University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Politics and public libraries in the Republic of Turkey

Keseroğlu, Hasan S.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/94958

Description

Title
Politics and public libraries in the Republic of Turkey
Author(s)
Keseroğlu, Hasan S.
Issue Date
2016
Keyword(s)
  • Politics and public libraries
  • Republic of Turkey
Abstract
This paper explores the phenomenon of the absence of public libraries from the politics and agendas of the Republic of Turkey, which was founded in 1923. Every institution is established and developed within the framework of the laws of its country. Both the successes and failures of institutions are directly proportional to the understanding of democracy in that country. In countries where democracy is not indigenized, the desires of the rulers in power may forge ahead regardless of what the legislation stipulates. The library as a social institution is an indispensable component of the dynamics of any democratic country. Therefore the question being asked is, to what extent can public libraries fulfill their objectives and functions in countries like Turkey, where democracy is not yet fully indigenized? With this question in mind, the paper first determines the place and function of politics in the general history of public libraries in Turkey; it then goes on to reveal how library institutions are affected when politics and democracy do not overlap. The methodology used for the study is an analysis of documents such as government programs, development plans, and laws and regulations. Data show that what has been promised directly or indirectly by some government programs has never been realized. It is concluded that unstable politics and the involvement of politicians in the operations of libraries hinder public libraries in performing their role.
Publisher
Johns Hopkins University Press and the Illinois School of Information Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Type of Resource
text
Language
en
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/94958
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1353/lib.2016.0030
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2016 Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois

Owning Collections

Library Trends 65 (2) Fall 2016: Libraries in the Political Process PRIMARY
Library Trends 65 (2) Fall 2016: Libraries in the Political Process. Edited by Christine Stilwell, Peter Johan Lor, and Raphaëlle Bats