This study investigates the role of public libraries in creating and promoting integration. More specifically, the aim of this thesis is to contribute with knowledge about how public libraries can help newcomers. During the last few years Library and Information Science scholars have conducted several studies in order to gain better knowledge regarding newcomers’ use of the library and their information practices. Fewer studies focus on the way librarians understand and describe their practices. This study aims to be a contribution in this direction, investigating librarians’ descriptions of their practices. Moreover, this study aims to understand the way librarians perceive and describe their professional identity in relation to their work with newly arrived people. The study is qualitative. The empirical data comes from semi structured interviews I conducted with seven librarians who work with newcomers. Data has been analyzed with narrative method. The findings show that library staff tends to establish with newcomers meaningful relationships based on reciprocity, curiosity and openness. Concerning the description of the daily work they conduct for newcomers, three “pillars” has been identified: the social work and the work with languages; the pedagogic work; the work with literature. Moreover, among the elements that enable and facilitate librarians’ work emerged communication and cooperation with external partners. The three “pillars” that resulted from the analysis are also indicative of the way respondents perceive their professional identity in relation to the work they conduct for newcomers. Concerning this last aspect, this resulted in an internal discussion between what should be considered as part of the profession and what should not. The profession of librarianship, in fact, is traditional but even wellconnected to the society. Societal changes generate change in the way libraries perceive their role and identity. Finally, all study participants are aware of the importance of the work they conduct and of the crucial role that libraries may have in the lives of many newcomers.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:hb-23279 |
| Date | January 2020 |
| Creators | Pecorella, Anna Carla |
| 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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