Det folkbildande bibliotekets omdanande kraft : En idéhistorisk studie av idéer om folkbildning i Biblioteksbladet 1916–1926

Sammanfattning

This essay deals with the history of ideas of Swedish libraries. Furthermore, the essay aims to investigate how popular education was conceptualised in Biblioteksbladet during the period 1916–1926. To investigate this conceptualisation, an idea analysis is applied where ideal types are identified and where historical discourses are discussed and related to the subject area. The examined source material consists of 28 selected articles from Biblioteksbladet which have been analysed in a qualitative way. The content of the articles is related to previous research and to a historical context. This historical context deals with the concept of education, political events surrounding early 20th century Sweden, ideas about good literature, the individual versus the collective, and the ennoblement of man. Three ideal types have been identified: the enlightening; the educative; the ennobling. The enlightening ideal type is characterised by a discourse that is both liberal and enlightening. Here objective knowledge is conveyed through the library. This ideal type is also linked to a democratic discourse. The educative ideal type has a nationalistic character where public education aims to build a strong nation with the help of libraries. The ennobling ideal type focuses on the individual and the possibility of shaping and ennobling people through literature. In addition to the individual, children are seen as important in popular education. Children are the future of society, and it is therefore they who should be ennobled through good literature.