The purpose of this thesis is to gain knowledge about howthe public library in Skövde is being used as a public spaceand how different zones in the library are used according tothe theoretical perspective “the four spaces” byJochumsen, Hvenegaard Rasmussen and Skot-Hansen.The model consists of four abstract overlapping spaceswhich are inspiration space, learning space, meeting space,and performative space.The research method used in this study isthe observational method seating sweeps. The findingsfrom the observations were compiled in SPSS andfrom the diagrams that were developed we analysed theresults according to “the four spaces” model. The researchquestions used in this thesis are “How are the differentparts of the physical library room being used? and“How is the library used as a public place?”. Thefindings from Skövde public library were that usersused the different zones in different ways; using zone 1primarily as meeting place, inspiration place andperformative space; using zone 2 primarily as a learningplace; using zone 3 primarily as inspiration place andperformative place; and using zone 4 primarily asa learning place. Findings also showed that Skövde publiclibrary is mainly functioning as a low-intensivemeeting-place, but also has the opportunity to offer a highintensivemeeting-place for users.

The purpose of this thesis is to strengthen the state of knowledge and understanding of visitors use of the library area at Skellefteå city library based on the development of guidelines for how to work with the future library area based on Jochumsen, Hvenegaard Rasmussen, Skot-Hansen’s (2012) model of the four-spaces. The model contains four important spaces for libraries; the learning, the inspiration, the meeting and the performative space and all of them interact in an ideal library. The research question in this study is: How does the library in Skellefteå work as an inspiring, learning, meeting and performative space? And according to these questions, what kind of model should a new library have according to the four-spaces? The research method that is used in this study is Given and Leckie´s observational method the seating sweeps and complementing interviews with both visitors and one of the managing librarians. The result illustrated that the most common activity was the physical search for books among children, young adults and adults. For elderly people and especially men the most popular activity was reading the newspaper. These findings showed that the library is used primarily as learning and meeting space for adults but as an inspiring and performative space only for the younger children.