Evaluating national library mission statements in Ibero-America

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to review the websites of 22 national libraries in Ibero-America to determine whether and how effectively they display these organisations’ mission statements, as well as any convergence/divergence among these texts. Design/methodology/approach A review was conducted of the national library websites of ABINIA’s 22 members to locate their respective mission statements. The statements identified were analysed and evaluated against the positioning and presence criteria and wording proposed by experts. Findings Website content clearly attests to national libraries’ eagerness to publicise their mission statements, which are readily accessible in most cases. Their functions are represented to a more or less standard pattern. Most are portrayed as institutions responsible for custodying, enriching, preserving and disseminating their countries’ cultural legacy. Other purposes mentioned include the promulgation of and accessibility to the heritage custodied. Practical implications The paper may prove useful for professional librarians involved in drafting or revising their organisation’s mission statement in the wake of changing circumstances or on the occasion of the formulation of a new strategic plan. Originality/value Of the very short number of analyses of libraries’ mission statements published to date, none discusses national libraries. This is the very first study of national library mission statement in Ibero-America. It forms part of a line of research dealing with national library mission statements defined and available on institutional websites for countries anywhere in the world.

Understanding soft power discourse in the National Library of Australia

“…Galligan's (2000b) analysis includes investigating power relations within the NLA's discourse in policy documents to reflect how Australia's cultural heritage is framed. Hranchak (2018) and Pacios and P erez-Piriz (2019) both analyse libraries' mission statements. The discourse and content analysed provides insight into these libraries' identity, function, and purpose.…”

“…The socio-cultural discourse which Hranchak (2018) analyses highlights the role of a national library in constructing and preserving national identity and memory. Likewise, Pacios and P erez-Piriz (2019) identify the preservation of cultural heritage and memory as a widely held function in the national libraries included in their study.…”

“…Several authors have studied the discourse surrounding national libraries (Galligan, 2000b; Hranchak, 2018; Pacios and Pérez-Piriz, 2019). Galligan (2000a, b) has analysed the role of the NLA by examining the cultural politics that accompany it.…”

The library as soft-power actor: A review

“…In International Relations, discourse analysis is frequently adopted to analyse soft-power discourse (Cao, 2011; Hashimoto, 2018; Jiang, 2016; Solomon, 2014). Library and Information Science research has considered libraries’ discourse (Buschman, 2020) when examining ‘critical intersections of LIS [Library and Information Science] and social justice’ (Buschman, 2020; Oliphant, 2015: 228) and also as it presents in mission statements and online publications (Hranchak, 2018; Pacios and Pérez-Piriz, 2019; Wadas, 2017). In studies by Hranchak (2018) and Pacios and P´erez-Piriz (2019) this discourse provides insight into libraries’ identities, encompassing their functions and purpose.…”

“…Library and Information Science research has considered libraries’ discourse (Buschman, 2020) when examining ‘critical intersections of LIS [Library and Information Science] and social justice’ (Buschman, 2020; Oliphant, 2015: 228) and also as it presents in mission statements and online publications (Hranchak, 2018; Pacios and Pérez-Piriz, 2019; Wadas, 2017). In studies by Hranchak (2018) and Pacios and P´erez-Piriz (2019) this discourse provides insight into libraries’ identities, encompassing their functions and purpose. While soft power is not addressed in these author’s research, it reflects a key focus of International Relations – namely, the ‘co-constitution of language and identity’ (Solomon, 2014: 731).…”