Abstract Public library development is explained differently by various theories, but existing theories are problematic. A new theory is needed to explain public library development, one that foregrounds political processes. To produce this new theory, a historical case study was conducted of a regional public library system in the United States from 1924 to 2016. Multiple data sources and mixed methods were used to identify the causes of library development in nine periods of the case. Findings indicate that public libraries develop in a cyclical way. Within each decision cycle, high responsiveness is a necessary condition for a change in development. A responsive library system adapts to and acts upon discursively-legitimated issues. High responsiveness, together with either high civil support, high legitimacy or low resistance, are causal configurations sufficient for change. This theory is significant because it is testable, it uses a new research framework and new methods, and it provides new insight into public library development.

中文翻译：

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公共图书馆发展的政治理论

摘要公共图书馆的发展对各种理论的解释不同，但现有的理论存在问题。需要一种新的理论来解释公共图书馆的发展，这是一个政治过程的前景。为了产生这种新理论，从1924年至2016年对美国的区域公共图书馆系统进行了历史案例研究。在该案例的九个时期中，使用了多种数据源和混合方法来确定图书馆发展的原因。调查结果表明，公共图书馆的发展是周期性的。在每个决策周期内，高响应能力是发展变化的必要条件。响应式图书馆系统适应于经辩论合法化的问题并对其采取行动。高响应能力，以及高水平的公民支持，高合法性或低抵抗力，是足以改变的因果配置。该理论意义重大，因为它是可检验的，它使用了新的研究框架和新方法，并且为公共图书馆的发展提供了新的见识。