The Library as Place: History, Community, and Culture

Libraries, as a component of cultural space, are ubiquitous to almost every society during almost every time period. However, as places of cultural and symbolic and intellectual meaning, they have varied greatly. To capture both aspects, this collection of 14 original papers covers library spaces old and new, real and imagined, large and small, public and private. Contributions range from a consideration of the Garrison library in the British Empire, to the Carnegie library as a social institution, to the imagined library in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The result is a fascinating look at the library as a physical, social, and intellectual place within the hearts and minds of its clientele and the public at large.

JOHN E. BUSCHMAN is Department Chair, Collection Development Librarian, and Professor-Librarian, Rider University Library, Lawrenceville, New Jersey. He is the 2004 recipient of ALA's Elizabeth Futas Catalyst for Change Award. His previous book, Critical Approaches to Information Technology in Librarianship, was published by Greenwood Press. He has published many articles and is co-editor of the journal Progressive Librarian and on the Coordinating Comittee of the Progressive Librarians Guild. Prior to his current administrative appointment, he served on the National Council of the American Association of University Professors.