This master thesis investigates how the Swedish regional libraries are perceived as support for public libraries in their work with competence development and the libraries' ability to utilise this support. It focuses on the strate­gies, and obstacles involved in implementing new knowledge following the activities. The thesis uses mixed methods, including both a quantitative questionnaire and qualitative interviews con­ducted. The questionnaire was aimed towards workers in public libraries while the interviews were conducted primarily with public library managers. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were carried out on the data, which related to 537 questionnaire respondents and five interviews. The theory used in the analysis covers organizational theory and Jay Hall’s model of the competence process. The study reveals that the organisation around competence development varies depending on the type of activity and library. Follow-up is commonly conducted through meeting structures or written reports. Successful implementation strategies include fostering a positive work environment and thorough pre-planning, while major obstacles are primarily resource constraints and a lack of clear alignment with the organisation's goal. Continued education provided by the regional libraries are generally viewed positively, examples that they do not always meet local needs. The regional libraries are described as organising a substantial number of activities, which do not always align proportionately with the worker's capacity to participate. This thesis provides a deeper understanding of the competence development efforts in public libraries and the role of regional libraries as a support function. This is a two years master’s thesis in Library and Information Science.

This evaluational study has been initiated by the County Council of Gävleborg (LandstingetGävleborg), politically responsible (and the main economical) authority of BibliotekGävleborg, the regional library institution in the county of Gävleborg, Sweden.The aim of the study is threefolded:1. to evaluate the organization of Bibliotek Gävleborg during the 1990's as we11 as theeffects of a reorganization carried out in 1990, and, through the use of interviews and a questionnaire, to ascertain the attitudes of Bibliotek Gävleborg's branch users (mainlythe municipal libraries in the county) towards the organizational development.2. to evaluate and compare regional library activities in Gävleborg prior to and duringthe 1990's, and to investigate the attitudes of the afore-mentioned branch users towardsBibliotek Gävleborg's activities.3. to investigate and discuss possible future directions of regional library development in Sweden in general, and in Gävleborg in particular.The closing, debating chapter in the study also'contains a few suggestions of measures to enhance regional library activity in Gävleborg.