structures
Resources



Hancock, pp. 39-45; 5660
Box, Chapter 3:
“Democracy, Citizenship
and governmental
structure”
Investigate the following
websites:
Wisconsin State
Government




Council on Library
Resources site and
discuss on D2L the
critical elements that
you believe emerge
in the studies you
reviewed
Lecture II on
Hancock
Lecture from Box /
historical
perspectives
Discussion of
Latham, Augst and
Ditzion
Lecture III on
Hancock
Lecture on Federal
influence on library
development
Discussion
Assignment
Final lecture on
Hancock and case
studies
Box lecture /reading
discussion
Discussion: Basic
structures of state
government
Basic structures of
local government
Wisconsin Way
League of Wisconsin
Municipalities
Wisconsin Counties
Association
2/27
Assignment One : Due
the Monday of Week 6
/ 11:00 pm Central

Presentation of Research Focus;
identified resources; outline of
approach

Each student present
a Powerpoint for
other students ( 5-10
time
7:
3/5
8:
3/12
State Legislation and
Policy;
Implementation
slides) based on their
project; shared
comments on
projects

Wi public library
standards: Or, review
the standards of the
state where you will be
conducting your
research

Wisconsin Public Library
Systems

Box, Reading 3.1,
McCollough,T. “The
Public Realm”

Civil service:
http://www.civilservice
centennial.wi.gov/sectio
n.asp?linkid=264&locid=
54;
http://docs.legis.wiscon
sin.gov/statutes/statute
s/230.pdf
Box, Reading 5.1
“Practitioners” and 5.2
“New public
management and
substantive democracy”.
3/19
Spring Recess
10:
3/26
Board meeting


Hall, Peter Dobkin. A
History of Non-Profit
Boards in the U.S,
BoardSource ebook
series.
Bradshaw,Patricia,”.The
Non-profit Governance
Models: Problems and





Discussion of public
library standards /
role of regional
systems
Lecture on
McCollough
Discussion of “public
realm”
Discussion of the
function of civil
service / fostering
change in a static
structure
Discussion: how are
the roles of library
practitioners
changing?
Ensure you have reviewed
the IRB requirements and
passed the review.
Lecture: Hall
Attend a public library
board meeting; report back
to class on findings.[You
may do this at any point
during the first 10 weeks of
the class but discussion will
Prospects.” Innovation
Journal: The Public
Sector Innovation
Journal, Volume 12(3),
2007, article 5.
11:
4/2
Library Boards;
PL Administrative
Structure;


Week
12:
4/9
4/9
13:
4/16
TOPICS: Policies
Trustee Essentials:
Wisconsin public library
trustees manual:
http://dpi.wi.gov/pld/h
andbook.html
Stivers, Camilla.
Administration versus
management: A reading
from beyond the
boundaries.
Administration & Society;
May 2003; 35, 2;
Resources
Community Partners ;
Non-political
associations and
partnerships
Fundraising /
Foundations / Friends
McCook, A Place at the Table,
chapt. 1
Assignment Two due
Monday of Week 12 at
11:00 pm Central time
Communal Value
Presentation of Initial Findings:
key documents, personnel,
government officials, etc.
ROI Studies
Kranich: Civic Engagement
(Contents)
Box, Reading 3.3 “The nature of
community governance.”
“Describing and measuring the
value of public libraries: The
growth of the Internet and the
evolution of library value” by
Paul T. Jaeger, John Carlo
Bertot, Christie M. Kodama,
Sarah M. Katz, and Elizabeth J.
DeCoster.
First Monday, Volume 16,
occur here.]
Respond to discussion
questions re: Bradshaw
reading. Pay particular
attention to types of
governance models.
 Lecture: Stivers

Discussion:
relationship of
library directors and
boards
Assignments
Lecture : Box, 3.3
Discussion: Find a library
project that represents
community engagement and
present for discussion.
Powerpoint presentations
Critique and Feedback
Discussion: Best practices
for advocating /
determining value of the
public library
Number 11 - 7 November 2011.
http://firstmonday.org/htbin/c
giwrap/bin/ojs/index.php/fm/
article/viewArticle/3765/3074
Box, reading 5.3 King and
Stivers, “Citizens and
administrators.”
14:
4/23
Community
Participation /
Leadership
“Is Information Literacy a
Public Concern? A Practice in
Search of a Policy”Library
Trends [0024-2594] Haras
yr:2011 vol:60 iss:2 pg:361 382
What policies do the
libraries you are studying
have to address issues like
use of space, literacy, and
the digital divide? What
other policies are visible to
the casual reader, if any?
Hendrix, E. (2005). “Permanent
injustice: Rawls' theory of
justice and the digital divide”.
Educational Technology &
Society, 8(1), 63-68.
“Public libraries as impartial
spaces in a consumer society:
possible, plausible, desirable?”
Christine Rooney-Browne and
David McMenemy (Contents)
15:
4/30
15:
5/7
5/10
Project Development:
Consultations on
Projects
Final Projects : Case
Presentations
Final Projects: final
papers
No readings
Formal presentations of case
Powerpoints for fellow
students; cross comment
8. Assignments
Response Readings: Using critical thinking guidelines, write a 500 word
response paper to two of the assigned readings of your choice, one before the semester
break and one following the semester break. Deposit to Dropbox.
Assignment One:
Identify the library for your case study. (Duplications are not allowed.) Has the
library agreed to participate in this study? What resources are readily available? What
time frame will the study address? Outline historical underpinnings, source of funds,
memberships, partnerships, associated agencies (foundation, friends groups), political
structure, etc. Are there any earlier studies available? Draw from the material discussed
in class. Confirm the need for IRB permission.
Assignment Two:
Prepare a ten – fifteen minute presentation about the findings of your research so far.
Include a brief historical overview. List the documents being used; include key quotes
from relevant documents; identify any personnel that will be / have been interviewed.
Budget information is essential. Identify dates of visits to board meetings of any agency
associated with the library. Draft an initial conceptual frame as a result of this phase of
the research
Final Project: Case Study
Part I: Prepare a ten – fifteen minute presentation of your final findings
relative to the public library of your choice. Address the critical components of your
research, what was finally most relevant, strengths and weaknesses of the organization,
and your recommendations. Be prepared to answer questions concerning your findings.
Part II: The final written report should be between 2500-3000 words,
not including supporting documentation. The report should include the key elements
from the previous stage of the research as well as a summary report about the state of the
library and recommendations for future development. The report must be well written
and utilize the APA style.
Institutional Review Board study and assessment.
GRADE REQUIREMENT FOR MLIS STUDENTS:
If you are pursuing an MLIS degree, you need to earn at least a B to pass the course. See the
policy at: http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/SOIS/academics/mlisrequirements.html
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