Public libraries as public sphere institutions: A comparative study of perceptions of the public library’s role in six European countries

Ragnar Audunson; Svanhild Aabø; Roger Blomgren; Hans Christoph Hobohm; Henrik Jochumsen; Mahmood Khosrowjerdi; Rudolf Mumenthaler; Karsten Schuldt; Casper Hvenegaard Rasmussen; Kerstin Rydbeck; Máté Tóth; Andreas Vårheim

doi:10.1108/JD-02-2019-0015

Public libraries as public sphere institutions: A comparative study of perceptions of the public library’s role in six European countries

Ragnar Audunson^*, Svanhild Aabø, Roger Blomgren, Hans Christoph Hobohm, Henrik Jochumsen, Mahmood Khosrowjerdi, Rudolf Mumenthaler, Karsten Schuldt, Casper Hvenegaard Rasmussen, Kerstin Rydbeck, Máté Tóth, Andreas Vårheim

^*Corresponding author for this work

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to analyze the role of public libraries as institutions underpinning a democratic public sphere as reasons legitimizing libraries compared to reasons that are more traditional and the actual use of libraries as public sphere arenas. Design/methodology/approach: A survey of representative samples of the adult population in six countries – Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Hungary and Switzerland – was undertaken. Findings: Legitimations related to the libraries role as a meeting place and arena for public debate are ranked as the 3 least important out of 12 possible legitimations for upholding a public library service. Libraries are, however, used extensively by the users to access citizenship information and to participate in public sphere relevant meetings. Originality/value: Few studies have empirically analyzed the role of libraries in upholding a democratic and sustainable public sphere. This study contributes in filling that gap.

Original language	English
Journal	Journal of Documentation
Volume	Vol. 75
Issue number	No. 6
Pages (from-to)	1396-1415
Number of pages	20
ISSN	0022-0418
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1108/JD-02-2019-0015
Publication status	Published - 19 Sept 2019

Keywords

Citizenship information
Community meeting place
Democracy
Public libraries
Public sphere
Social role of libraries

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10.1108/JD-02-2019-0015

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Audunson, R., Aabø, S., Blomgren, R., Hobohm, H. C., Jochumsen, H., Khosrowjerdi, M., Mumenthaler, R., Schuldt, K., Rasmussen, C. H., Rydbeck, K., Tóth, M., & Vårheim, A. (2019). Public libraries as public sphere institutions: A comparative study of perceptions of the public library’s role in six European countries. Journal of Documentation, Vol. 75(No. 6), 1396-1415. https://doi.org/10.1108/JD-02-2019-0015

Public libraries as public sphere institutions : A comparative study of perceptions of the public library’s role in six European countries. / Audunson, Ragnar; Aabø, Svanhild; Blomgren, Roger et al.

In: Journal of Documentation, Vol. Vol. 75, No. No. 6, 19.09.2019, p. 1396-1415.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Audunson, R, Aabø, S, Blomgren, R, Hobohm, HC, Jochumsen, H, Khosrowjerdi, M, Mumenthaler, R, Schuldt, K, Rasmussen, CH, Rydbeck, K, Tóth, M & Vårheim, A 2019, 'Public libraries as public sphere institutions: A comparative study of perceptions of the public library’s role in six European countries', Journal of Documentation, vol. Vol. 75, no. No. 6, pp. 1396-1415. https://doi.org/10.1108/JD-02-2019-0015

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abstract = "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to analyze the role of public libraries as institutions underpinning a democratic public sphere as reasons legitimizing libraries compared to reasons that are more traditional and the actual use of libraries as public sphere arenas. Design/methodology/approach: A survey of representative samples of the adult population in six countries – Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Hungary and Switzerland – was undertaken. Findings: Legitimations related to the libraries role as a meeting place and arena for public debate are ranked as the 3 least important out of 12 possible legitimations for upholding a public library service. Libraries are, however, used extensively by the users to access citizenship information and to participate in public sphere relevant meetings. Originality/value: Few studies have empirically analyzed the role of libraries in upholding a democratic and sustainable public sphere. This study contributes in filling that gap.",

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AU - Rasmussen, Casper Hvenegaard

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AU - Tóth, Máté

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AB - Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to analyze the role of public libraries as institutions underpinning a democratic public sphere as reasons legitimizing libraries compared to reasons that are more traditional and the actual use of libraries as public sphere arenas. Design/methodology/approach: A survey of representative samples of the adult population in six countries – Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Hungary and Switzerland – was undertaken. Findings: Legitimations related to the libraries role as a meeting place and arena for public debate are ranked as the 3 least important out of 12 possible legitimations for upholding a public library service. Libraries are, however, used extensively by the users to access citizenship information and to participate in public sphere relevant meetings. Originality/value: Few studies have empirically analyzed the role of libraries in upholding a democratic and sustainable public sphere. This study contributes in filling that gap.

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Public libraries as public sphere institutions: A comparative study of perceptions of the public library’s role in six European countries

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Keywords

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