The Perimeter of Security: Policy as the Bridge between Library Security Philosophy and Library Security Practice

by Wallace, William

This paper is a literature review and analysis of scholarship concerning library security. The paper was composed to present the idea that library security is, actually, composed of two parts: practical security and the philosophy of security. Furthermore, it is suggested that one meaningful way of understanding this idea is in terms of viewing library security policy as a conceptual bridge between the practical and philosophical dimensions of security.

Over twenty pertinent articles are incorporated into the review and synthesis of this paper. Furthermore, substantial supplemental materials are also mentioned. The intent of this review is to provide a detailed view of current scholarship, the terms which are widely used, and the places where a more unified and overarching theory – such as the one presented – might prove useful.