This master thesis aims to critically analyze the state of digital libraries in Swedish academic libraries. With the branching theory of sense-making and the methodology of DELOS and IFLA/UNESCOs digital library manifestos, this thesis hopes to bring to light how far Swedish academic libraries have progressed. By accumulating quantitative data encompassing all digital academic libraries in Sweden, and qualitative data from a select few, conclusions regarding the aforementioned are drawn. Focusing on content analysis, this thesis analyzed the different components that can be said to constitute the digital library and compared them to the different manifestos that dictate what a digital library can be said to consist of. By employing the elusive sense-making theory as a general modus of mind, one can begin to understand thought-making processes behind the tapping of digital library resources. Results from this thesis found that some functions and components are present within all academic libraries in Sweden, but that the digital library primarily tends to focus on resource acquisition and not so much on resource presentation. User environments are not prioritized. Different aspects are presented in regards to mobile optimization, social media, information organization, information design etc. This is a two years master’s thesis in Archive, Library and Museum studies. / Den här masteruppsatsen syftar till att undersöka digitala bibliotek och digitala miljöer på svenska högskole- och universitetsbibliotek. Med sense-making som huvudsaklig teoretiskt ramverk och DELOS och IFLA/UNESCOs olika manifest gällande digitala bibliotek hoppas uppsatsen visa hur långt svenska bibliotek har kommit i relation till det digitala. Via samlandet av kvantitativ data från alla svenska akademiska bibliotek, och kvalitativ data från ett fåtal utvalda, kommer uppsatsen till diverse slutsatser. Med fokus på innehåll och funktion så undersöker uppsatsen vilka komponenter som kan sägas utgöra det digitala biblioteket i jämförelse med manifesten och deras ideala digitala bibliotek. Med hjälp av sense-making kan man få en förståelse för tankessättet och hur användare angriper de digitala resurserna. Resultaten från uppsatsen visade att det finns en viss grad av framsteg och utveckling som alla bibliotek har nått, men att den digitala satsningen oftast endast inbegriper samlandet av resurser och uppbyggandet av databaser snarare än presentation och design. Miljöer som gör att användarna frodas prioriteras ofta bort. Olika aspekter presenteras i relation till detta såsom mobil-optimering, sociala medier, informationsorganisation, informationsdesign osv. Det här är en tvåårig masteruppsats inom Arkiv, Bibliotek och museum.

This thesis aims to understand transcription as a critical transmission practice in the digital medium in order to add to the research surrounding digital library initiatives that make these research materials available and accessible. The project to transcribe the records of Lapland priest J. A. Nensén at Umeå University aims to publish the transcriptions in the cultural heritage database Alvin by Uppsala University Library. Looking at these two Swedish projects can better illustrate the issues surrounding digital tool application and integration. This thesis first explores the transcription practices of a group of scholars transcribing J. A. Nensén’s records. By understanding their model, a better picture of transcription as a scholarly practice can be achieved that can be useful when selecting a digital transcription tool. The study then identified appropriate transcription tools and reviewed the ones most applicable for the project based on the group’s paradigm. It was discovered that the main disparity in transcription practice is the balance between producing a diplomatic transcription and one that is readable. The primary consideration in transcription tool selection was found to be the goals of the project; in this case, those of the transcribers. This determined the tools to be reviewed. These were: FromThePage, Scripto, T-Pen, and Wikisource. All the tools are suitable to the editors, but they still present some obstacles in regards to diplomatic transcription.

Abstract Introduction. The aim of this thesis is to examine use of library didactics in two prominent national libraries. A second aim is to identify digital resources used in the digital library spaces. The study uses “the four-space model” to examine this relation.  Method. Document analysis is used to examine the two national libraries´ websites. In addition to the websites, affiliated sites like social media are also included. Categories from the four- space model are used: learning space, inspiration space, performative space and meeting space. Digital resources are identified and presented in each category respectively.   Theories. Library didactics, as developed by for example Jochumsen, Rasmussen and Skot- Hansen, is the subject of the thesis and main theoretical focus. The digital library rooms are seen as places for possibilities and for developing innovative library practices.  Conclusion. The results imply that of the four spaces, the smallest one is the performative space and that the activities for creating are few. Different social media are to a large degree used as meeting space and thus possibilities for meeting and participation are subject to the companies’ business models and policies. In relation to the visitors the two national libraries mainly use their collections as resources in the inspiration space. One clear example is Gallica, described as a digital library with focus on digitized documents.  In the learning space the format is primarily texts with illustrations and this could be seen as an attempt from the libraries to adapt to a traditional learning environment. Furthermore it is concluded that the search functions can be a hindrance to both the visitor and to the libraries´ objectives. In the discussion, a question concerning competences is raised in regard to innovative library didactics. This is a two years master’s thesis in Library and Information Science.