ABSTRACT
The link between heritage and public libraries is largely unexplored territory, despite the increased frequency in recent years of public library authorities adopting or annexing the label 'heritage services'. By virtue of its standing as a 'history' institution, as primarily an accumulator and preserver of knowledge, the public library is more suited than most other cultural agencies to fulfilling a heritage role. Enthusiasm for a 'conservative', heritage mission for public libraries, involving a jettisoning of the more dangerous strains of community librarianship, has emanated from three distinct sources. Political ideologues have been extremely keen to depict public library services as extravagant and over-stretched, in terms of purpose, materials and services offered. The depiction of public libraries as playgrounds rather than as workshops has struck a popular chord among cultural commentators. During the classical era of community librarianship, public librarians often seem to have found it difficult to live up to the radicalism inherent in the philosophy.
