Smells in the Library: A Moral Perspective on Homeless People and Library Policy

• Author / Creator

  Kundrik, Sara Marie

• The issue of homeless persons as patrons of public libraries is not a new
  one, having generated much literature in the field of library science and
  information studies. Most of this work, however, deals with the social and legal
  implications of the presence of homeless people, and the policies that can arise
  when attempting to deal with the unique problems they bring. This thesis will
  attempt to ethically analyze policies for controlling offensive behaviours or states,
  specifically odours, that disproportionately affect homeless people. Concerns
  about welfare, responsibility, and social liberties and rights will be used to argue
  that the expulsion of homeless persons from public libraries because of smell or
  similar offensive, but not seriously harmful, behaviours or states is immoral. My
  conclusion will be that the harm these policies cause to homeless people, both to
  their welfare and to their rights, will outweigh the possible benefits to other
  patrons

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Homeless
  • Smells in the library
  • Library Policy
  • Library Ethics

• Graduation date

  Fall 2012

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Arts

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3N37F

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.