Doing neoliberal things with words in libraries: Toward emending a discourse fashion in LIS | Emerald Insight Books and journals Case studies Expert Briefings Open Access Advanced search Doing neoliberal things with words in libraries: Toward emending a discourse fashion in LIS John Buschman (Department of University Libraries, Seton Hall University, South Orange, New Jersey, USA) Journal of Documentation ISSN: 0022-0418 Publication date: 10 July 2017 Abstract Purpose The purpose of this paper is to flesh out a truncated line of analysis in library and information science (LIS) of language analyses of power in the field. Design/methodology/approach Literature-based conceptual analysis of the problems engendered by neoliberalism in LIS and the productive approach of language analysis of Austin, Habermas, and Smith that allows us to account for neoliberalism’s effects in language and practices – doing things with words. Findings LIS has engaged a productive postmodern analysis of power relations that reflects social and economic progress, but Austin, Habermas, and Smith offer a sensible, practical explanation for the operation of neoliberal hegemony on the practices of librarianship. Originality/value Postmodern analyses are now being deployed in portions of LIS, but they fail to account for the full implications of the dominant public language (and policy and practices) of neoliberalism for librarianship. This is productive exploration of those implications to correct and round out those analyses. Keywords Neoliberalism Higher education Theory Librarianship Academic librarianship Dorothy Smith Educational neoliberalism J.L. Austin Jürgen Habermas Citation Buschman, J. (2017), "Doing neoliberal things with words in libraries: Toward emending a discourse fashion in LIS", Journal of Documentation, Vol. 73 No. 4, pp. 595-617. https://doi.org/10.1108/JD-11-2016-0134 Download as .RIS Publisher : Emerald Publishing Limited Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited Please note you do not have access to teaching notes You may be able to access teaching notes by logging in via Shibboleth, Open Athens or with your Emerald account. Login If you think you should have access to this content, click the button to contact our support team. Contact us To read the full version of this content please select one of the options below You may be able to access this content by logging in via Shibboleth, Open Athens or with your Emerald account. Login To rent this content from Deepdyve, please click the button. Rent from Deepdyve If you think you should have access to this content, click the button to contact our support team. Contact us Opens in new window Opens in new window Opens in new window Opens in new window © 2020 Emerald Publishing Limited Services Authors Opens in new window Editors Opens in new window Librarians Opens in new window Researchers Opens in new window Reviewers Opens in new window About About Emerald Opens in new window Working for Emerald Opens in new window Contact us Opens in new window Publication sitemap Policies and information Privacy notice Site policies Modern Slavery Act Opens in new window Chair of Trustees governance statement Opens in new window COVID-19 policy Opens in new window × Support & Feedback Manage cookies We’re listening — tell us what you think Something didn’t work… Report bugs here All feedback is valuable Please share your general feedback Member of Emerald Engage? You can join in the discussion by joining the community or logging in here. You can also find out more about Emerald Engage. Join us on our journey Platform update page Visit emeraldpublishing.com/platformupdate to discover the latest news and updates Questions & More Information Answers to the most commonly asked questions here