This book outlines the various ways in which public libraries have become entangled in visions of the 'smart city', where densely networked, ubiquitous connectivity promises urban prosperity built on efficiency, innovation and new avenues for civic participation. Drawing on theoretical analysis and interviews with library professionals, policymakers, and users, it examines the inevitable tensions emerging when a public institution dedicated to universal access to knowledge and a shared public culture intersects with the technology-driven, entrepreneurialist ideals of the smart city.