There are a few things you should know about Understanding Public Libraries. First and foremost, it is written from a Marxist-Leninist perspective. That is what makes my analysis new and different. This book is both political and partisan. It forcefully argues that public libraries should serve the proletariat. I will say that again. It is a partisan tract in favour of the working class, and it is written in the name of Marxism- Leninism. I state this for clarity so that there are no misunderstandings. I am being honest here so that there will be no surprises. I make no apologies for taking this approach. After all, most other books about libraries have also been written from a political (capitalist) and partisan (bourgeois) perspective. But the authors of these books do not have to declare this because their work is part of the cultural hegemony or dominant narrative about how society and public libraries ‘naturally’ work. But capitalism is neither ‘natural’ nor permanent. It is a transitory stage on the historical development of society from primitive communism to slavery, feudalism, capitalism, socialism and communism. History did not end with the advent of capitalism. There are still two stages to come. Understanding Public Libraries raises high the banner of Marxism-Leninism and constitutes a true and tested guide for public librarianship, the working class and the glorious future of communism.

Many of you may be unfamiliar with the concept of dialectical materialism, which is the world-view of Marxism-Leninism and the lens through which public libraries are analysed in this study.