Abstract
The article examines the principles upon which the public library operated in the 19th and early 20th Century. Gilles Deleuze’s philosophic work on the disciplinary and control societies is used as a theoretical framework to highlight the forms of governance that have been used in the last couple centuries. A discourse analysis is conducted of sample articles from the first forty years of the Library Journal. The article documents how librarians played a role in normalizing patron behaviour by associating the concept of the good citizen with a series of practices, including reading, abstention from the consumption of alcohol, homogeneity, order, acceptance of class status, and self-reliance.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Partnership: The Canadian Journal of Library and Information Practice and Research
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
