This bachelor’s thesis aims to explore how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected users of the public libraries in Sweden and whether the pandemic has influenced their perception of the library’s activities. The user perspective was lacking in previous studies on the subject within Library and Information science. This study has the goal of contributing to the previously overlooked perspective of the users and their opinions of the library during the pandemic. COVID-19 has quickly led to major changes in society and has posed new challenges for libraries. Previous studies show that libraries can be an important resource for society in times of crisis, but it is necessary that libraries are seen as valuable and trustworthy public entities. The study uses the concept of legitimacy to gain a deeper understanding of how the pandemic has affected the users and their perception of public libraries. This empirical study was collected through semi- structured interviews with eight regular public library users. The empirical data was analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Study participants were affected when their libraries closed down. Few used the libraries’ adapted or digital services during this period. The study found that the participants saw a great deal of value utilising the library’s premises, in order to meet their needs, while also emphasising the symbolic role the library has in a society. Even if the pandemic has had varying consequences affecting user’s needs, it has not negatively impacted their perception of the library as a valuable pillar in the community.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:hb-26808 |
| Date | January 2021 |
| Creators | Udd, Frida, Ekman, Isabella |
| 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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