Civic Librarianship: Renewing the Social Mission of the Public Library [Hardcover]

Ronald B. McCabe (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0810839059 | ISBN-13: 978-0810839052 | Publication Date: March 28, 2001

After decades of cultural warfare and political gridlock, the U.S. is beginning to find its balance thanks to a major cultural shift toward strengthening communities and other endangered social structures. Civic Librarianship explores the ideas of this new community movement and shows how they can transform public libraries by offering a renewed sense of purpose and powerful new strategies for development.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

In this dense, very sophisticated tome by the director of the McMillan Memorial Library (Wisconsin Rapids), readers will find (through determined, diligent reading) a reaffirmation of the author's perspective on the traditional mission of the public library which is to serve as a pivotal social institution, a community center, and an essential component of the civil society. Thanks to the growing communitarian movement that is strengthening communities and other endangered social institutions, this has presented public libraries with an opportunity to again avow to their constituency their primary purpose. Drawing heavily on sociologist Amitai Etzioni's works on communitarianism (The Spirit of Community), McCabe links powerful communitarian principles to the potential strength inherent in the fundamental rationale behind public libraries. He emphasizes reestablishing the social authority of public librarians to influence their communities to support education for a democratic society. Following a pedantic beginning discussing America's cultural civil war and its effect on public libraries, McCabe offers a general description of community movement ideas, civic librarianship defined in terms of the institutional reforms this new approach makes possible, and an exploration of the implications that civic librarianship might have for the future of the public library. While McCabe's theme is praiseworthy and relevant for those working hard to define their libraries as something beyond little bookworm programs and keeping up with the newest bodice rippers, his text is so academically arcane as to be mostly relevant for graduate MLIS programs. Dale Farris, Groves, TX
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

Ron McCabe is one of the few public library practitioners who is putting his thoughts about public librarianship into words for all to read. He has something to say —a lot to say—in this slim work from Scarecrow. McCabe draws a clear distinction between "The Libertarian Public Library" and "Civic Librarianship." This is a good book. Every public librarian and library trustee should read it and think about it and discuss it. It is well worth the price. (Public Library Quarterly )

...a reaffirmation of the author's perspective on the traditional mission of the public library-which is to serve as a pivotal social institution, a community center, and an essential component of the civil society....praiseworthy and relevant... (Library Journal )

Ronald McCabe skillfully diagnoses the malaise that grips the public library in his highly useful Civic Librarianship...it will doubtless take its place in library history. (Libraries And Culture )

This book is an outstanding treatment of the library as a pivotal social institution, a community center, and an essential component of the civil society. Anyone concerned with the future of either libraries or our society will be sure to not miss studying this valuable text. (Amitai Etzioni, author of The New Golden Rule )

Libraries equip citizens for civic participation and enable civil society. This important and essential role is illuminated in Ron McCabe's exciting new book on civic librarianship which provides us an historic and theoretical framework for understanding the ways in which libraries enhance citizen involvement in renewing and strengthening our communities.... (Nancy Kranich, President of the American Library Association )

This book will challenge your thinking about public libraries. It places public librarianship in a broader societal context. It calls for the renewal of the public library's traditional social mission as the foundation for library development in the new century. Ron McCabe has given us a thoughtful philosophical treatise on public libraries in America. I commend his work to you. (Sarah Ann Long, Past President, American Library Association )

Libraries equip citizens for civic participation and enable civil society. This important and essential role is illuminated in Ron McCabe's exciting new book on civic librarianship which provides us an historic and theoretical framework for understanding the ways in which libraries enhance citizen involvement in renewing and strengthening our communities. (Nancy Kranich, President of the American Library Association )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 200 pages
• Publisher: Scarecrow Press (March 28, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810839059
• ISBN-13: 978-0810839052
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 5.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,015,633 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Overwrought, April 25, 2010

By 

SorchaCB "SorchaCB" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Civic Librarianship: Renewing the Social Mission of the Public Library (Hardcover)

The author brings up some good points regarding communitarianism, but McCabe simply doesn't see middle ground of libraries having civic value while not forcing people to adhere to librarian's vision of what is good for them. He doesn't understand art or unschooling or questioning authority or non-heirarchical structures of social or institutional interactions. His repeated insistence that expressive individualism is "antisocial and antieducational" (p.96) means that he makes dichotomous ideas that needn't be: what people want from libraries can also be what they need, IF one is capable of trusting the public. In ch. 6 it becomes clear that McCabe can only see libraries through the lens of public education and that his concern is more for education than for libraries--he does not conceptualize libraries as superior institutions because of the lack of mediated reality and pedagogical coercion that public schools entail. His constant assertion that librarians should have social authority over their constituents is paternalistic and simplistic, and misses the point of communitarianism: that we're all in this together.

5.0 out of 5 stars Public Librarianship Revisited, December 19, 2004

By 

Dr. Mohamed Taher (Toronto) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Civic Librarianship: Renewing the Social Mission of the Public Library (Hardcover)

McCabe has re-worded the old term, public librarianship, giving a new approach to look at the entire act, action, and acting that takes place in public (or civic) domain.

Contents include, The Community Movement, The Libertarian Public Library, Renewing the Educational Mission, A Center of the Community, Restoring Democratic Social Authority, etc.

This goes to indicate the book is reminding the profession that it can survive as long as it is amidst the community. By implication, if it is diconnected from the community, then its days are counted.

The closing para in the book tells the most important thing:
"The mission of the public library is the greatest purpose in a democracy, the mission of public education. It is time for library leaders to once again embrace this mission and to make full use of the many strengths of this great institution. A new century has begun and the best days for America and America's public libraries are ahead."

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What they didn't tell me in Library School, September 6, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Civic Librarianship: Renewing the Social Mission of the Public Library (Hardcover)

This should be required reading for all librarians, especially public librarians, now that our funding is getting cut left and right. And it is no wonder since we have shot ourselves (and our profession) in the foot, as McCabe describes. If we expect to be treated like professionals, receive professional salaries and professional respect, then it would be wise for us to present ourselves as professionals. In order to do this, we need to analyse the trends and understand the philosophies behind actions and reactions. Denial will not improve our lot, awareness might. In the past and present, we have asked to be disrespected and we have gotten it.

Now, read his book and find out how to get out of your abusive relationship with librarianship.

McCabe's analysis of the social movements of the last 100 years or so that appears in the first part of the book is worth the read even if you are not a librarian. Although the book seems a little expensive, $40 is a bargain considering how much you paid for your college courses. This is worth four credit hours.