Inside an axis of evil library : a first-hand account of the North Korean Dear Leader’s library system (part one)

Abstract

The traditional goal of Western libraries is a commitment to advancing democracy through an informed citizenry. But what about libraries in non-democratic places? Depending on where a library is located, its roles, values and functions contextually vary. North Korean libraries, for example, are not democratic institutions and do not subscribe to or reach for any democratic goals; rather, they are communist institutions that deliberately aim to expand and enrich communist ideology. This article is the first of a two-part series examining North Korean libraries to illuminate a non-democratic, and non-Western, library system. [excerpt]