Participatory models for public libraries, such as the presence of performative spaces, are growing increasingly common. The purpose of this bachelor’s thesis is to investigate why library users participate in such practices, and how they perceive the legitimacy of participatory library models that position the user as an active participant or co-producer. The empirical material consists of seven semi-structured interviews with adult library users with experience of library activities oriented towards creative practices, conducted at three Swedish public libraries. The material has undergone qualitative content analysis through the lens of cultural-historical activity theory. Findings show that participants use library resources such as workshop equipment in order to perform creative practices, try new activities, socialize, and to produce tangible or digital products. The participants express that tools, staff and co-users enable them to accomplish certain outcomes connected to new or previously established creative practices. Further, they value that resources for creating are made available to everyone, regardless of socio-economic status, and express that performative library spaces add to the well-being of the community. Finally, personal factors such as lack of energy or time reduce readiness to contribute to the library as a co-producer, while friendly staff encourage user engagement in library programs. For library managers, it is important to keep in mind that not everyone has the opportunity to take part in shaping library services when models for user-participation are being implemented.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:hb-28953 |
| Date | January 2022 |
| Creators | Hallberg, Maria |
| Publisher | Högskolan i Borås, Akademin för bibliotek, information, pedagogik och IT |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | Swedish |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Student thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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