| Using the method recommended by Neustadt and May, and informed by Jones's analytical framework, this dissertation examines the process of enacting the Israeli Public Libraries Law 5735-1975, identifying the factors, organizations and personalities that influenced the development of public libraries and assessing their role in the enactment process.; Until 1960, public library services were provided by few municipalities and by the Histadrut. During the early 1950s, the Ministry of Education and Culture failed in its attempts to develop a national public library infrastructure and to enact public library legislation. Led by Wormann, the key advances during this decade were the establishment of the Israeli Library Association and the opening of the Graduate School of Library Services at the Hebrew University.; During the 1960s, library policies of the ministers of education and culture as pragmatically implemented by Golan with Wormann's professional counseling, and the planning process of model regional libraries funded by the Rothschild Foundation, provided a practical impetus for adopting internationally recommended policies and led to the development of public libraries.; Legislation initiatives started, in the 1950s, with lobbying by the Israel Library Association, carried on by Knesset member Tsabari, and progressed by Eban's initiative to place the issue on the agenda of the Knesset. In 1963, the Knesset Committee on Education and Culture recommended to enact library legislation. In 1968, the bill was formulated and submitted to Minister Aranne. In 1972, it was presented to the Knesset by Minister Allon, and Minister Yadlin saw the enactment of the law in 1975 by conceding to demands of pressure groups.; Throughout the period, while there were interest groups, such as the Hebrew Writers Association and the Publishes Association, which supported the enactment of the law, there was a strong opposition to it from the government Ministers of Finance and of the Interior, the Histadrut and the Center of Local Authorities. The demands made by interest groups affected the essence of the law by forcing numerous revisions. The resulted law, rather than being mandatory, presents a policy statement. |
