The purpose of this study is to contribute with knowledge about how floating collections can be distributed in different areas of a city. The focus of the study is to see how the library use that influences the floating collections is distributed across the city of Gothenburg and what consequences it may have for access to media in different locations around the city. The research questions posed are: How is the use of library collections distributed in a city with a floating collection? How does user influence shape the local collections in a floating collection? and How do librarians in Gothenburg deal with the effects of a floating collection? The empirical material is official statistics collected from libraries in Gothenburg. The statistics include the number of reservations, borrowed media and returned media from each library and also the turn over rate of the circulation. The theoretical framework that is being used is Michael K. Bucklands theory of the roles of collections. The results show that the collections are unevenly distributed in some areas, that users are more inclined to make reservations for media incertain areas and that librarians sometimes make reservations to their workplace to even out unbalances.

The purpose of this study is to examine the experiences and perceptions of children`s librarians regarding floating collections in public libraries in Gothenburg. In focus for the study are the experiences and perceptions that exist among children`s librarians when it comes to children as library users, the librarian`s working tasks and the professional role as a librarian. The empirical material has been collected through semistructured interviews with six children`s librarians. The material has been analyzed twice. The first analysis has been conducted through qualitative content analysis. The second analysis has been conducted by using a tool constructed with inspiration from Maj Klasson`s and Anders Ørom`s theories of the professional roles and identities of a librarian. One major finding is that the informants percept children as different from grown-ups in their role as library users. The way children are makes it difficult for them to get their needs satisfied in a library system that practices floating collections. On the other hand the perception that children can learn what it takes to be able to act functionally within floating collections also exists among the interviewed librarians. Another finding is that literature mediation and collection development are working tasks that are influenced by floating collections. The study also indicates that the librarian role as a literature mediator and the role as a librarian that puts the user first are threatened as the marketing role and the role as a mediator of technical knowledge dominate when floating collection is practiced as a media strategy. / Program: Bibliotekarie

The Libraries of Malmö are in the process of integrating new technology for logistics and distribution of materials to their library system. This study proceeds from a global discussion about technologies and their usage in libraries, including automation processes and the application of algorithm technology. To study the social implications of the algorithm system IMMS at the public libraries of Malmö, interviews are conducted with representatives of different organizational perspectives of the library, as well as qualitative analysis of documents regarding the implementation. An actor-network theory (ANT) approach is used in the analysis of these materials, to map out the network where the process is taking place, as well as the relationships and actions of the actants involved. Through this analysis certain conclusions are made: a successful transition is made where the network is reconfigured by the integration of the IMMS-technology, even though not all actants are in agreement of the condition of this process. Some fears regarding the role of librarians, due to centralization of tasks and responsibilities, are identified, as well as dissidence in the form of dissatisfaction with the process. Some cases of mutiny in relation to the system changes are reported, opening for further research of resistance in implementation processes of new technology in libraries. In conclusion, a complicated process is now undergoing where useful new technology is implemented in the library, but also raising questions of the work and professional role of librarians today.

The aim of this thesis is to understand how organizational changes within collection development of printed media affect public librarians’ perception of community of practice and professional identity. The data collection method used is semi-structured interviews with nine public librarians in Gothenburg regarding their experience of centralized acquisition and floating collections. The material is analyzed within Wenger’s theoretical framework concerning communities of practice and identity in practice. The findings show a spectrum of experiences. There is a general difference in the result between respondents representing the central library and the district libraries. The librarians at the central library, now responsible for all acquisitions, tend to be more positive to the changes. The respondents who experience most impact express an experience of lost control over the collections and the process of selecting new media. They express difficulties monitoring new literature after the centralization. Even though all respondents state the users as the primary focus, they have different approaches in terms of how the printed collections should be used to meet the users’ needs. Three themes are identified in the discussion section. Firstly, the public librarians in Gothenburg are discussed as a community of practice in terms of Wenger’s three characterizing dimensions. Secondly, collection development in relation to practice and identity is discussed. Finally, the respondents’ experience of centralized acquisitions and floating collections is discussed, using the prevalent distinction between a focus on the collection or a focus on the user as a starting point.