This bachelor’s thesis describes a qualitative case study of a public library as “third place”, a place besides from home and workplace visited frequently for conversation. The subject is chosen because of the many roles of public libraries. The main query of the study is “What view does the public library have of its role as third space and how does that relate to the way utilization of the public library as third place is seen?”. The purpose of it is to increase knowledge of the social aspects of public libraries. The theories used in the collecting and analysis of empiric material are the definition and description of the term “Third place” by Oldenburg, the model of four roles of public libraries by Andersson and Skot-Hansen and the theory of high/low intensive meeting-places by Audunson. The methods of collecting empiric material used are qualitative, partly structured interviews with three librarians and the chief librarian and an observation of the premises of the library. The investigation revealed that the informants were positive towards the public library as social center and leisure center and the premises of the library were suitable for these purposes. The informants didn’t define the library as a hub of the community. They were positive but not without hesitations towards the public library developing into a third place. Conclusions reached include that the public library was more like a low-intensive meeting-place than a third place but shared features with third places and might benefit from drawing inspiration from them.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the strategies used by library personell to motivate young people between the ages of thirteen and seventeen to visit the library or otherwise make use of its services. This question is answered through empiric material in the form of semi-structured interviews with librarians at five different libraries in southern Sweden. The findings are then analysed through the lens of the four spaces model, which is used to categorize and evaluate the results. The interviews show that the librarians share an interest in creating a library that appeals to the youth, but likewise acknowledge that doing so is a difficult and complicated challenge. Although most of the libraries did not operate under a clearly defined strategy when marketing to this demographic, the description of the librarians’ work was fairly consistent among the interviewees. The libraries use various methods such as cooperating with other youth-centered institutions and hosting activities based around user participation. Only on select issues, such as the implementation of social media, did the interviewees present differing opinions. The results also show that young peoples’ usage of the library is largely location-dependent as libraries in smaller communities experience considerably higher difficulty in attracting young visitors. The findings of this study are largely consistent with previous research concerning public libraries’ work with young people and user interaction.

The purpose of this thesis is to research public librarians view ofthe public library as a meeting place and how it may contribute tofacilitate social integration. To study this we have asked thefollowing research questions: How do public librarians work withthe public library as a meeting place? And how do they contributeconditions for “soft inclusion”?The method we have used for this study is semi-structuredinterviews. Seven public librarians from the Gothenburg areawere interviewed and the empirical material was analyzed usingqualitative content analysis.As a theoretical foundation we have used Dorte Skot-Hansensmodel of the public library as a third place and Mikael Stigendalstheory on social inclusion. Furthermore have we used research onthe public library as a meeting place and social integration as acomplement to the model and the theory.Conclusions from the material gathered is that public librarianssee the public library as a meeting place with potential tocontribute to integrating individuals and groups with one another.The librarians’ foremost method was to attract visitors withactivities aimed at certain target groups. According to thelibrarians the result of people meeting others different fromthemselves at the public library could lead to better understandingand tolerance between individuals.The purpose of this thesis is to research public librarians view ofthe public library as a meeting place and how it may contribute tofacilitate social integration. To study this we have asked thefollowing research questions: How do public librarians work withthe public library as a meeting place? And how do they contributeconditions for “soft inclusion”?The method we have used for this study is semi-structuredinterviews. Seven public librarians from the Gothenburg areawere interviewed and the empirical material was analyzed usingqualitative content analysis.As a theoretical foundation we have used Dorte Skot-Hansensmodel of the public library as a third place and Mikael Stigendalstheory on social inclusion. Furthermore have we used research onthe public library as a meeting place and social integration as acomplement to the model and the theory.Conclusions from the material gathered is that public librarianssee the public library as a meeting place with potential tocontribute to integrating individuals and groups with one another.The librarians’ foremost method was to attract visitors withactivities aimed at certain target groups. According to thelibrarians the result of people meeting others different fromthemselves at the public library could lead to better understandingand tolerance between individuals. / Program: Bibliotekarie