Narratives of public library roles and value: a critical discourse analysis of a public consultation on a new central library

Purpose This paper aims to report on an analysis of responses to a public consultation on Te Matapihi – Wellington Central Library in Aotearoa New Zealand. We analyze the responses to explore the meanings that submitters to the consultation attach to public libraries and the ideological values and concerns underpinning them. Design/methodology/approach We examined the submissions using analytical techniques drawn from critical discourse analysis, corpus-assisted discourse analysis and social and critical theory more broadly. The analysis focuses on narratives about the public library's role and purpose identified in responses to three of four open questions in the consultation. Findings We found the discourse about public library roles and value constructed within three key themes of collections, space and social and cultural contexts. Ideas about collections prioritize space for a large collection of printed materials, particularly books. A competing narrative supports the provision of the book collection alongside a range of other services and facilities, indicating a wider conceptualization of public libraries in the discourse. This extends to the theme of space, where submitters envisage public libraries as open, accessible spaces capable of supporting varied social, cultural and civic purposes. We note a lack of focus on Maori perspectives. Originality/value The study is unique in analyzing evidence from a public consultation of plans for a new public library building to explore citizen perspectives on the role and value of public libraries and contributes to our understanding of how they can respond to changing societal needs and contextual shifts.