This Bachelor’s thesis is the result of participation in a minorfield study at Hangzhou Public Library in China. The functionand role of the public library and its librarians are discussedthrough the views and perspectives of the librarians. Sevenlibrarians were interviewed using a semi-structured interviewguide. The results were analyzed with the help of The four-spacesmodel, which was developed to advocate and strengthen the roleof the public library and culture as a sustainable and socialdevelopment. The results are also of interest as there is a lack ofnon-western perspectives in Swedish LIS research and education.The results reveal varied uses of the library in terms of thefour spaces model. Hangzhou public library is similar in manyways to the Swedish and the Anglo-Scandinavian library sector.However, there are also distinct differences, for instance there isgreater emphasis on the librarian’s role as tutor and on the libraryas an educational institution. The informants expressed mixedfeelings towards the future. On the one hand, they believe that therole of the traditional librarian will continue. On the other hand,this belief clashes somewhat with their belief that the publiclibrary will become more of a performative and inspirationalspace. In general, it can be said that the librarians’ views of theirrole and of the functions of the public library are complex and, insome cases, in collision with each other.

In the autumn of 2012 a debate started in Swedish media about racial stereotypes and content in children's literature. Some voices wanted to weed out titles such as Tintin i Kongo (Tintin in the Congo) and the character Lilla hjärtat from Liten Skär och alla Brokiga (Little Pink & Brokiga), while others claimed that it was against our freedom of speech. In this essay I intend to interview librarians to find out if and how the debate has affected their work with purchase and weeding. I will also analyze their purchase policy to find out if it mentions racism and how the policies are applied in practice. As theory I'm using Strömbergs theory regarding three aspects of racism and Klassons theory about three different kinds of librarian roles. Do the librarians take the guardian role, the dialog role or the marketing model? / Program: Bibliotekarie