Politics, Traditional Librarianship, Progressive Librarianship, and Conflicting Visions of Services for Children

The paper addresses the ongoing challenges within public library youth services between programs of Traditional Librarianship, heavily influenced by local religious and political realities, and Progressive Librarianship, a secular approach aiming to remedy perceived past library failures. At the risk of oversimplification, Traditional Librarianship, the original American public library philosophy, long prioritized helping youth develop into educated citizens with a strong moral foundation. Within the limits of generalizing, Progressive Librarianship can be considered a change-oriented philosophy seeking to provide youth services committed to social justice and a reversal of power relationships to the benefit of those previously underserved. The effects of both philosophies on library collections and services are addressed in light of contemporary cultural divisions, as well as their political realities and legal enforcement. Considerations of how the guiding principles of each library philosophy can be viewed by library users and political leaders in state and local communities are addressed. The advice of a public library’s attorney and political expertise in a library director are deemed crucial in the process of formulating and adopting library policies and services likely to face legal challenges.