En bok, en stad : En intervjustudie om bibliotekariers och andra arrangörers erfarenheter kring att anordna läsfrämjande projekt för hela staden

Sammanfattning

Imagine an entire city reading the same book, and residents coming together in different ways to share a sense of community and a collective reading experience. This idea forms the basis of the reading promotion initiative One Book, One Community, which has grown since the 1990s and is now implemented by an increasing number of public libraries in Sweden. This study examines why organizers choose to carry out this type of reading promotion project, how they work to engage both staff and users, and what challenges and opportunities they encounter in the process. Drawing on empirical material collected through qualitative interviews, the analysis is guided by Maguire and Matthews’ three dimensions of cultural intermediaries – framing, expertise, and impact. The results show, among other things, that organizers employ different strategies to legitimize their projects. Successful outcomes and a sense of community emerge as two key driving forces within the concept. The choice of book is central for all organizers, while a lack of resources represents the main challenge. The findings are discussed in relation to previous research on reading promotion, social reading, and One Book, One Community.