Purpose This paper contains a theoretically inspired discussion of recent Norwegian controversies related to the management of public library space as a civil public sphere. Design/methodology/approach This study engages with theories of civil public spheres and their application within a Nordic...

Purpose This article addresses a recent debate in this journal between Buschman and Widdersheim and Koizumi on public libraries and public sphere theory in library and information science (LIS). The article moves beyond the debate as the debate has been too focused on the theories of Jürgen...