The Library's Role in a Market-Based Economy

Abstract

Politically speaking, the formerly agreed upon need to support libraries is becoming problematic. We library trustees will increasing be unsuccessful in finding support for traditional library roles. Businesses or new types of centralized governmental agencies will more efficiently and more effectively deliver many traditional library services. The economic theory that supports and predicts the re-allocation of the library's resources to the private sector is known as "free-market" or "market-based". Politically smart libraries are now redefining their roles in response to market forces to ensure continuing public support.