The aim of this study is to describe and analyse the creation and the design of a new public library. In order to concretize this, the study sets out from two examples, the public libraries in Simrishamn and Landskrona. The material used to attain the purpose of the study consists partly of interviews, partly of literature on the subject. To be able to put these two libraries in their historical context, the essay also provides a short overview of the development of public library buildings in Sweden during the 20th century. Another aspect that is discussed is the actual procedure of planning a public library from scratch. This aspect is also discussed in relation to the two libraries in question. The qualitative analysis was in turn based on some of the issues accounted for in the first part of the study: What are the reasons behind the creation of a new library building? What sort of conflicts can arise during the planning? What pros and cons can be found in using an existing building or designing a new one? Does the nature of the city have any impact on the design? Many differences where found when the two buildings where compared, but there where also a lot of similarities. Even though the procedure when creating the libraries where different, the main problems that surfaced where the same. / Uppsatsnivå: D

This paper aims to apply a specific architectural theory onto Lund City Library in order to achieve a better understanding of how the physical concept of the library is affecting our knowledge and our production of meaning; and furthermore how it suggests a certain form of usage. This paper discusses the ways in which architecture is affecting us when we use the library. The paper attempts to answer the following question: – Which one of Koch’s spatial structures could apply to Lund City Library, and in which ways could this spatial structure be a producer of meaning? The specific architectonical theory used is developed by Daniel Koch in his paper Spatial Systems as Producers of Meaning: the Idea of Knowledge in Three Public Libraries. This theory is the method of the paper as well. In order to answer the main question certain parts have been chosen and analyzed. The distribution of space in the building as well as some of the functions in the library, such as the seating, the system of the bookshelves, placement of public computers, and the social interaction, are in focus. The analysis shows that the spatial structure in Lund City Library is of the network type. The library is focusing on supporting the social interaction, which is an important producer of meaning for our own part in society. The collections and the functions are well integrated in the library, the seating and the placement of public computers supports the social interaction as well. Their construction and placement agrees with and encourages human interaction.

By examining newspaper articles from two different timeperiods in a public library’s life, specifically the main citylibrary of Gothenburg 1964-68 and 2004-2015, thismaster’s thesis studies the discourse of library practice aswell as its societal role during the building and re-buildingof the library. The empirical material is examined byapplying the discourse theory and method of ErnestoLaclau and Chantal Mouffe. With this methodology wealso aim to analyze how the power is distributed betweenthe different roles that emerge depending on in what waythey speak about or is being spoken of in the material.In the analysis of the material, we have identified severalmore or less dominant discourses that construct certain,and often contradictory, views on the city library’s practiceand role in society. The major discourses that emergedin the material during the 1960’s were the book discourseand the cultural centre discourse. The book discoursepromotes traditional and authoritarian views of themediation and conservation of printed, quality books aswell as being associated with strong ideals of enlightenmentand education. The culture centre discoursepromotes a wide library practice, entailing many differentcultural and political activities as well as a wide range ofpeople. The book discourse can be seen all the waythrough the 2000’s, but the later period is dominated bythe information mediation discourse that places the userand its needs at the core of the library’s mission.

Library architecture today is a complicated history. Public libraries are no longer merely a place for book storage, but also a virtual library a social meeting place and a place for study. All these diverse tasks and roles emerge in the democratic designing process of a new library and also transform into the architecture. The underlying process is the evaluation and negotiation of the libraries overall tasks and ideas, ideals and values. Multiple ideologies are incorporated in library architecture. Of greatest importance is the ideology of the library itself. This candidate thesis is a case study of the public library in Arlov. My aim is to find out how ideas, ideals and values of democracy are expressed in the library building. I want to find out in what extent library staff have had impact in the designing process and also how these ideologies of library transforms into architecture as regarding to aesthetics, symbolism and function. The thesis is based on both empirical and theoretical material. The last part is a discussion which deals with issues like library architecture and democracy in Arlov as well as in a wider perspective. / Uppsatsnivå: C

<p>A large part of research about libraries and library buildings in Sweden has been focused on how the building looks not how it functions with the library. The aim with this master’s thesis is to study how a library building is functioning and how its users are experiencing it. This is studied in three libraries, Kungliga tekniska högskolans bibliotek, Sambiblioteket in Härnösand and Vitterhetsakademiens bibliotek. With the questions of how they were planed, what did the libraries want from the new building and which of these demands were realized. The theory and method will are inspired from Daniel Koch and Inger Bergström.I have visited these libraries and also have read the few published articles about them. I have, too, interviewed librarians and users in the libraries. These libraries have all established a new library building in the 2100th century. The study shows that is not always easy to build a new library. There are a lot of actors involved in the planning, and that effects how the library will function in the building as well how the users move within and experience the room.</p>

A large part of research about libraries and library buildings in Sweden has been focused on how the building looks not how it functions with the library. The aim with this master’s thesis is to study how a library building is functioning and how its users are experiencing it. This is studied in three libraries, Kungliga tekniska högskolans bibliotek, Sambiblioteket in Härnösand and Vitterhetsakademiens bibliotek. With the questions of how they were planed, what did the libraries want from the new building and which of these demands were realized. The theory and method will are inspired from Daniel Koch and Inger Bergström.I have visited these libraries and also have read the few published articles about them. I have, too, interviewed librarians and users in the libraries. These libraries have all established a new library building in the 2100th century. The study shows that is not always easy to build a new library. There are a lot of actors involved in the planning, and that effects how the library will function in the building as well how the users move within and experience the room.