”Ska jag verkligen göra detta?” : Bibliotekariers syn på sin yrkesroll och folkbibliotekets roll i samhällets tjänst

Sammanfattning

This study aims to provide a deeper understanding of how public services (samhällsservice) affects public libraries and public librarianship. The library union and association describe a situation where, although the libraries receive less funds, they are pressured to offer more public services, e. g. assistance with printing or writing applications. The situation is problematic and generates conflicting views as to how much service should be offered. The problem statement is formulated from this situation and poses these research questions: How is public services defined and why has it become a matter for the public library, according to the interviewees? How does it affect their work? How do the interviewees perceive that the public library is affected by public services? The empirical material was gathered by interviewing public librarians, after which it was thematised and analysed with qualitative content analysis. Steen Wackerhausen’s professional theory and Mark Suchman’s institutional legitimacy theory form the main theoretical framework. The results show that the concept affects the profession and the public library in several ways, one of which is a constant repositioning of boundaries. This can be difficult for individuals to navigate and has a bearing on the institution's identity on several levels, leading to an impact on its legitimacy. There is no standardised definition of public services. In relation to how the core mission of the library is interpreted, this can lead to different approaches and identities within the profession. This study confirms existing findings in the research field of public services in connection with the role of the public library and librarians. The study also has the potential to aid practising librarians in the negotiations concerned with the concept of public services and its bearing on their daily work-life. This is a two years master’s thesis in Library and Information Science.