Knowledge representation in the Australian public library: epistemic factors impacting collection management

• Published in: Journal of documentation Vol. 81; no. 3; pp. 709 - 722
• Main Author: Kelly, Matthew
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bradford Emerald Publishing Limited 28.04.2025; Emerald Group Publishing Limited
• Subjects: Bibliometrics; Civil society; Collection; Collection development; Collection management; Common sense; Comparative Analysis; Database Management Systems; Epistemology; Exegesis & hermeneutics; Fiction; Hermeneutics; Interviews; Knowledge representation; Librarians; Libraries; Library collections; Library Materials; Library Personnel; Library Services; Nonfiction; Phenomenology; Philosophy; Public libraries; Reference Materials; Representation; Scientific knowledge; Semi Structured Interviews; Skepticism; Sociology; Sociology of knowledge; Structural Analysis (Linguistics); Structural Analysis (Science); Structured Interviews; Utilitarianism; Worldview; Australia; Non-fiction; Knowledge organisation; Philosophy of information; Bibliometrics; Collection management; Social epistemology; Public libraries

PurposeThis paper examines epistemic factors shaping collection management in Australian public libraries, focusing on how librarians balance subjective and objective judgments in nonfiction collection development. It highlights the role of knowledge representation and its alignment with civil socie...