This bachelor thesis is a study of how librarians from five public libraries are working and perceive their role in the integration process. The purpose is to gain a deeper understanding of how librarians discusses about working with refugees. Qualitative interviews are used as a method to answer my questions and the theoretical framework was based on Jochumsen, Hvenegaard & Skot-Hansen´s "The four space" model, which sees the library as a meeting space, inspiration space, learning space and performative space. Five categories emerged from the empirical data about the librarians view of the library as a meeting place, the librarians supporting role in the integration process, the interaction between internal and external actors, media supplies and integrative activities. The analysis showed that especially three of the four categories based on The four spaces model were prominent; library as an inspiration space, learning space and meeting space. These three were discussed on the basis of an overall concept of the library as a living room. The least prominent category was library as a performative space. Respondents see their role in the integration process as a part of a democratic society, which means that the library is an open, public meeting place where people have access to information, learning and culture. Librarians highlighted three obstacles in their efforts in the integration process, which was about the lack of time, lack of resources and language skills.

The purpose of this thesis is to gain knowledge about howthe public library in Skövde is being used as a public spaceand how different zones in the library are used according tothe theoretical perspective “the four spaces” byJochumsen, Hvenegaard Rasmussen and Skot-Hansen.The model consists of four abstract overlapping spaceswhich are inspiration space, learning space, meeting space,and performative space.The research method used in this study isthe observational method seating sweeps. The findingsfrom the observations were compiled in SPSS andfrom the diagrams that were developed we analysed theresults according to “the four spaces” model. The researchquestions used in this thesis are “How are the differentparts of the physical library room being used? and“How is the library used as a public place?”. Thefindings from Skövde public library were that usersused the different zones in different ways; using zone 1primarily as meeting place, inspiration place andperformative space; using zone 2 primarily as a learningplace; using zone 3 primarily as inspiration place andperformative place; and using zone 4 primarily asa learning place. Findings also showed that Skövde publiclibrary is mainly functioning as a low-intensivemeeting-place, but also has the opportunity to offer a highintensivemeeting-place for users.

The aim with this thesis is to fill a knowledge gap regarding how young adults (20-25 year old) views and experience video games in libraries and how they feel libraries work and uses videogames. This because the problem lays in the fact that very few studies has been made regarding young adults and their experience and views with videogames. There have been studies concerning the libraries work, handling and views regarding young adults and videogames. The theory model use in this thesis is Jochumsen, Hvenegaard & Skot-Hansens model that divides libraries into four spaces. Its use here is to see the functions videogames can have in the public library through young adults own thoughts and experiences on the matter. It was used together with a qualitative semi-structured group interview, with three groups and in total six informants. The results showed that while the informants viewed positive on videogames in the library it also showed the informants didn’t have a need for borrowing or using the videogames in the public library. In conclusion we can see that the social aspects are regarded highly but sorely missed according by the informants. More social factors may be of more interests. Borrowing videogames are not something the informants’ feelt they needed but they do view it as a positive function of the library. However a social activity that allows users to be able to meet and talk with likeminded about videogames felt the informants was maybe needed today more than just borrowing and/or playing videogames.

This thesis aims to investigate how three public libraries are working and perceive their role located in a municipality with a Sami population. The Sami population is one of Sweden's five minorities and a recognized indigenous people which gives them certain rights according to the minority law. Qualitative interviews are used as a method to gain a deeper understanding of how librarians and Sami coordinator discusses their work with the Sami people. The theoretical framework was based on Jochumsen, Hvenegaard Rasmussen and Skot-Hansen's "The four space" model (2012), which describe the library as a meeting space, inspiration space, learning space and performative space. The analysis shows that three of the four spaces, based on theoretical framework was dominant, and that was learning space, inspiration space and meeting space on the concept of the librarian and Sami coordinators view of the library as a public space.Respondents view the library as a public space where the Sami culture can be seen in cooperation with the Sami coordinator. Librarians highlights a couple obstacles in their work with the Sami people, and that was: lack of resources, language skills, no demand for library resources and geographical distances.

The rural libraries have a different context then the libraries in a more urban setting and therefore have a different way to organize and plan their activities. The aim of this bachelors thesis is to examine how librarians at libraries in the rural settings experience their activities and their role in the community. To acquire this information two questions are raised; “How are the activities at rural libraries described by the librarians?” and “How do the librarians view the libraries role in a rural setting?”. Answers to these questions will be achieved through semi-structured interviews, and their answers will be analysed with the use of the Four Spaces model. Four spaces is a model for viewing the activities in a library, and their goals. The collected data is then to be categorized according to four different terms: meetings, children and young adults, more personal service and challenges for a rural library. Many of the respondents expresses the use of the library as a meeting place and the important role that the libraries play in a small community in many different ways. One of the problems with working at a smaller library according to the librarians is that they have to prove to the management that their work is important, even in the smaller, rural settings.

This bachelor thesis explores why students in high school visit their school library and how they perceive the physical environment of the school library as a space. An interview study, including both individual and group interviews, were conducted with students visiting the school library. The results from the interviews where then analysed, organised and presented using the Four Spaces model, a model originally constructed by Henrik Jochumsen, Casper Hvenegaard Rasmussen & Dorte Skot-Hansen (2012) that explores user needs and behaviour illustrated by different “spaces” related to public libraries and how they correspond with library purposes. Interpretations of the results were also based on a theoretical perspective based on “situated learning” as perceived by Roger Säljö (2000). The results show that the students use their school library based on two main purposes, leisure activities (hanging out with friends or alone on breaks and free periods), and for studies: both on your own and in smaller groups. The results also show how students perceive the school library as a different space, something different from the classrooms or other more “public” spaces provided within the school building such as study rooms and recess areas, with its own atmosphere/mood, and (unwritten) rules. The thesis emphasizes features in the school library appreciated and used by the students and how these issues might be relevant for further discussions about the school library as a space, both concerning design and content, as a part of the general function of the school library as a pedagogical resource.

The purpose of this thesis is to investigate whether there is a correlation between the vision of the public library as expressed in “A new model for the public library” and how public libraries and its services are conveyed to newcomers to Sweden. Our two research questions inquire about the ways the public library and its services are conveyed and the challenges faced by public libraries in  communicating public libraries to newcomers? The method used for this study is semi-structured interviews with five public librarians working with multicultural issues at their workplaces. This study is theoretically grounded in the model for the public library proposed by Jochumsen, Rasmussen Hvenegaard and Skot-Hansen. The findings reveal that the model correlates quite well with how librarians describe their work in relation to newcomers.

This study is about the public librarians role in relation to immigrants from the librarian’s perspective. A lot of immigrants live in Sweden and use the public library frequently, however it is uncertain what the public librarians role is in relation to immigrant users. The purpose of this study is to clarify the public librarian’s relation to immigrants. Three questions are used to understand the purpose: What roles do public librarians think they have in relation to immigrants in municipalities with a high proportion of immigrants? What are the roles of public librarians in the integration process? What are the functions of the library for immigrants? Seven public librarians have been interviewed and two theories have been used to analyze the interviews. The four spaces by Jochumsen, Hvenegaard Rasmussen and Skot-Hansen and the integration model by Ager and Strang. The conclusion of this study is that the public librarians have a pedagogical role, a social role and a welcoming role. Functions of the library are as a learning space, meeting space, inspiration space and performative space. A new role and a new function have also been found, which are the broadened role and the library as a citizen's office.

This study investigated what Swedish public and academic libraries expressed on their Facebook pages. This study looked at similarities and differences between public and academic libraries through the lens of the Four spaces model by Jochumsen et al. (2012). Data was collected from three public and three academic libraries’ Facebook posts. The data was analyzed through qualitative content analysis, inspired by Zhang and Wildemuth (2017).  The results indicated that Facebook was used partly in different ways in public and academic libraries. Public libraries used Facebook to promote literature, human rights, and they also focused on posts for younger audiences. The academic libraries mostly focused on helping students with their studies. There were also some differences within the same library type; for instance, one of the academic libraries did not focus on content for students. The four spaces model Jochumsen et al. (2012) considers the changing roles of the public library in society and how libraries can show legitimacy in their new environment. Results indicated that the public libraries primarily expressed the learning space, and secondarily, the inspiration space. Academic libraries mostly expressed the learning space. The meeting space and the performative space were seldom expressed, both in public and academic libraries.

This study examines the Four Spaces Model, from a sound environment perspective. It raises two questions: 1) What are the challenges for The Four Spaces Model, in terms of soundscape, when it is implemented into public libraries? 2) How can the challenges be managed? There has been used a variation of methods, included using an article about The Four Spaces Model, the Danish homepage “Modelprogram for folkebiblioteker”, as well as visiting three Swedish public libraries. Since the model seems to stipulate an open plan solution, there is a propensity for higher sound levels. The sound level could impair activities inside the library, for an example, reading comprehension might be impaired. Noise levels might be so high, that spoken communication would be harder to understand, especially for children, disabled people and foreign language speakers. The Swedish library law stipulates that these groups should be given particular consideration. Furthermore, the sound levels might be so high, that the space needs acoustic treatment, or even rebuilding, like the public library Garaget in Malmö. Zoning and acoustic treatment may not be sufficient to provide a good sound environment. Separate rooms would provide a good sound environment, but it is unclear if it is consistent with the model. Sound masking techniques could be used, but is unproven and has not received a mainly positive response from workers in open plan offices.