The Value of a Communitarian Approach to Public Library Board Governance: Rejecting Current Neoliberal Practice / La valeur d’une approche communautariste de la gouvernance du conseil d’administration d’une bibliothèque publique : Le rejet de la pratique néolibérale actuelle

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

In recent years, Canadian public library boards have adopted a neoliberal marketization approach in their policy and decision-making processes.

“Over the last several years, public library boards in Canada, like most public bodies, have adopted a neoliberal marketization approach to their policy and decision-making processes.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Some board trustees prefer their activities to occur away from public scrutiny, and closed-door decision making is considered more efficient because it avoids the messiness of civic transparency.

“Some of my fellow board trustees clearly prefer that their activities occur far away from the public scrutiny of the commons.The closed-door style of decision making is considered to be more efficient: It avoids the ''messiness'' of civic transparency.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based). May combine two claims.

Neoliberalism has instilled operational procedures and an organizational culture that oppose positive public engagement, which should be the cornerstone of public library boards.

“neoliberalism has instilled operational procedures and an organizational culture that are contrary to a spirit of positive public engagement, a spirit that should be the cornerstone of public library boards.”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: Positive public engagement should be the cornerstone of public library boards.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

Communitarianism, by providing guiding principles, makes public library boards more accessible within their communities and can lead to rediscovery of the board's positive spirit of public engagement.

“communitarianism, by providing a set of guiding principles, makes public library boards more accessible within their communities, and can therefore lead to the rediscovery of the public library board's positive spirit of public engagement.”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: Positive public engagement should be the cornerstone of public library boards.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

The neoliberal marketization approach conflicts with traditional professional practices of librarianship.

“This approach is at odds with traditional professional practices of librarianship.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

Communitarianism can be seen as rebalancing the public agenda to ensure factors beyond monetary ones are part of decision-making.

“Communitarianism at this level can be seen as the rebalancing of the public agenda to ensure that other factors beyond the merely monetary are part of the decision-making equation.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

There is a developing consensus in policy literature favouring a move away from the rational-technical method toward a meaningful public participatory approach in policy practice.

“While approaches vary, there appears to be a developing consensus favouring a move away from the rational-technical method toward a meaningful public participatory approach in policy practice.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Smith contends that the common ground of critical theory, pragmatism, and virtue-based theories is their ability to integrate theory into practice by building more participatory relationships with citizens.

“The common ground of all three approaches, he contends, rests with their ability to assist in integrating theory into practice through building more participatory relationships with citizens.”

• cites Smith (2010)Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

May combine two claims.

Management is encouraged to follow established rules, and outcomes are arrived at like ticking off boxes on a checklist.

“Management is encouraged to follow an established set of rules, and an outcome is arrived at in a manner akin to the act of ''ticking off boxes'' on a checklist.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Smith reviews three approaches to collaborative public policy: critical theory, pragmatism, and virtue-based theories.

“He reviews three approaches to collaborative public policy: critical theory, pragmatism, and virtue-based theories.”

• cites Smith (2010)Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

Association is the central tenet of communitarianism.

“Association is the central tenet of communitarianism.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

The free-market approach has emerged as the dominant paradigm of institutional organization.

“The free-market approach has emerged as the dominant paradigm of the institutional organization.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Ralston Saul (2009) contends that policy-creating leadership is unable to begin their thinking with the real lives of their real citizens.

“Ralston Saul (2009, 272) contends that, at this time, policy-creating leadership is unable ''to begin their thinking with the real lives of their real citizens.''”

• cites Ralston Saul (2009, 272)Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

A neoliberal approach can mutate into a culture of fear, creating constant budgetary scrambling where staff focus on fiscal imperatives rather than service.

“This can mutate into a ''culture of fear,'' which creates an environment of constant budgetary scrambling where staff 's energy is expended by frantically focusing on fiscal imperatives rather than on service.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.

Neoliberalism puts the marketplace and economic efficiency above all else, transforms citizens into consumers and the public into taxpayers, values all encounters monetarily, and values the bottom line over community.

“In this context, neoliberalism can be defined as an approach that puts the marketplace and issues of economic efficiency above all else.It transforms citizens into consumers and the public into taxpayers.All encounters are valued in terms of monetary measures alone, and the ''bottom line'' is valued over the community.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.

Communitarianism affords an alternative governance model focused on a community-based approach to public policy issues and emphasizes the human element.

“Communitarianism affords an alternative governance model with its focus on developing a community-based approach to public policy issues, which emphasizes the human element.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

A board embracing an organic attitude to community would further the organization's positive cultural environment.

“A board embracing an organic attitude to community would indeed further the organization's positive cultural environment.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

Communitarianism provides a community focus to organizational culture and is better suited to the mission of a community-minded public library.

“Communitarianism provides a community focus to organizational culture; it is an option better suited to the mission of the community-minded public library.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

The implementation of normative business-focused practices has become a core principle in public policy making.

“and the contention made by Pal (2006) that the implementation of normative business-focused practices has become a core principle in public policy making.”

• cites Pal (2006)Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Wolfe (1995) saw the concept of the commons threatened through neoliberal adherence because the market gives rationally choosing individuals no incentive to protect the commons.

“Over 15 years ago, Wolfe (1995, 127) saw the concept of the commons threatened through neoliberal adherence: ''Liberalism's chief social institution, the market, is a forum wanting, for rationally choosing individuals have no incentive to protect the commons.''”

• cites Wolfe (1995, 127)Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Arnstein's typology demonstrated that not all participation is of equal value and that tokenism dominated as the method through which most citizens likely participated in the policy process at the time of her original authorship.

“Her typology clearly demonstrated that not all participation is of equal value and that, at the time of her original authorship, tokenism dominated as the method through which the majority of citizens most likely participated in the policy process.”

• cites Arnstein (1969) sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Keevers et al. posit that neoliberalism, managerialism, and new paternalism have a penchant for non-participation and tokenism.

“The authors posit that the first three discourses have a penchant for non-participation and tokenism.”

• cites Keevers, Treleaven and Sykes (2008)Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

Public consultation procedures may create the appearance of community consultation while actually acting as a democratic formality.

“In terms of library board practices, public consultation procedures may create the appearance of community consultation when, in fact, the process acts as a democratic formality.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Stout concluded that in the 40 years since Arnstein developed her model, policy makers have become more sophisticated at appearing to seek citizen collaboration while really promoting tokenism or non-participation.

“Stout concludes that in the 40 years since Arnstein developed her model, policy makers have become more sophisticated at appearing to be seeking citizen collaboration, while really promoting tokenism or, worse, non-participation.”

• cites Stout (2010)Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

The consequences of adopting a neoliberal approach for professional librarianship can be dire, especially when private-sector principles drive public-sector practice, and the commons can be lost in pursuit of fiscal efficiency.

“The consequences of adopting the neoliberal approach in terms of professional librarianship can be dire, especially when private-sector principles drive public-sector practice; in this case, sight of the commons can easily be lost in the pursuit of fiscal efficiency.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based). May combine two claims.

In such an environment, quantitative measures drive the agenda while qualitative measures become decreasingly important.

“In this environment, quantitative measures (e.g., achieving the lowest cost-per-service ratio) drive the agenda, while qualitative measures (e.g., making meaningful impacts on the lives of patrons and communities) are decreasingly important.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Hampton contends that when there is a commitment to uphold public preference, a narrative policy approach is most useful because it allows juxtaposition of expert and local knowledge.

“Hampton contends that when there is a commitment to uphold public preference, a narrative policy approach is of most use as it allows for the juxtaposition of both expert and local knowledge.”

• cites Hampton (2009) sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

May combine two claims.

Today's dominant metanarrative of public decision making can be seen as a cult of efficiency, a form of neoliberalism centered on a fiscal-efficiency paradigm.

“I support the contention made by Stein (2001) 1 that today's dominant metanarrative of public decision making can be seen as ''a cult of efficiency,'' a form of neoliberalism centred on a fiscal-efficiency paradigm”

• cites Stein (2001)Not checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

Public library users are increasingly considered consumers rather than citizens.

“This is especially true when public library users are considered to be consumers and not to be citizens (a disturbing trend among public libraries).”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Wolfe (1995) likens communitarianism to environmentalism, with the goal of a social theory and political movement that inspires respect for things generally taken for granted.

“It is the protection and promotion of the commons that lead Wolfe (1995, 127) to liken communitarianism to environmentalism: ''The goal is a social theory and a political movement that will inspire respect for things generally taken for granted.''”

• cites Wolfe (1995, 127)Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Smith contends that all three approaches provide a more laudable outcome than current practice.

“While the approaches vary in terms of the degree of these relationships, Smith contends that all provide a more laudable outcome than current practice.”

• cites Smith (2010)Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

A board fixated on the efficiency agenda can seriously counter the core of professional librarianship, especially the principles in the CLA code of ethics.

“A board fixated on the efficiency agenda can seriously counter the very core of professional librarianship, especially those principles stated in the CLA code of ethics.”

• cites CLANot matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based). May combine two claims.

Barriers limiting community involvement at the board level become normative practice and filter down to become staff operational behaviour.

“The implementation of barriers limiting community involvement at the board level becomes normative practice, and in turn this practice filters down to become staff operational behaviour.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Campbell champions the view that citizenship should be viewed as public work and that promoting citizen-based policy is akin to community barn raising.

“He champions the concept that citizenship needs to be viewed as public work and that promoting citizen-based policy in practice is akin to community barn raising”

• cites Campbell (2010)Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: Public institutions that value community should place the needs of community members first in their decisions.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

The current policy literature questions the efficacy of policy design that is removed from community.

“The current policy literature questions the efficacy of policy design that is removed from community.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

A communitarian emphasis is best for a public body such as a public library board that holds in trust its authority to make decisions and act on behalf of a community.

“A communitarian emphasis is best for a public body, such as a public library board, that holds in trust its authority to make decisions and act, policy in practice, on behalf of a community.”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: Library boards hold their positions as a public trust.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Efficiency is measured in many situations by the percentage of budget spent on administrative costs; a lower percentage indicates a more efficient organization.

“As Stein notes, efficiency is measured in many situations through the percentage of budget spent on administrative costs; the lower this percentage, the more efficient the organization.”

• cites Stein 2001Not checked — no full text of the source

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Campbell argues that effective public policy requires policy makers to rely less on technique and more on civic engagement.

“Campbell (2010) argues that effective public policy requires policy makers to rely less on technique in terms of the policy mindset and more on the concept of civic engagement.”

• cites Campbell (2010)Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

Neoliberal market principles remove consideration of community ecology from policy makers' decision-making process, shifting focus to the immediate act rather than the holistic universe.

“These principles remove consideration of community ecology from the policy maker's decision-making process.Focus is shifted to the nucleus of the moment-the act-and not to a holistic universe of which that moment is a part”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

There is a fundamental disconnect between the standards of professional librarianship and a neoliberal agenda.

“There is a fundamental disconnect between the standards of professional librarianship and a neoliberal agenda.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Harvey's (2005) examination of neoliberalism over the past 50 years focuses on the ongoing commoditization of the commons.

“Harvey's (2005) examination from a global context of the pervasiveness of neoliberalism over the past 50 years focuses on the ongoing commoditization of the commons.”

• cites Harvey's (2005) sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

The pervasiveness of the pedagogy of neoliberalism appears to be drowning out all other approaches by absorbing democratic impulses and practices of civil society within narrow economic relations.

“The pervasiveness of the pedagogy of neoliberalism is such that it appears to be drowning out all other approaches ''by absorbing the democratic impulses and practices of the civil society within narrow economic relations'' (Giroux 2004, 106).”

• cites Giroux 2004Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Smith (2010) argues that policy makers need to be more citizen-focused.

“Smith (2010) expounds a similar position-namely, that there is need for the policy maker to be more citizen focused-in his exploration of the public administrator as a collaborative citizen.”

• cites Smith (2010)Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Gregg (2003) describes the rule-bound emphasis as a move from reflective to reactive practice, where people are integrated less through civic activism and more through economic exchange or administrative power.

“This rule-bound emphasis is described by Gregg (2003, 52) as a move away from a reflective to a reactive practice, where ''persons are integrated less and less through civic activism that involves the to and fro of discussion and debate among participants and increasingly through economic exchange [imperatives of the market] or administrative power [imperatives of bureaucracy].''”

• cites Gregg (2003, 52)Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Gates cautions that there needs to be a re-conceptualization of community into a 'community of difference' that protects individualistic heterogeneity against the tyranny of collectivistic homogeneity.

“He cautions, however, that there needs to be ''re-conceptualization of community into a 'community of difference' [that] identifies as crucial the protection of individualistic heterogeneity against the tyranny of collectivistic homogeneity'' ( 152).”

• cites Gates 2005Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Boards in this mindset make the absolute minimum effort to disclose anything to the public.

“Boards in this scenario make the absolute minimum effort to disclose anything to the public.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

A neoliberal market-oriented approach hollows out public organizations' raisons d'être and robs them of community connectedness and context by attributing policy decisions and organizational practice to purely economic forces.

“The danger arises when a neoliberal market-oriented approach hollows out public organizations' raisons d'e ˆtre.Such an approach ultimately robs them of community connectedness and context by ascribing policy decisions and organizational practice to purely economic forces”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.

Public boards choose between the politics of community and the market as the master design for pedagogical encounters; the former provides a cultural backdrop better suited for the practice of librarianship.

“At one level, public boards have a choice between ''the politics of community'' (Frazer 1999, iii) and ''the market . . .as the master design for all pedagogical encounters'' (Giroux 2004, 103).The former concept, with its emphasis on the communal, provides a cultural backdrop better suited than the latter in terms of an environment for the practice of librarianship”

• cites Frazer 1999 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Giroux 2004Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: Community interests should be given due consideration in public library board decision-making.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

A neoliberal preference in public library board governance is undemocratic and detrimental to the community the board is supposed to serve in trust, reducing decisions to business decisions that are unapproachable, beyond question, and irreversible.

“A neoliberal preference in public library board governance can be seen as both undemocratic and detrimental to the community for which the board is supposed to act in trust, as it reduces all decisions to the simple formula of being a ''business decision,'' and, as such, unapproachable, beyond question, and irreversible.”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: The purpose of a public library board is to represent the community's interest and act in trust for the community's broader welfare.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.

Such a board would offer an environment better suited to support professional librarianship as outlined in the CLA code of ethics, by protecting privacy and dignity, preserving intellectual freedom, and maintaining diverse services.

“It would offer an environment better suited to support professional librarianship, as outlined in the CLA code of ethics, by reinforcing an environment that protects the privacy and dignity of library users, preserves intellectual freedom, and maintains a diverse range of services.”

• cites CLANot matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Harvey (2005) describes the neoliberal emphasis on efficiency as translating into the commoditization of everything.

“Harvey (2005, 165) describes the neoliberal emphasis on efficiency as translating into the ''commoditization of everything.''”

• cites Harvey (2005, 165) sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

No mention is made of the corresponding quality of service when efficiency is measured by administrative cost percentage.

“No mention is made of the corresponding quality of service (11).”

• cites Stein 2001Not checked — no full text of the source

Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

Gates (2005) argues that community contributes significantly to quality of life because community is the level of social organization where reform is more likely to occur.

“Gates (2005, 150) argues that the notion of community contributes significantly to quality of life, given that ''community is the level of social organization where the potential for reform is more likely to occur.''”

• cites Gates (2005, 150)Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Stein argues that efficiency as an end has taken on cult status, more an object of blind religious worship than a tool for developing public policy.

“As an end, she argues, it has taken on cult status, more an object of blind religious worship than a tool for developing public policy.”

• cites Stein (2001)Not checked — no full text of the source

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Stein states that efficiency no longer questions 'for what purpose' something is measured, but has a meaning in and of itself.

“Efficiency no longer questions ''for what purpose'' something is measured, but has a meaning in and of itself.”

• cites Stein (2001)Not checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Capra argues that a mechanistic worldview has proven detrimental to the human condition.

“Focusing on the negative impacts of a society dedicated to scientific rationalism, Capra lays out his case on how a mechanistic worldview has proven detrimental to the human condition.”

• cites CapraNot matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Stein (2001) documents the public's fixation with efficiency as an end in itself, no longer a means to another goal.

“Stein (2001) in The Cult of Efficiency documents the public's fixation with efficiency, which she sees as something that has become an end in itself, no longer a means to some other goal.”

• cites Stein (2001)Not checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Capra challenges us to seek a new paradigm that rejects the market in favour of a different set of values.

“Capra challenges us to seek a new paradigm, a vision of the future that rejects the market in in favour of a different set of values.”

• cites CapraNot matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.

Rediscovering the commons will require a civic conversation and a willingness to transform one's view to sustain the commons.

“Rediscovering the commons will require a civic conversation, ''a concomitant willingness to transform one's view so as to sustain the commons'' (Gates 2005, 141).”

• cites Gates 2005Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.