The Library, Praxis, and Symbolic Power

Abstract

If, as Wayne Wiegand claims, librarianship is afflicted by tunnel vision and blind spots, the task facing the profession is broadening perspective to encompass potentially fruitful work done in other disciplinary fields. One point of view that can be explored is that of Pierre Bourdieu. In particular, Bourdieu speaks of social institutions that are engaged in the act of cultural production and the symbolic power that is part of their being. Power, in Bourdieu's sense of the word, is not necessarily aimed toward domination; rather, it represents effort at persuasion, influence, and success. Libraries employ symbolic power through their operations but tend not to recognize the source or the use of that power. As a result, they may be insufficiently reflective and may not realize the critical goals of praxis, including interpretive, ethical social action.