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Denna kvalitativa studies syfte är att fördjupa kunskapen om hur bibliotekspersonal väljer böcker till sagostunder för barn i åldern 3-6 år, samt vilka idéer och värderingar som påverkar bokvalet. Bakgrunden till frågeställningarna tar avstamp i den litteraturdidaktiska diskussionen om kvalitetslitteratur samt FN:s barnkonvention. Det empiriska materialet utgörs av tre observationer av sagostunder samt fyra semistrukturerade intervjuer med bibliotekarier på fyra olika folkbibliotek i en kommun. Materialet har analyserats med tematisk analys, med Catarina Erikssons fyra idealtyper över olika synsätt på barnbiblioteket som teoretiskt ramverk. Studien tyder på att bibliotekarier främst hittar böcker till sagostunderna genom hantering av barnböcker i det dagliga arbetet, browsing i bibliotekets hyllor och genom tips från kollegor. Personlig smak, variation, representation samt barngruppens sammansättning visar sig vara viktiga överväganden som bibliotekarierna förhåller sig till i samband med bokvalet. De mest framträdande idealtyperna i vårt material är den musiska och den egaliserande. Barn är sällan direkt delaktiga i urvalsprocessen, men ofta indirekt delaktiga genom att deras reaktioner och preferenser tas tillvara.

Med färre platsbaserade kontor att ta sina frågor till kommer allt fler besökare till folkbiblioteken för att få stöd och assistans. Enligt tidigare forskning agerar folkbiblioteken som medborgarkontor, där de hanterar ärenden utanför deras uppdrag och deras kompetens. Forskning har även visat en koppling mellan denna typ av arbete och emotional labour, eller emotionellt arbete, och detta begrepp är den huvudsakliga teorin uppsatsen utgår från, som beskrivet i Hochschilds The Managed Heart (2012). Syftet med denna uppsats är att undersöka bibliotekariers upplevelse och erfarenhet av medborgarärenden på folkbibliotek och de känslor som kan framkomma av arbetet. För att genomföra det utfördes semistrukturerade intervjuer med folkbibliotekarier från diverse olika arbetsplatser i en mellanstor stad i Sverige, sedan en tematisk analys. Analysen visar att bibliotekarier delar många känslor och upplevelser, där de mest prevalenta var en frustration mot andra instanser i samhället, att balansera riktlinjer och värderingar, bristande kommunikationen mellan biblioteket och andra aktörer, och användningen av känslohanteringsstrategier. En respondents erfarenheter, från ett bibliotek med särskiljande hantering av medborgarärenden, diskuteras med särskilt fokus i analysen som kontrast mot övriga respondenter. Resultaten är relevanta för både utveckling av forskning och för den praktiska verksamheten.

Den här uppsatsen har undersökt hur förändringsprocessen gick till när folkbibliotek skapade Tiktok-konton och vilka faktorer som spelade roll för kontos upprätthållning. Studien undersökte också hur bibliotekens konton på plattformen har förändrat biblioteksverksamheten enligt folkbibliotekarien. Urvalet till studien var folkbibliotekarier och datainsamlingen skedde genom semistrukturerade intervjuer som sedan analyserades med hjälp av en tematisk analys. Studiens teoretiska ramverk var begreppet förändring samt Lewins förändringsprocessmodell. Analysen visade att alla folkbiblioteken gick igenom en förändringsprocess och följde i stort sett de två första faserna av förändringsprocessmodellen. Faktorer som tidsbrist, motivation och stöd från kollegor och chefer visade sig påverka bibliotekens konton på Tiktok och dess upprätthållning. Analysen visade vidare att folkbibliotekens användning av Tiktok hade en stor påverkan på biblioteksverksamheten där förändringar har skett bland annat på bibliotekens hyllor och deras inköp och utbud. Det har även framkommit att folkbibliotekarierna anser att Tiktok kommer att fortsätta förändra verksamheten fastän de personligen slutar vara aktiva på plattformen.

Sweden has a growing population of individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds, many of whom belong to minority groups. Public libraries serve the mission of being accessible to everyone, regardless of background, origin, or identity. Amongst Swedish library institutions, there is an evident desire and goal to become more relevant to the diverse communities of society. In this thesis Montiel Overall’s conceptual framework for cultural competence is utilized to explore such knowledge and abilities within diversity projects carried out by public libraries, financed by the Swedish Arts Council (Kulturrådet). The aim of this work is to provide insight into existing practice within diversity projects to ascertain what effort might presently be omitted or overlooked in order to provide useful information for the success of future projects and endeavours. Seven library projects have been analysed and project managers from six of them have been interviewed. The seventh project has two published reports, which have been utilized as data. The study shows that libraries have applied several different methods to become more relevant to diverse populations. The analysed projects focused on either public outreach or increased representation within the institutions. Some of the libraries focused on finding new places and settings to spread information about existing library services, whilst others committed to adjust and accommodate to the needs of minority populations. Furthermore, the study shows that a clear definition of cultural competence is absent in the Swedish library context. The studied projects shows that several elements, which are considered critical by researchers, are largely missing. Other elements are partially evident and still others are generally adopted and well used. This thesis argues that although considerable efforts have been made to meet the needs of minorities, continuing education, broad discussion within the field and courage to change and evolve

Libraries have become increasingly important meeting places within a changing urban landscape for our senses and as a physical expression of the city's collective values, all gathered in a single building. This thesis explores the concept of the library as a place within the broader context of fostering creativity and innovation. The study aims to investigate the dynamic interplay between space and the library, and how this relationship can promote active creative output and exchange of ideas. Grounded in theories of space and place as factors that generate and prescribe meaning, the research focuses on how library operations engage with their spatiality and how both the physical and psychological spaces impact library users. By examining libraries as spaces that reflect our prejudices and expectations of what a library should be and look like to function effectively, this thesis questions how these perceptions influence the future of libraries as our expectations evolve. The study is guided by the following research questions: Can the public library space be defined as part of the public sphere, where communicative action is practiced through the free exchange of ideas? What role does the librarian play within the library space to ensure its functionality? What is the role of the library as a place when users do not need to visit the building to access its services and resources? What makes the library's functions identifiable? Employing the theories of Jürgen Habermas, Henri Lefebvre, and Yi-Fu Tuan, the thesis examines the library space as a democratic meeting place in alignment with Swedish library law. It analyzes the library as part of the public sphere and its potential to become a "third space" for social interaction. The study delves into Lefebvre's concept of social space, exploring how physical presence influences spatial experiences and how space is reproduced through use. Additionally, it considers how the arrangement and valuation of materials within t

Digitaliseringen har en stor inverkan på samhället, inte minst på folkbiblioteken då uppdraget som informationsförmedlare och även i viss mån utbildare påverkas av att alltmer information är digital. Samtidigt går den digitala utvecklingen snabbt framåt och alla aspekter av den har inte varit enbart positiva, därmed finns det risker med att följa med utvecklingen utan att reflektera över vilka konsekvenser det har för bibliotekens verksamhet. Syftet med uppsatsen är att undersöka hur folkbiblioteken och dess huvudmän ser på bibliotekens uppdrag i relation till digitaliseringen utifrån vilka diskurser som skrivs fram i deras biblioteksplaner. Studien genomfördes med hjälp av Carol Bacchis diskursanalys What’s the problem represented to be-ansats. Det empiriska materialet består av åtta biblioteksplaner från olika kommuner i Sverige. I resultatdelen kategoriserades materialet under de tre huvudrubrikerna Tillgänglighet, Delaktighet och Bibliotekens utveckling. Slutsatsen av studien är att digitaliseringen tar upp en stor del av planerna och att digitaliseringen beskrivs i övervägande positiva ordalag, det övergripande målet är att inlemma medborgarna i det digitala samhället och att utveckla biblioteksverksamheten till att innefatta fler digitala medier och verktyg för att tillgodose användarnas behov. Genom att i planerna peka ut de grupper som de står längst utanför det digitala samhället framställs de som problem, vilket i sin tur leder till en hierarki där de som inte deltar i det digitala samhället ses som mindre bildade och mindre demokratiska, samt har svårare att få anställning. Ett alternativt sätt att se på problemrepresentationerna är att ifrågasätta vinsterna i att delta i det digitala samhället, samt att ifrågasätta att personer som inte är med i det digitala samhället ses som problemet snarare än en digital plats som otillgänglig., Digitalization has a significant impact on society, particularly on public libraries, as their role as information providers and, to some extent, educators is affected by the increasing amount of digital information. At the same time, digital development is advancing rapidly, and not all aspects of it have been entirely positive. Thus, there are risks associated with keeping pace with this development without reflecting on its consequences for library operations. The purpose of this thesis is to examine how public libraries and their governing bodies perceive the libraries' mission in relation to digitalization, based on the discourses presented in their library policy documents. The study was conducted using Carol Bacchi's discourse analysis What’s the problem represented to be? Approach. The empirical material consists of eight library policy documents from different municipalities in Sweden. In the results section, the material was categorized under the three main headings: Accessibility, Participation, and Library Development. The conclusion of the study is that digitalization occupies a significant portion of the plans and is described in predominantly positive terms. The overarching goal is to integrate citizens into the digital society and to develop library services to include more digital media and tools to meet users' needs. By pointing out in the plans the groups that stand furthest outside the digital society, they are presented as problems, which in turn leads to a hierarchy where those who do not participate in the digital society are seen as less educated and less democratic and have harder to get a job. An alternative way of looking at the problem representations is to question the gains in participating in the digital society, as well as to question that people who are not part of the digital society are seen as the problem rather than a digital place as inaccessible.

This study aims to understand the selection of media that shapes the classics sections of Stockholms public libraries. Using a hermeneutic approach and texts by Sainte-Beuve, Eliot and Coetzee, the study interrogates a list of all media placed in the classics section from angles pertaining to genre, language and time. The study also compares the selection to that of the required reading for a basic course about the history of literature at Stockholm university. Some of the findings are: the classics section mostly contains novels, most of the material is translated to Swedish and there is little representation of literature before the 19th century. Part of this is attributed to the material limitations of books, and the contingent organization of library shelves. The comparison to the required reading shows a complicated relationship between the concept of the Classic and the History of literature

This master’s thesis is a case study investigating the career and ideology of Virginia Carini Dainotti, a librarian working in twentieth-century Italy who played a significant role in Italian librarianship. This study has been carried out through textual analysis and is primarily based on the material written by Carini Dainotti herself, including both articles and monographs. These documents were extensively used to understand her contribution to the establishment of the American public library model in Italy. This master’s thesis finds that Virginia Carini Dainotti has played a significant role in the Italian library field. Her particular attention to the needs of young adults and adults, her openness to international experiences and her view of the public library as a socio-educational tool marked her out as an innovator compared to the 20th-century Italian state of the field.

The purpose of the study is to gain insight into the activities of the Gothenburg public library for those with a language other than Swedish as their mother tongue. By examining the years 2014 and 2022 the aim is to understand if and how the activities have changed following the events in Sweden in 2015. The empirical data consists of 13 selected documents and seven semi-structured interviews. A qualitative content analysis has been conducted on both the documents and interviews. The theoretical framework is based on previous research but also includes governance and implementation theory. Governance is illuminated through the selected documents, while implementation is illuminated through the interviews. The results show very little change in governance after 2015. The interviews reveal mixed opinions regarding implementation, but what stands out primarily is how governance often does not function effectively in practice.

The aim of this study is to increase knowledge on how librarians in Sweden can use the method “barnlitterära vandringar” (children literary walks, editor’s translation) for literacy and reading promotion for children and youth. The method hasn’t earlier been investigated in a library context. The study explores the experiences of librarians participating in a method workshop and their planning and application of the method at the libraries with children and youth. The study also includes an interview with Maria Nikolajeva, the creator of the method, to explain the scientific background and content of the method. The theoretical framework is based on concepts of fantasy and dramatizing, multimodality, literacy practices and three approaches to reading. The empirical material was col-lected with semi-structured interviews and the analysis was conducted with thematic analysis. The results show how the informants can implement the method when working with children and how the method workshop has changed their perspective and way to work with reading promotion. The study's conclusion is that the method complies with the library's mission, it is a method that is adaptable for children. The study also shows that the method requires a lot of resources in terms of time and staffing when implemented with children. The study high-lights the advantages and disadvantages of organizing children's literary walks as a reading promotional activity in an outdoor environment. It shows an insecurity connected to the method's name and how to market it to partic-ipants. The method includes multimodal elements that enable different literacy practices and can promote reading in different ways, such as increased book lending and an enhanced reading experience. Through adaptations the method can be used for all three approaches to reading. This is a two years master´s thesis in Library and Information Science.

This study aims to uncover the effects that the implementation of the media management system IMMS, a floating collection and centralised acquisitions has had on the professional identity of the librarians at Biblioteken i Malmö (BiM). The data collection method used is semi structured qualitative interviews with librarians and the data has been analysed using qualitative content analysis. The theoretical framework used in this study is Andrew Abbott’s (1988) professions theory, especially the concept of jurisdiction, as described in his book The System of Professions. The findings show that the implementations have led to changes in the librarians’ work, especially connected to acquisitions, where most of them have either stopped working with acquisitions or have had their acquisitions work be expanded to acquiring media for the whole organisation instead of just for their local branch. The implementations have led to a decrease in collection knowledge, which has been interpreted to imply a decrease in jurisdiction for the profession. There have also been findings implying a change towards a more quantitative view of books due to the conditions if IMMS, which is experienced by the librarians to make their expertise feel less important. The study participants have also described a lack of communication from the management and feel that they, as a profession in the organisation, are not being heard or valued.

This study aims to examine, from a User Experience (UX) perspective, Swedish public libraries’ work with the design of their physical space. UX originally belongs in a digital context but can currently, in articles and literature, also be seen applied to a physical context. The previous research concerning UX and libraries is mainly focused on individual library units in the form of case studies, where most libraries are university libraries. The main focus for UX is that the design is based on the users needs, which is in agreement with the user-centered work that the libraries operate based on the Swedish Library Act. The study has collected the empirical evidence with questionnaires sent to libraries in all regions of Sweden. The results from these are then presented in a thematic analysis. Based on concepts taken from UX, together with a theoretical framework based on environmental psychology and Human-Centered Design (HCD), the collected empirical evidence has been reviewed and analyzed. The conclusions of the study shows that the work with user adaptation of the physical library space is widespread, however, there is often a lack of design competence for libraries to be able to bridge the gap between their users needs and the shaping of the library space. The study has also shown that UX in a library context is primarily about working with accessibility, at the same time it shows that librarians have a complex task in looking partly at the user but also at a larger operational context.

Previous studies have shown that social workers in public libraries in the United States are beneficial for improving the work environment of the library staff, referring patrons to social service agencies, or assisting patrons in crisis. In 2021, the first library social worker was employed at a Swedish public library, Stockholms City Library. In the following year, 2022, another social worker was hired at Örebro City Library. There is limited research in the field of social work at Swedish public libraries. The aim of this study was to fill the knowledge gap and create an understanding of the profession of library social worker in Swedish public librar-ies. A qualitative research method was used that consisted of 15 interviews with the management staff, librarians and, as of writing, the only two library social workers in Stockholms City Library and Örebro City Library. Other management staff and librarians that worked in other public libraries in Sweden were also interviewed. In addition to the interviews the study was also supplemented with a document analysis of two reports from Stockholm city and Örebro Municipality. The results were analyzed through organizational theory, collaboration theory as well as professions theory. Through the qualitative method and theoretical framework, a comprehensive picture of library social work as a profession was created, including the factors behind the hiring of social workers in Swedish public libraries and how the informants perceive the future potential of the profession in Sweden. The need for library social workers is found to be rooted in a changing society and professional challenges faced by librarians. Library staff regularly engage with a large number of patrons with different needs every day, includ-ing socially vulnerable individuals who often seek refuge in the library. It underscores the demand for personnel equipped with social expertise, such as that of a social worker. The future of the profession of library

This study explores the evolving role of public librarians, specifically focusing on their perspectives on competence development. The field of librarianship has undergone significant transformation in response to the digital age, leading to discussions about the future of the librarian profession. Public librarians now face multifaceted responsibilities, necessitating continuous competence development to meet dynamic user needs and adapt to shifting information landscapes. The study, positioned within the Swedish library sphere, employs qualitative methods, primarily semi-structured interviews, to uncover librarians’ perceptions and experiences, and identified needs for competence development. Acknowledging the challenges in the evolving information landscape, the research delves into how public librarians perceive competence development, their methods of engagement, utilized resources and the specific competencies deemed to crucial for improving library services. The aim is to contribute a nuanced understanding of public librarians’ perspectives on competence development. The study identifies diverse viewpoints and aims to identify patterns and factors influencing librarian’s engagement and perceived needs. Although results are not intended for broad generalization due to the limited sample, they are expected to contribute to the broader understanding of and discussion on public librarian’s competence development. The relevance of this study extends beyond academia, impacting the library sphere and librarians’ professional development. Insights gained from exploring librarians’ perspectives and competence development needs are crucial for designing effective programs that enhance library services and meet societal information needs. In conclusion, this qualitative study aims to provide valuable insights into the complexities of public librarians’ views on competence development, contributing to the broader discourse on the librarian’s evolving role and the societa

This master thesis explores how six public libraries in Sweden work with music through an interview study. All interviewed libraries worked in some way with music, but as there are no strict national guidelines concerning music in public libraries the libraries are free to choose how and if they want to work with music. Traditional music work took place in all the interviewed libraries: circulations of CDs, sheet music and music literature as well as music events and programs. The four libraries that catered to children had music sessions to improve literacy and reading amongst children. The libraries also worked with music in less traditional ways. Examples of this are: instrument lending, lending of concert tickets and access to rooms for the library visitor to practice their own or the libraries musical instruments in. What type of music activity and to what extent depended largely on the librarians’ own skills and engagement. Several libraries also collaborated with music institutions to be able to provide musical instruments or musical experiences to their users. One of the most difficult problems for the libraries to overcome is the change in people’s music-listening behaviour, stemming from the move from CDs to streaming platforms. CDs that previously were the pillar of the library’s music sections are now less relevant and if the libraries want to keep working with music, they need to find new ways to do so. All informants were positive to their library’s music-related work even though they sometimes experienced hardship. These struggles mainly concerned lack of budget, resources, and reach. Music work in libraries can and should be developed further as it is both beneficial and appreciated.

The thesis focuses on purchasing strategies at Swedish public libraries. By applying professional theory, gatekeeping theory, and the theory of tacit knowledge, the study highlights the challenges and power dynamics that influence the selection of literature purchases in library collections. My research problem consists of a hypothesis where public librarians are seen as gatekeepers, which can have a direct or indirect impact on the purchases made, presenting a democratic dilemma. Previous research has shown that there is a lack of clear guidelines on how purchases should be handled, and where the library law can be interpreted differently. The purpose of my thesis is to examine the perspectives of librarians and see if there are variations between different libraries regarding purchasing strategies, as well as highlight what might underlie these differences. My source material includes interviews, media plans/media policies, library plans, and I conduct a qualitative case study. From the results of the study, I conclude that certain differences exist between various public libraries, and this depends on whether decisions are made individually by a purchasing manager or by a purchasing group, as well as factors such as experience, time constraints, and budget that influence purchasing strategies. The impact and differences based on the political governance in the municipality where the public libraries are located proved to be relatively small. I argue that there is some evidence to view librarians as gatekeepers and that this affects the collections in Swedish public libraries.

The purpose and aim of this study was to examine how lgbtq+-people view the Swedish public library as a safe place, and what part the librarians behavior towards this group played in this. A questionnaire was sent out to multiple social media groups aimed towards lgbtq+-people in Sweden, as well as a few acquaintances of the authors that fit the target group. The questionnaire garnered 47 answers. The theory used for analyzing the results of the study was Wexelbaums ideas and principles around “the library as safe space”, viewed through a queer theory lens. The results found that the respondents primarily felt that the Swedish public library is a safe place, some to the degree of questioning why it wouldn’t be. The results also indicate that the librarians behavior towards the group play a big part in these feelings.

Abstrakt Engelsk titel: Digital reading promotion for adults -a qualitative interview study This study aims to analyse how librarians in Swedish public libraries utilize digital media to promote reading among adults. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with librarians in southern and central Sweden. This study uses a practice-theoretical approach by analysing the data through the concepts of material, competenses and meaning. The findings include a generally positive view on digital media, which are primarily used to enhance accessibility for the elderly and inidividuals with reading disabilities. Furthermore, the findings include that the printed book is still the primary format used in library programs. This might be due to the high cost of certain types of digital media, for example the cost of e-books, as well as practical reasons which makes printed books easier to use in library reading promotion.

Our thesis is based on studies of librarians' and preschool teachers' experiences with reading promotion work in a preschool library setting. The theoretical framework is founded on a social construction perspective, which means that our perceptions of reality are socially constructed. The empirical material includes three group interviews, each consisting of a librarian and a preschool teacher. The study is conducted in three different Swedish municipalities, representing both established and newly started initiatives that involve collaboration between librarians and preschool teachers. A qualitative content analysis was undertaken, and the empirical material was interpreted with an analytical focus on the concepts of Institutionalization, typification and objectification. The study shows that the preschool library as an institution is strengthened and reinforced depending on the level of support it receives in policy documents. Reading is described as promoting enjoyable reading, imagination and language development. All informants believe that these different purposes of reading go hand in hand and that children need both aspects. In face-to-face interactions, librarians support preschool teachers by sharing their knowledge, with a focus on literature and reading, which enhances and improves the quality of preschool activities through the preschool library initiative.

This master thesis investigates how the Swedish regional libraries are perceived as support for public libraries in their work with competence development and the libraries' ability to utilise this support. It focuses on the strate­gies, and obstacles involved in implementing new knowledge following the activities. The thesis uses mixed methods, including both a quantitative questionnaire and qualitative interviews con­ducted. The questionnaire was aimed towards workers in public libraries while the interviews were conducted primarily with public library managers. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were carried out on the data, which related to 537 questionnaire respondents and five interviews. The theory used in the analysis covers organizational theory and Jay Hall’s model of the competence process. The study reveals that the organisation around competence development varies depending on the type of activity and library. Follow-up is commonly conducted through meeting structures or written reports. Successful implementation strategies include fostering a positive work environment and thorough pre-planning, while major obstacles are primarily resource constraints and a lack of clear alignment with the organisation's goal. Continued education provided by the regional libraries are generally viewed positively, examples that they do not always meet local needs. The regional libraries are described as organising a substantial number of activities, which do not always align proportionately with the worker's capacity to participate. This thesis provides a deeper understanding of the competence development efforts in public libraries and the role of regional libraries as a support function. This is a two years master’s thesis in Library and Information Science.

Introduction: The first aim of this study is to gain more knowledge about why public libraries choose to organize reading groups for adults. The second aim is to shed light on the possible transformative potential of public libraries’reading groups for adults. Method: Semi-structured interviews with six librarians at Bibliotek Uppsala were conducted. Three of the librarians had an overall responsibility for the reading group activities within the organization. The other three librarians led reading groups themselves. The interviews were recorded and transcribed. Analysis: A thematic content analysis was conducted to interpret the transcripts of the interviews. Results: The librarians’ thoughts regarding what participants can gain from reading groups were categorized within the following themes: They can inspire more or more extensive reading, they can promote democracy and participation, they can encourage people to meet and fulfill an important social function, they can promote health, personal growth, and can give the participants new perspectives. This is largely consistent with previous studies reagarding what participants themselves state reading groups contribute to their lives. The result further shows that there are many favorable conditions for transformative learning within the library’s reading groups. Conclusion: The librarians see that the reading groups can fulfill more functions than promoting reading. Among other things, they point out that the reading groups, for several different reasons, are in line with the library’s democratic mission. Based on the theory of transformative learning, it is possible to see the potential of reading grups to promote critical reflection. According to the theory of transformative learning, it is believed that it is of the utmost importance that citizens of democratic societies develop their critical thinking. Thus, reading groups that develop the participants' ability to reflect could therefore also be justified on t

The aim of this thesis is to develop an understanding of the marketing culture of public libraries in Sweden. This is accomplished through an analysis of the marketing knowledge, perceptions, and practices among public library staff. The thesis is based on the notion that a marketing culture which permeates the entire staff is necessary for effective marketing and a higher user satisfaction. This study defines marketing culture as an integral part of an organization's overall culture. It encompasses shared attitudes, values, and knowledge-based beliefs that guide how the organization engages in marketing activities. A total of eight interviews were conducted with library staff from four different municipalities. A document review was also conducted to gain a broader insight into the issue, consisting of library plans and policy documents related to communication. A notable finding of this study is the varying levels of marketing knowledge among library staff. While some demonstrate a comprehensive understanding, others conflate marketing with communication or primarily associate it with advertising and sales. This underscores the persistence of misconceptions about marketing among library staff. Surprisingly, many respondents do not perceive the marketing concept as problematic for libraries, indicating a growing acceptance. However, some informants point out that not all their colleagues share this perspective. This study also reveals that the libraries fall short when it comes to performing user research and evaluation of marketing activities. Notably, only the public libraries in Stockholm have a communication plan with goals explicitly linked to the library's overarching objectives. Perhaps by employing staff with marketing expertise and establishing well-defined marketing objectives, the marketing efforts can become more effective and reach a wider audience. This is a two years master’s thesis in Library and Information Science.

The aim of this Master thesis is to examine the challenges public libraries face when implementing makerspaces into their library services, focusing on organizational issues. Our empirical material was derived from document analysis and semi-structured interviews with public library employees connected to makerspace activities in five libraries throughout Sweden. Our chosen subject emerged from a perceived lack of critical studies connected to introducing makerspaces in a public library setting, and also a scarcity of literature that speak of how the implementation needs to be organizationally sustainable long term. We have identified organizational challenges such as policy strategies, allocation of resources, as well as societal views on the changes in public library activities that makerspaces contribute to, and through qualitative content analysis based on our theoretical framework of organizational theories, the empirical material is analyzed. The results of the study show that long term planning of both financial and human resources is needed for public libraries to implement makerspaces that are sustainable in the long run. We can also conclude that it is of importance for public libraries to include makerspaces in official policy documents, to avoid questioning and to show how the connection to the Swedish library law is evident.

The purpose of this master thesis is to design a good practice for a bibliotherapeutic conversation series in a public library, regarding its preparation and implementation. Action research and its method cycles of inquiry is being used on a testing activity called The line of life. It is a bibliotherapeutic conversation series in five sessions prepared and conducted in the Verner Aspenström – library of Smedjebacken in spring 2024. This study is a contribution to the use of action research in the setting of a public library, and the goal is to develop and improve a practice. The testing activity, The line of life, is documented through my participant observation and journaling, and through the participants own journalling after the last session. In this thesis the action study is reported in a chronological manner. A thematic analysis follows, considering both the perspective of my own and of the participants. The analysis leads to general recommendations in which the following aspects are discussed: Information management, internal and external The value of being present Selection of literature and reading Access to texts and books Room for the bibliotherapy meetings The group The expenditure of time The conversation Many different paths and choices can be taken in the preparation and implementation of a bibliotherapeutic conversation series. These recommendations are grounded in practice, and maybe they can give some courage and confidence to librarians and public libraries who wishes to offer bibliotherapy as a part of their range of activities.

Swedish public libraries have a clear mission to offer services which aim to increase the digital literacy among its users. This mission raises questions about how librarians describe the social practices of digital literacy training. This study is specifically focused on digital literacy training for seniors at Swedish public libraries. Qualitative semi-structured interviews with eight librarians and library associates and assistants were conducted and analyzed using direct content analysis, with a theoretical perspective of practice theory and digital care work. In a digitized society, unaccustomed senior users risk being shut out of social institutions and rely on the guidance of the public library. An important aspect of this is the ability to approach the problem from the user’s point of view and understand what they wish to learn. By helping the senior users to make an informed choice about digital technologies place in their lives, librarians help create an understanding for the digitized society. Librarians furthermore must handle the users emotions around digital technologies, since being unable to use them generates a negative self-image. Librarians can counteract negative stereotypes about seniors by encouraging seniors to become more engaged with digital technologies. Libraries and librarians can thereby be viewed as digital ambassadors. By acting as digital ambassadors for the digitized society, librarians can help seniors to increase their digital literacy.

The aim of this thesis is to gain insights into which competencies librarians working at public libraries with makerspaces consider important to possess in order to perform their work, and how and from where they acquire these competencies. The study also examines whether the Swedish Library & Information science education has prepared the librarians in this study for this type of work. The method used is semi-structured interviews. The respondents are four librarians working at public libraries with makerspaces. The theoretical framework is Knud Illeris' expanded concept of competence. The findings show that the Library & Information science education prepares librarians with a basic approach needed to work in all types of libraries. Another finding is that competence development to cultivate the skills needed to specifically work in public libraries with makerspaces occurs more through networks and personal environmental monitoring. The study also concludes that specific skills and competencies needed for working in makerspaces are rather linked to qualities and attitudes related to the ability to acquire the competencies needed for the work such as curiosity, creativity, flexibility, social and pedagogical skills and ability to structure and organize one's work. The study also shows that organizational and collegial support are important for cultivating relevant competencies and developing the makerspace. The participants in the study request that the Library & Information science education should focus more on the learning situation, technology, and project management. Future research should focus more deeply on the challenges these librarians meet in this new type of libraries.

This essay seeks to investigate how the public libraries of Sweden market and advertise their services to the public and what circumstances effect that work. The method to investigate this was chosen to be a qualitative inquiry through interviewing six different employees of the Swedish public libraries, all who had different circumstances surrounding the advertising work they did at their respective libraries. The results of the interviews showed that the circumstances in which the different informants worked with marketing varied to several degrees and so their marketing work did also vary greatly. The conclusion of the essay was that most Swedish libraries seem to work with marketing in their own unique way and that the main circumstances that affected this work were dependent on the libraries budget, guidance from their leadership and the librarians marketing knowledge.

Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka hur bibliotekarier upplever tryggheten på sin arbetsplats och hur eventuell otrygghet kan påverka dem. Det är en kvalitativ intervjustudie bestående av semistrukturerade intervjuer för att komma så nära bibliotekariernas personliga erfarenhet som möjligt. Intervjuerna analyseras sedan tematiskt med grund i teorier om imagined victimisation och psykologisk trygghet. Studien visar att bibliotekarierna känner sig trygga, men att det ibland sker händelser som gör dem osäkra och otrygga. Det upptäcks också att det finns viss osäkerhet kring handlingsplaner och vilka åtgärder som kan vidtas vid otrygga händelser.

Flera studier visar att en del ungdomar har en negativ och föråldrad inställning till vad folkbiblioteket är och erbjuder. Till detta framkommer det även att folkbibliotekarier tycker att ungdomar är en svår målgrupp att arbeta mot. Dock har folkbiblioteken en vägledande roll när det kommer till utvecklandet av barn och ungdomars läsförmåga och kunskapsinhämtning där det finns studier som visar att utformningen av biblioteksrummet påverkar ungdomars läsning. Därför är syftet med denna studie att undersöka hur folkbibliotekarier arbetar med målgruppen ungdomar genom sitt arbete med biblioteksrummet och hur detta arbete är tänkt att påverka ungdomars läsning. I denna studie har semistrukturerade samtalsintervjuer används som metod tillsammans med en miniobservation för att samla in empiriskt mateiral ifrån sju folkbibliotek. Resultatet för denna stuide har analyserats genom ett rumsligt teoretiskt ramverk med Henri Lefebvres rumsliga enhetsteori. Studiens resultat visar att det är viktigt att arbeta med biblioteksrummet för att kunna påverka ungdomars läsning. För att kunna arbeta läsfrämjande med målgruppen ungdomar behöver man utforma biblioteksrummet som en trygg plats med låga trösklar och skapa relationer till ungdomarna., Several studies show that some young people have a negative and outdated attitude towards what the public library is and offers. In addition, it appears that public librarians think that young people are a difficult target group to work with. However, public libraries have a guiding role when it comes to the development of children´s and young people´s reading ability and knowledge acquisition, where are studies that show that the design of the library room affects young people´s reading. Therefore, the purpose of this studiy is to investigate how public librarians work with the target group of young people through their work with the library room and how this work is intended to affect young people´s reading. In this study, semi-structured interviews have been used as a method together with a mini-observation to collect empirical material from seven public libraries. The results of this study have been analyzed through a spatial theoretical framework with Henri Lefebvre´s spatial theory of unity. The resutls of the study show that it is important to work with the library space in order to influence young people´s reading. To be able to work to promote reading with the target group of young people, you need to design the library room as a safe place with low thresholds and create relationships with the young people.

Studiens syfte var att undersöka barns egen kunskapsorganisation. Tidigare studier visar att när barns röster tas till vara i utformningen blir det möjligt att skapa kunskapsorganisationssystem som är bättre anpassade efter barns informationssökning. Studien sökte att besvara följande forskningsfrågor. Hur väljer barn själva att strukturera information? Hur kommer det sig att de sorterar information på det sätt de gör? Hur förhåller sig barnens egen klassifikation till de system som används på biblioteken idag? I syfte att besvara dessa frågor tillämpades två olika metoder tillsammans med en grupp barn som var regelbundna deltagare i ett anonymt folkbiblioteks biblioteksklubb. Coopers metod för att undersöka hur barn kategoriserar information i ett bibliotek användes för att samla in data om barns egen kunskapsorganisation. Fokusgrupper användes som metod för att generera data om hur barnen tänkte kring sorteringen. Den insamlade datan analyserades med hjälp av tidigare forskning och de teoretiska begreppen becomings och beings och barnperspektiv och barns perspektiv. Resultaten visar att omslagsbilder var oerhört viktiga för hur barnen valde att sortera böcker, viktigare än ex. baksidestext. Linjen mellan fack- och skönlitteratur ärbetydligt mjukare för barn än för både vuxna och klassifikationssystemen SAB och DDK.Tidigare erfarenheter utgör också en viktig variabel för barnens kategorisering, bland annatgenom att deras genreförståelse informeras av tidigare erfarenheter från andra medier. Huruvida barnen tolkade en boks innehåll som påhittat eller inte hade också det avgörande effekt på hur de valde att sortera.

Changes in society are reflected in librarians' daily work which means they have to continue to develop their competencies after their education in library and information science. Continuing professional development (CPD) via digital resources is a contemporary form of CPD that comes with both opportunities and limitations. The aim of the study is to deepen the knowledge about public librarians' experience with CPD with focus on CPD via digital resources. The study has a focus on Digiteket, which is a digital learning platform that is relatively unexplored. The theoretical framework of the study consists of the concepts of CPD and professional learning experience from which the theoretical tools have been drawn. The theoretical tools consist of a table of CPD methods and activities and also personas, which are used in the analysis. The empirical material of the study consists of semi structured interviews with five public librarians. The result shows that Digiteket is used in a variety of ways and to varying extent and that there are limitations with the plattform. Other digital resources are common for CPD and time and resources are two adversities for CPD opportunities. Self-directed and informal methods and activities were the most common, and the curious ad hoc learner persona corresponded the most with the respondents, which was shown in the analysis and conclusions. Another conclusion was that Digiteket was not the most used resource for CPD among the respondents.

Rapporter från fackorganisationer och vetenskapliga studier visar att bibliotekarier är en stressad yrkesgrupp. Denna studie undersöker hur folkbibliotekarier beskriver sina upplevelser av stress främst i möten med användare och hur denna stress hanteras av folkbibliotekarierna. Åtta semistrukturerade intervjuer med folkbibliotekarier genomfördes, varpå det empiriska resultatet analyserades utifrån rollstressteorin som myntat sav Kahn et al. (1964). Syftet med studien är att bidra till en djupare förståelse för folkbibliotekariers stress, och hur dessa upplevelser och hantering av stress kan förstås utifrån rollstressteorin. De mest framträdande stressfaktorerna i användarmöten är kommunikationssvårigheter, gränssättning i service och när många användare efterfrågar hjälp samtidigt. Studiens resultat visar även att arbetsuppgifter utanför användarmöten såsom arbete med bibliotekens uppdrag, planering av aktiviteter och program, beståndsarbete pekas av över hälften av folkbibliotekarierna ut som mer stressande än användarmöten. Resultatet visar även att folkbibliotekarierna har flera metoder för att hantera stress. Analysen av det empiriska resultatet visar på indikationer av rollstress i form av rollkonflikt, rolloklarhet och rollöverbelastning., Reports from trade unions and scientific studies show that librarians are a stressed professional group. This study examines how public librarians describe their experiences of stress when meeting patrons and how this stress is managed by the public librarians. Eight semi-structured interviews with public librarians were conducted, after which the results was analyzed based on the role stress theory coined by Kahn et al. (1964). The purpose of the study is to contribute to a deeper understanding of public librarians' experiences of stress, and how this can be understood by using role stress theory. The results of the study show that the most prominent stress factors in relation to patrons are communication difficulties, setting boundaries in service and when many patrons request help at the same time. The results of the study also show that, for example, work regarding planning and the library's missions is experienced by many of the public librarians as more stressful than working with patrons.The results also show that the public librarians use several methods to manage stress. The analysis of the empirical material also shows indications of role stress in terms of role conflict, role ambiguity and role overload.

The purpose of this master’s thesis is to give knowledge about the reading habits and library usage of Swedish for Immigrants students. The research questions focus on the students’ reading habits, their motives and obstacles when it comes to reading and the role of the public library regarding the students’ reading. Ten qualitative interviews were carried out with Swedish for Immigrants students at a school in a small town. The results were first thematically analysed and then analysed using Furhammar’s (1997) theory of different categories of benefits from reading. As expected from such a heterogeneous group of people, the results showed a wide variety of reading habits with the respondents. In common for all of them was, however, their focus on learning Swedish. The study showed that some of the respondents did some extensive reading apart from their language learning, a couple of them mainly in their mother tongue. Some of the respondents seemed to have dropped the habit of reading for pleasure since their arrival to Sweden. Several of the respondents expressed a lack of availability when it came to literature in their mother tongue. The respondents had low expectations on the library to provide them with the literature they needed and none of them seemed to be aware of the possibility for distance loans through the public library. The thesis concludes that the libraries need to reach out with information about the library services and that an expanded cooperation with the Swedish for Immigrants education could be of importance to that end.

Purpose: Our main task is to find out how the Swedish government deals with media and information literacy (MIL) among the general public, and which key actors it identifies in this process. More specifically we want to know whether public libraries are considered to be such key actors – which is the common view within library and information science (LIS). Method: This is a document study, applying Carol LeeBacchi's WPR approach, on a selection of Swedish government assignments published 2018–2022. Findings: From earlier looking at digitalization in positive connotations, today the Swedish government talks more alarmistically about the dangers of digitalization and attributes MIL as a safeguard and as a means in the protection of democracy, leading to the presence of MIL in practically all of the governmental offices. Major joint investments are emphasized to achieve high MIL. But due to the shifting and situation-dependent understanding of the MIL concept, the results of the investments run the risk of being ineffective. In 2019 the government therefore assigned The Swedish Media Council (Statens medieråd) to coordinate the promotion of MIL. As for the apparent urgency of MIL issues in our research material, LIS and the public libraries extensive MIL expertise should be taken into account. How the Swedish Media Council perceives the library field's competence within MIL can have a major impact on public libraries' future promotion of MIL. The result raises the question of how the library field can mediate its solid knowledge of MIL to the outside world.

The purpose of this thesis is to investigate what’s written about how libraries treat people with disabilities, in this case communication and/or language disabilities and if there is something written about library and Alternative and Augmentative Communication. (AAC). The design of the investigation is a so-called scoping review. A life in the round theory by Elfreda Chatman was used as well as international Classification of Functioning and the empowerment concept. Six articles were found and included in this thesis. The main result is the importance of training and education of the librarians in combination with a supportive management.

This bachelor thesis examines the perceptions and attitudes that library users and non-users have with public library marketing. The study aims to understand the relationship the library users and non-users have with public library marketing and what they think the public library should promote. It also discusses the important role the public library plays in a changing society, partly in terms of the social capital it helps to build and the social and cultural participation it helps to strengthen among its users. This study is based on an online survey and the results have been analyzed with relationship marketing, action organization and SWOT-analysis. The findings show that the library users and non-users are generally positive towards the public library marketing. However both groups indicate that the public library needs to innovate its marketing to make it feel modern and reach out through the channels that the users and non-users request.

The aim of this study is to analyse which themes, discourses and positions can be identified in the public e- and audiobook debate in the Swedish library journal Biblioteksbladet between the years 2012-2020. Using discourse analysis as methodological framework, various conflict areas have been sorted into economic, juridical, technical and accessibility related themes. Within these themes, several discourses have been identified. By examining which concepts appear in the material and which positions (positive, neutral, negative) the subjects have, an opportunity has been given to better understand how language is used by various represented groups in the debate.

This bachelor’s thesis investigates the experience of the professional role of five librarians based on semi-structured interviews with a qualitative approach. In the outcome, three main themes emerged; challenges, skills and changes. The challenges consisted partly of challenges linked to the work in the organization, partly of challenges in the leadership where participants felt that managers did not possess sufficient knowledge in the day-to-day work of the organization. In the theme of competence, it emerged that previous competence and experiences were felt to be important in shaping the individual librarianship. In contrast to this, there is also a perceived need for general competence among all librarians. In addition to this, participants felt there was a lack of pedagogical competence. Changes in the professional role consisted of project-based working methods becoming a larger part of the practical work. The role of libraries in society was another part of the perceived changes were political changes that participants feared would give less resources to libraries and provided a motivation to work more outreach. Regarding changes connected to the future, participants felt that the physical book would still be relevant. This thesis highlights that there is a perceived lack of competence taught during education for librarianship and that social competence is central to the profession of librarian. Furthermore, it emerged that the changes of recent decades have meant that the librarian's role has changed to a broader, more complex professional role, since the professional role is individually designed.

The aim of this study is to see how users of the public library positions librarians with their competencies and to compare this to librarians' own thoughts about their competencies. The research questions were as follows 1) How do the public librarians, who participated in our study, view their competencies? 2) How do users, who participated in our study, view the competencies of public librarians? 3) Are there any similarities or differences between the users and the librarians views about the public librarians competencies? The method is semi-structured interviews with six librarians and five users. The data was then analyzed with positioning theory. The results show that users positioned librarians as a profession characterized by pleasant and service minded professionals with useful literature knowledge. The librarians positioned themselves in a profession where assisting their users is the main goal, that every competence matters because one never know who one is meeting and what their needs might be.

The purpose of the study is to identify children’s librarians' approaches to children and children's theatre when reasoning about the purchase and selection of children’s theatre, and the view of children that can then be expressed. Questions posed are: What approaches to children’s theatre do children’s librarians express? What view of children do the identified approaches express? The theoretical framework consists of three approaches to reading translated into a theatrical context. The three approaches are pragmatic, traditional and emancipatory. The study is also based on the view of children as beings and becomings. Semistructured interviews were conducted with five children’s librarians and analysed through a qualitative content analysis. The results show that the librarians express several approaches to children’s theatre. Children’s theatre can aim to be an experience and a fun moment, but also make children reflect and develop their critical thinking. As well as to provide knowledge and conveying messages. The theatre performances can also be a way of educating children in the art form and fostering them into the theatre tradition. The results show that the approaches the children’s librarians express are not direct opposites of each other. A theatre performance can, for example, aim to be both experience-focused and at the same time evoke thoughts and reflections. The study also shows that the identified approaches express both a view of children as actors in their own right, but also a view of children as future adults.

The work at Swedish public libraries today is multifaceted and covers many conceivable areas. As a librarian, you are expected to take on many different roles. To look for a job is a complicated process which is not facilitated by the complex picture and difficulty in defining the professional role of a librarian. The purpose of this thesis is to reach new knowledge about the competence requirements that library managers have for job-seeking librarians, both for the recently graduated librarians but also for those who already have work experience within the profession. To answer these questions 154 job ads were analyzed by quantitative content analysis and five library managers were interviewed. The results of the interviews were analyzed by qualitative content analysis and also by using Annika Lundmark´s(1998) definition of competence. The hope is that this study can contribute to creating a clearer understanding for what is demanded of public librarians today. The study concluded that a librarian should be able to work independently as well as in a group, must be aware of the mission of the library operations but also be able to innovate the library operations. To be structured and at the same time flexible, have an academic competence as well as a social competence are all important parts of what the library managers sees as relevant competencies for librarians at public libraries.

The study intends to create and contribute to knowledge about how public libraries in Sweden have developed their digital reading promotion in a time characterized by pandemic restrictions. This has been achieved by the study being based on semi-structured interviews with representatives of 8 Swedish public libraries around the country. A compilation of their results shows that the libraries have been able to continue reaching out to participants by developing their digital working methods. There have been obstacles in the form of a lack of digital user habits on the part of certain participants as well as on the part of the libraries themselves. The libraries have not always been able to reach out to the same people as before. But they have discovered target groups that were previously overlooked. The new experiences have also opened up to work with more digital and hybrid ways of working now and in the future. They have also strengthened their public profile as digitization has made their services and their role in society more visible. Libraries have expanded their communication options and increased their digital competence. In addition, their importance has increased by playing an active role in the municipality and helping to solve problems for other institutions and participants who have been involved in their activities

This study explores the impact of non-legitimate political influence on professional ethics in the librarian profession, focusing specifically on the Swedish context. It addresses the conflict between politics and public libraries, which jeopardizes the library's role as an open and democratic place. This study is based on qualitative interview studies within the research topic, which is a limited research method in the field. Employing a professional theoretical framework, this study examines variations in non-legitimate political influence experienced by public librarians and their strategies for navigating ethical challenges. It aims to illuminate the potential conflicts between political agendas and core library values, which can undermine public trust in the profession. By highlighting the unique conditions of Swedish libraries and analyzing the interplay of politics and library operations, this research contributes to a further understanding professional ethics within library and information science. Given the limited research on this topic, particularly in the Swedish context, filling this gap is important. Through interviews centered on undue political influence, the findings provide valuable insights into ethical dilemmas faced by librarians and exposes conflicting interests that may not align with the library's values. In summary, this research deepens our understanding of how non-legitimate political pressures challenge professional ethics in the librarian profession. It addresses the urgent need to bridge the research gap on professional ethics and lays the groundwork for future studies on this topic in library and information science.

A substantial part of the work conducted by librarians today involves keeping up to date with current trends. This is particularly important in collection management and literature procurement. Though young adults in Sweden have previously been found to read less with worsening reading comprehension, a recent study suggests that their reading habits are changing. Young adults now read more, and it is increasingly popular to read literature in English. The aim of this master’s thesis is to study how a changed reading behaviour in Swedish young adults could influence the work of youth librarians’ collection management and literature procurement. Empirical data was produced through a survey that was sent to all public libraries in Sweden. The data was analysed by employing Bates’ (2002) model of different information seeking modes as well as McKenzie’s (2003) information practice by proxy. The concept of Wyatt’s (2014) model of selection cycle was used to analyse and discuss the findings. The result of the study shows that most youth librarians use information seeking monthly to keep up to date with literature. The librarians are likely to use information seeking to keep up to date with literature more often if they have noticed this recent change in young adults’ reading behaviour. Above all, how librarians use social media and interact with the public is significantly impacted by whether or not librarians have perceived a change in the reading trends.

The development of digitalisation in society has contributed to the library facing new assignments in the work with digital participation. The demand for digital competence among library staff is increasing in order to pursue digital inclusion at the library. The purpose of this study is to investigate how the public library works with digital participation for library visitors and how staff works with digital participation. This essay examines librarians at selected municipal public libraries in Skåne country. The aim is to gain clarity on the competencies available at the public library and what conditions the public libraries possess. This study explores the possible challenges perceived by library employees in relation to their work with digital participation. In the study, we used a qualitative method using semi-structured interviews. The analysis of the results was done with the help of two theories and earlier research. The findings of studies show that all public libraries in some way work with digital participation. We can see that all the library staff are positive about working with digital participation and feel that they have the necessary competence. There are some challenges such as prerequisites, resources, the consensus on digital participation and skills development.

There is a discrepancy in research within library and information science in the use of the concept non-user, and no research about librarians’ use of the concept can be found. If librarians define the concept differently it may affect how they share experiences with one another and how they design outreach towards library non-users. An Evolutionary concept analysis of the concept in relation to public libraries is carried out based on the use of the concept in a survey answered by librarians, and research literature. The study supports results from previous studies of non-users and finds that the concept non-user is applied in different manners. The results show that there are similarities in the application of the concept with attributes relating to the non-use of the library, when or if use occurred and as a challenge. The differences found are mostly based on the context of application such as between research literature and librarians’ usage but also in regards to geographical location and the speciality of the librarians. The main finding is the difference in the use of the concept non-user, where the research literature and inner city librarians have a more conservative use than librarians in general and the librarians in the outer par tof the city. This study contributes to a broader understanding of the concept non-user and how the context can affect the use of the concept and how the concept can be applied in these contexts.

Denna artikel har tagits fram i samarbete mellan Kulturrådet och Digiteket, inom ramen för satsningen Läsfrämjandelyft för folkbibliotek., Att skapa den läsande medborgaren. Offentlig debatt och politik 1945-2017

Denna artikel har tagits fram i samarbete mellan Kulturrådet och Digiteket, inom ramen för satsningen Läsfrämjandelyft för folkbibliotek., Att skapa den läsande medborgaren. Offentlig debatt och politik 1945-2017