The Enclosure of the Commons: Privatization of Knowledge and the Public Library in an Age of Democratic Fragility

Abstract

The defunding and censorship of public libraries represent not merely a culture-war phenomenon but a phase in the ongoing privatization of public goods and the knowledge commons in America. This paper emphasizes historical context, economic data, and policy analysis to illustrate this argument. It posits that libraries, archives, museums, and cultural heritage institutions face a unified threat, necessitating a coalition framework to defend public knowledge. The metaphor of enclosure serves as a new lens through which to organize responses to these threats, emphasizing the vital role these institutions play in safeguarding access to information for all citizens. Through this collaborative approach, we can confront the systemic forces that seek to privatize and commodify knowledge, ensuring that the public commons remains accessible and equitable.