National libraries hold large, valuable repositories of often unique materials. How can we ensure that the knowledge is accessible without endangering the materials that hold the knowledge? Digital preservation is meant to solve this problem. With more and more material being accessible digitally, users are expected to do more and more of the finding on their own, instead of being guided by librarians. What kind of knowledge do the librarians have, that cannot be mediated through a system? How is the knowledge of experienced librarians passed on to new librarians? What is the difference between physical and digital materials? I have interviewed senior and junior librarians of Det Kongelige Bibliotek in Copenhagen, Nasjonalbiblioteket in Oslo, the National Library in Helsinki, and Kungliga Biblioteket in Stockholm to learn about their journey to knowledge of their collections. These collections are meant to function as a national memory. In discussing the how they learned, I compare this with how this knowledge is being passed on, preserving the nation's memory. I conclude that the focus on digitization of the collections is risking to close off the regions of the closed stacks even more, as librarians are either not allocated the time to do research, or not replaced when they retire. For the memory of the nation, and for the progress of knowledge, it is important to have staff trained in research, and also to have time allotted to pursue the advancement of their fields.

The purpose of this study is through the research librarians, to shed light on their perceptions, competencies and strategies related to open science at the Swedish research libraries. The transition to open science is ongoing nationally and globally and research librarians at research libraries at universities have extensive knowledge while constantly facing major challenges in the field which develops their competencies and strategies in open science. A valuable aspect in order to develop open science for the future is studying the individuals behind. Semi-structured interviews with five research librarians at two main research libraries at two stateowned Swedish universities were conducted, and the interviews were analyzed thematically. The theory of fenomenology is applied to the study for the purpose of throughly examine every individual – every research librarians perceptions, competencies and strategies related to open science. The analysis maps the empirical material and a selection of previous ones research on librarians and open science to put the study in a relevant context. Also the empirical material helps to identify the possibilities for the development of open science for the future. The study identifies several areas of interest. The results show that Swedish research librarians perceive open science as comprehensive, with many different challenges, unclear and transparent – overall open science is complex. Research librarians acquire skills in open science, primarily when they collaborate, read as well as when they apply open science. The open science strategies that are particularly prominent are partly the work with research support, partly the strategic work. The prerequisite for the development of open science is the human aspect in the life world of research librarians. Findings reveal that research librarians mainly educate themselves in open science. The prerequisite for selfeducation and to develop strategies is their driving force. The study also show that Swedish research librarians have a potential to influence the development of open science. It is important to highlight that open science needs to be supported and developed within the research community so that open science becomes a natural part of contemporary and future research culture. In the unstable situation of the world in times of permacrisis, it is even more urgent to share research. Open science can provide opportunities to change human rights such as equality, democracy, social development, climate and health for the better – naionally and globally. This is a two-year master´s thesis in Library and Information Science.