Knowledge representation in the Australian public library: epistemic factors impacting collection management

Purpose This paper examines epistemic factors shaping collection management in Australian public libraries, focusing on how librarians balance subjective and objective judgments in nonfiction collection development. It highlights the role of knowledge representation and its alignment with civil society needs while addressing epistemic scepticism toward traditional knowledge frameworks and the tension between utilitarian and broader epistemic goals. Design/methodology/approach A mixed-methods approach was adopted. Bibliometric analysis of three million books (10% of Australia’s adult nonfiction holdings) categorised subject focus using the OCLC conspectus subject categories. Semi-structured interviews with collection librarians contextualised these findings, exploring epistemic considerations. The analysis integrated phenomenology, philosophical hermeneutics and sociology of knowledge perspectives to uncover the epistemic dimensions of nonfiction practices. Findings Nonfiction collections emphasise self-focused topics reflecting utilitarian priorities. Librarians interviewed exhibited epistemic scepticism, questioning nonfiction’s role as a representation of encyclopaedic or scientific knowledge. Instead, the collections studied embody a pluralistic worldview, blending formalised knowledge systems with user-driven demands. Practical knowledge, informed by utilitarianism and common sense, is prioritised by librarians over speculative and scientific content to meet civil society’s immediate needs. Originality/value This is the first study to comprehensively analyse adult nonfiction collections in a large set of public libraries. It uniquely explores epistemic factors in collection practices, addressing scepticism and utilitarian ethics. The study introduces Nelson Goodman’s “worldmaking” as a pragmatic framework to understand knowledge representation, linking philosophical pluralism with library science.