Loach, Kirsten Sarah (2018) Independent libraries and cultural sustainability. Doctoral thesis (PhD), Manchester Metropolitan University in collaboration with The Portico Library. Downloaded from: https://e-space.mmu.ac.uk/622358/ Usage rights: Creative Commons: Attribution-Noncommercial-No Deriva- tive Works 4.0 Please cite the published version https://e-space.mmu.ac.uk INDEPENDENT LIBRARIES AND CULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY K S LOACH PhD 2018 INDEPENDENT LIBRARIES AND CULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY KIRSTEN SARAH LOACH A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the Manchester Metropolitan University for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Languages, Information and Communications Manchester Metropolitan University in collaboration with The Portico Library November 2018 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank my supervisors Jennifer Rowley and Jillian Griffiths for their guidance and support in completing this thesis. I am also extremely grateful to Emma Marigliano and all at The Portico Library and rest of the ILA and MLG libraries for their enthusiasm and involvement in the research. Lastly, I would like to thank my family and friends, especially Peter, Marisa, and Nadine Loach, Jessica Adams, Ellie Buchdahl, Tamara Greaves, Sarah Hindson, Carla Jacks, Stephanie Pattison, Sally Shuttlewood, and Fran and Nesta Slater for their encouragement, patience, and support over the past four years, without which this work would not have been possible. i ABSTRACT This thesis initially set out to explore how heritage can be sustained in independent libraries. Noting a lack of sustainability research in the independent library sector, the remit of the study was extended to consider how the concept of sustainability has been interpreted in museums, libraries, and archives (MLAs) more widely. A critical analysis of the literature in this area revealed the shortcomings of the dominant triple bottom line approach which does not put enough emphasis on the role of MLAs in sustaining heritage. However, it is subsequently argued that increasing recognition of the importance of cultural sustainability offers the opportunity to address this issue. A Conceptual Model for the Levels of Sustainability in MLAs is proposed, seeking to provide the opportunity to further explore the relationship between MLAs and cultural sustainability. Based on the assumption that MLAs play a mediating role between the heritage that they sustain and external cultural sustainability goals, this model is used to guide the collection of data in independent libraries. Through a combination of document research and qualitative interviews a comprehensive account of the cultural heritage assets of independent libraries in the UK and USA, their potential contributions to cultural sustainability, and the challenges to achieving these contributions is established. This provides the basis for the proposal of the Conceptual Framework for Achieving Cultural Sustainability in Independent Libraries. The contributions of the thesis are twofold. Firstly, the Conceptual Model for the Levels of Sustainability in MLAs provides a new perspective to consider the relationship between MLAs and sustainability which reasserts the importance of their role in sustaining heritage. Secondly, the Conceptual Framework for Achieving Cultural Sustainability in Independent Libraries demonstrates the complexities of the relationship between an MLA organisation and cultural sustainability beyond one-way contributions to external cultural sustainability goals. By revealing the multi-layered and often conflicting sustainability requirements of MLAs to preserve cultural heritage, ensure the effective management of the internal culture of their organisations, and demonstrate commitment to external cultural sustainability goals, it provides a new tool by which to extend our understanding of the relationship between MLAs and cultural sustainability. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements ...................................................................................... i Abstract ........................................................................................................ ii Chapter One: Introduction .......................................................................... 1 1.0 Introduction .................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Independent libraries ...................................................................................... 1 1.2 Sustaining heritage in independent libraries ................................................... 3 1.3 Sustainability policy and research in museums, libraries, and archives .......... 5 1.4 Research aim and objectives .......................................................................... 7 1.5 Structure of the thesis ..................................................................................... 9 Chapter Two: Literature Review ............................................................... 11 2.0 Introduction .................................................................................................. 11 2.1 Research in independent libraries ................................................................ 13 2.2 The conceptualisation of sustainability in the MLA sectors ........................... 14 2.3 Cultural sustainability as the fourth pillar ....................................................... 19 2.4 The incorporation of cultural sustainability into MLA sustainability models .... 23 2.5 Making the distinction between internal and external sustainability models .. 29 2.6 Sustaining heritage in MLAs for cultural sustainability ................................. 39 2.7 Intentions for taking the research forward ..................................................... 45 Chapter Three: Research Methodology and Research Methods ........... 50 3.0 Introduction .................................................................................................. 50 3.1 Purpose of the study..................................................................................... 50 3.2 Research philosophy .................................................................................... 51 3.3 Approach to theory development .................................................................. 55 3.4 Research strategy ....................................................................................... 57 3.4.1 Inclusion of cross-cultural comparisons within the research strategy ..... 62 3.5 Sampling ...................................................................................................... 64 3.5.1 Defining the research population ........................................................... 64 3.5.2 Sampling of libraries in the ILA ............................................................. 67 3.5.3 Sampling of libraries in the MLG ............................................................ 69 3.6 Data collection and analysis ......................................................................... 71 3.6.1 Stage one: Document research ............................................................ 72 3.6.1.1 Data collection methods ................................................................. 72 3.6.1.2 Gaining access and ethical considerations ..................................... 76 3.6.1.3 Qualitative content analysis of the data from ILA/MLG websites ..... 77 iii 3.6.2 Stage two: Semi-structured interviews ................................................... 83 3.6.2.1 Data collection methods ................................................................. 83 3.6.2.2 Establishing the focus of the interview questions ............................ 84 3.6.2.3 The use of the card-based game method ....................................... 91 3.6.2.4 Devising the interview questions..................................................... 92 3.6.2.5 Pilot interviews and ongoing refinement of the interview schedule .. 94 3.6.2.6 Gaining access and ethical considerations ..................................... 96 3.6.2.6.1 Gaining access ......................................................................... 96 3.6.2.6.2 Ethical considerations ............................................................... 98 3.6.2.7 Collecting data from professionals in ILA/MLG libraries ................ 101 3.6.2.8 Analysing the interview data ......................................................... 105 3.7 Ensuring research quality ........................................................................... 108 Chapter Four: Research Findings .......................................................... 113 4.0 Introduction .................................................................................................... 113 4.1 Profile of the independent libraries and their cultural heritage assets ............. 113 4.1.1 Historic origins and organizational traditions ........................................ 114 4.1.2 Book collections ................................................................................... 118 4.1.3 Additional collections ........................................................................... 126 4.1.4 Buildings .............................................................................................. 129 4.1.5 Activities .............................................................................................. 134 4.2 Interviews with professionals working in independent libraries in the ILA and MLG ....................................................................................................................