Bibliotekslagen i akt och mening: En kritisk analys av diskursen kring bibliotekslagen, politisk påverkan och professionens autonomi

Sammanfattning

This Master’s thesis in Library and Information Science examines, using critical discourse analysis as both theory and method, the discourse surrounding the Swe-dish Library Act. The study is based on an analysis of the two Swedish library journals Biblioteksbladet and Tidskriften bis, and explores how the role and re-sponsibilities of libraries are constructed within professional discourse. Drawing on discourse theory as well as Chantal Mouffe’s political theory—particularly her con-cepts of agonistic pluralism and radical democracy—the thesis analyzes the profess-ion’s discursive practices in relation to professional autonomy, neutrality, and pro-fessional ethics. The analysis identifies four subject positions that reflect differing and sometimes conflicting understandings of the library’s societal role. These positions form the basis for the discussion, which highlights tensions within the profession concerning neutrality, activism, and democratic responsibility. The findings also indicate that the far-right party the Sweden Democrats occupies a distinct role in the discourse sur-rounding the Library Act and is therefore given particular attention in the discuss-ion. The thesis contributes to an expanded understanding of the role of the Library Act within the profession, particularly in relation to questions of autonomy, neutrality, and professional ethics.