“More than just a library”: Public libraries in the 'smart city’

Abstract

This paper argues that the transformation of the contemporary public library can be usefully understood by situating it within the context of the technology-driven urban vision of the 'smart city’. We explore this through a focus on a recent public library development in Australia where a high-profile new library features as a signature investment in the city's broader digital and 'smart city’ strategies. In analysing the library's entanglement with the digital visions of this city, our case study reveals the uneven and often contradictory impacts that characterize the digital economy. We argue that the articulation of a technology-led agenda with neoliberal governance settings has produced ..