Introduction. This study investigates the needs of the Sami people when it comes to the local library and its functions and activities. The Sami are recogniced as the indiginous people of Sweden, and was historically put under the stress of colonisation by the Swedish government, causing a loss of language, culture and ultimatly damaged the feelings of identity in parts of the Sami population. Method. With the help of 3 focus groups made up of members of local Sami associations, this study gathered the opinions of the Sami, when it comes to their local library and what they wish the library would do for them. The discussions were recorded, transcribed and analysed. Results. The Sami had a clear idea of their needs and demands, and could state them clearly. They wished for more litterature in the Sami languages, more litterature with parallel languages: Sami/Swedish side by side to aid in reading, more audio books, more cultural events and a bigger exposure of the Sami to the public. They also wished for activities aimed at the Swedes, to educate them about the history and struggles, life and culture of the Sami. Conclution. The local libraries of Sweden have a big potential to fulfil the needs and wishes of the Sami. They need to consider not only activities aimed directly at the Sami, but to an equal amount activities aimed at the Swedes, to educate them about all things Sami. These educational activities can and should take place in all parts of Sweden, not only in communities with a visible Sami population. This is a two years master’s theses in Library and Information Science.

Documented value of indigenous knowledge (IK) in the lives of communities raises the need to facilitate its accessibility. Public libraries in South Africa can play an important role in facilitating access to this knowledge by integrating it into their services. Apart from positively contributing to the quality of lives of indigenous communities, integration of IK would result in the provision of inclusive and transformed library services. The purpose of this study was to explore how public libraries in South Africa may integrate IK into their services. Located within the critical theory paradigm, a qualitative multiple-case study was conducted among four purposefully selected provincial library services in South Africa. Directors of the selected provincial library services were interviewed. Collection development policies of the selected libraries were also analysed to determine the extent of their alignment with the provision of IK. Atlas.ti. was used to analyse data thematically. Findings revealed that libraries have not integrated IK into their services. Furthermore, collection development policies were not aligned to the provision of IK. Factors contributing to non-integration of IK in public libraries included the perception that librarians did not seem to regard IK as within their purview but rather an aspect for archival institutions. Non- alignment of policies to IK integration, content that is not accessible to indigenous communities and dwindling funding for library services provision also emerged as contributory factors. It was concluded that the hegemony of western knowledge continued to marginalise IK, possibly contributing to its non-integration. A framework based on principles of community involvement, inclusivity, access and transformation was recommended for integrating IK into services of public libraries. It was recommended that public librarians, as stakeholders in the transformation of library services need to engage in the IK discourse in order to enhance their ability to provide inclusive services. The importance of involving communities in defining IK according to their contexts to enable meaningful integration into library services was highlighted. A need to expand the study to other provinces in South Africa to determine librarians’ understanding and views regarding integration of IK was identified. / Information Science / D. Litt. et Phil. (Information Science)