Positivism, Foucault, and the Fantasia of the Library: Conceptions of Knowledge and the Modern Library Experience

This article argues that modern conceptions of the library are informed by a particular view of knowledge grounded in early twentieth-century positivism. From this standpoint, the ideals of neutrality and access have achieved prevalence as the basis for understanding the institutionalized practices of modern libraries. This view of knowledge also serves to structure significantly the library experience of individual librarians and library users. The view of scientific knowledge developed in the works of Michel Foucault is described and from it the library experience is reconceptualized. From the Foucauldian perspective, the library is seen as a dynamic site for the possibility of new knowledge as well as a passive storehouse that provides access to individual facts. The library community is encouraged to consider such alternative views of knowledge as potential bases for viewing the modern library experience.