The aim of this thesis is to investigate the reason behind thedecision to open libraries at subway stations in Stockholm.The theoretical framework for the study is Douglas Raber´s threeideologies, social activism, conservative response and populistinitiative. The study includes interviews with librarians and apolitician responsible for the service and documents with plansfor the Public Libraries development during the period. Theempirical material was examined with an idea- and ideologicalanalysis.The conclusion is that the concept of the subway libraries consistsof a combination of the three ideologies but the most evidentare those of populist initiative and social activism.The reason for opening libraries at subway stations is to makethe libraries more easily accessible, to attract new visitors and tomake the Public Libraries service more visible. These smalllibraries have a function as a market place for the Public Librariesand as a meeting place in the city. / Program: Bibliotekarie

In this thesis we have examined opinions of the social web in Scandinavian Library journals. Our interest lies in aspects about the social web, and above all about Library 2.0. The central question is how this new technology, a growing digitalization, and a social web that focuses on interactivity and participation affects opinions about libraries. We have investigated opinions about Library 2.0, with respect to three different dimensions: The role of the library in society, power/hierarchy and knowledge. The method used in this thesis is idea analysis using these dimensions as analytical instrument. As theoretical framework we have used Douglas Raber’s (1996) three different strategies for public libraries, and the way in which librarians choose to meet the challenges of a changing society: The conservative response, the populist initiative and the social activism. Our main findings are:- The most enthusiastic Library 2.0-supporters are found in the field of social activism. They have a deeply democratic view, and they believe that “sharing is caring”. “Radical trust” is another important expression as is “the wisdom of the crowd”.- On the other hand, some Library 2.0-supporters are found in the populist initiative. They propose that change is the only constant and want to adapt to the market. For such scholars, the most important word is “usefulness”.- Those included in the conservative response is often sceptical about Library 2.0. They are not principally against new ideas such as interactivity, but they maintain that librarians’ authority should be protected, and they find books and reading to be the most important part of Library services.

This thesis investigates which arguments are used to create and regulate the help provided in regard to digital services in Swedish public libraries. Many official agencies and private enterprises close their offices and expand the digital service. These digital services are not available for all people and hence many come to their public library for help. This puts the library staff in difficult situations of different kinds. We seek to expand the knowledge of how these types of digital questions are perceived and handled by the library staff in the current situation, as well as whether guidelines are seen to be of help in this work. To do this we gathered information through a survey sent to Swedish public libraries. We then analysed the empirical material with qualitative analysis of content and also used Douglas Raber’s model in order to help explain the results. The results showed that the library users’ needs and interests were strong arguments in deciding what services to provide. Other categories, characteristic for the respondents’ arguments, that were found were the library mission and the library act; compassion; integrity, confidentiality and GDPR; the library staff's knowledge; and responsibility. The library staff had somewhat different views on whether guidelines were of use or not in their work. We found that Raber’s model was applicable for the most part of the material. One deviation, however, was found.

This master’s thesis attends to a debate in the Swedish daily press concerning the public library which arose after the Swedish Moderate Party’s publication of their cultural political document Kulturen 2.0. This document contains a number of standpoints, of which three directly concern the public library: charges on book loans, libraries on contract and politically balanced purchase policy. In all, 28 articles are examined by means of an idea and ideological analysis. The purpose is to find out what is behind the conflicts surrounding attitudes about the public library's mission and activity in an era of needs for change. On the basis of Douglas Raber’s account of three ideological strategies - social, conservative and populist - that constitutes the theoretical framework, the ideologies behind the ideas that stand out in the debate are to be identified. Four main conclusions are deduced from twelve preliminary inferences: (A) the combination of the social and the conservative strategy by the critics in the debate; (B) the conflict between critics' position according to (A) and populist strategy by advocates of the Moderate Party’s suggestions; (C) and (D) treats intrinsic dilemmas in the Moderate Party’s idea systems, there social respectively conservative strategy stands against populist strategy. Dilemmas concern either inconsistencies between different levels or on a metaphysical level with their fundamental principles contradicting each other. Factors influencing the results are constituted of various contents ascribed to certain central concepts such as education, access and democracy. This associates the statement ”the public library as the cornerstone of democracy” with alternate meanings. / Uppsatsnivå: D