Public libraries as public sphere institutions: A comparative study of perceptions of the public library’s role in six European countries

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Standard

Public libraries as public sphere institutions : A comparative study of perceptions of the public library’s role in six European countries. / Audunson, Ragnar; Aabø, Svanhild; Blomgren, Roger; Hobohm, Hans Christoph; Jochumsen, Henrik; Khosrowjerdi, Mahmood; Mumenthaler, Rudolf; Schuldt, Karsten; Rasmussen, Casper Hvenegaard; Rydbeck, Kerstin; Tóth, Máté; Vårheim, Andreas.

In: Journal of Documentation, Vol. Vol. 75, No. No. 6, 25.09.2019, p. 1396-1415.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Harvard

Audunson, R, Aabø, S, Blomgren, R, Hobohm, HC, Jochumsen, H, Khosrowjerdi, M, Mumenthaler, R, Schuldt, K, Rasmussen, CH, Rydbeck, K, Tóth, M & Vårheim, A 2019, 'Public libraries as public sphere institutions: A comparative study of perceptions of the public library’s role in six European countries', Journal of Documentation, vol. Vol. 75, no. No. 6, pp. 1396-1415. https://doi.org/10.1108/JD-02-2019-0015

APA

Audunson, R., Aabø, S., Blomgren, R., Hobohm, H. C., Jochumsen, H., Khosrowjerdi, M., Mumenthaler, R., Schuldt, K., Rasmussen, C. H., Rydbeck, K., Tóth, M., & Vårheim, A. (2019). Public libraries as public sphere institutions: A comparative study of perceptions of the public library’s role in six European countries. Journal of Documentation, Vol. 75(No. 6), 1396-1415. https://doi.org/10.1108/JD-02-2019-0015

Vancouver

Audunson R, Aabø S, Blomgren R, Hobohm HC, Jochumsen H, Khosrowjerdi M et al. Public libraries as public sphere institutions: A comparative study of perceptions of the public library’s role in six European countries. Journal of Documentation. 2019 Sep 25;Vol. 75(No. 6):1396-1415. https://doi.org/10.1108/JD-02-2019-0015

Author

Audunson, Ragnar ; Aabø, Svanhild ; Blomgren, Roger ; Hobohm, Hans Christoph ; Jochumsen, Henrik ; Khosrowjerdi, Mahmood ; Mumenthaler, Rudolf ; Schuldt, Karsten ; Rasmussen, Casper Hvenegaard ; Rydbeck, Kerstin ; Tóth, Máté ; Vårheim, Andreas. / Public libraries as public sphere institutions : A comparative study of perceptions of the public library’s role in six European countries. In: Journal of Documentation. 2019 ; Vol. Vol. 75, No. No. 6. pp. 1396-1415.

Bibtex

@article{52a78c73ab3c46c48c307f1c66987147,
title = "Public libraries as public sphere institutions: A comparative study of perceptions of the public library{\textquoteright}s role in six European countries",
abstract = "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to analyze the role of public libraries as institutions underpinning a democratic public sphere as reasons legitimizing libraries compared to reasons that are more traditional and the actual use of libraries as public sphere arenas. Design/methodology/approach: A survey of representative samples of the adult population in six countries – Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Hungary and Switzerland – was undertaken. Findings: Legitimations related to the libraries role as a meeting place and arena for public debate are ranked as the 3 least important out of 12 possible legitimations for upholding a public library service. Libraries are, however, used extensively by the users to access citizenship information and to participate in public sphere relevant meetings. Originality/value: Few studies have empirically analyzed the role of libraries in upholding a democratic and sustainable public sphere. This study contributes in filling that gap.",
keywords = "Citizenship information, Community meeting place, Democracy, Public libraries, Public sphere, Social role of libraries",
author = "Ragnar Audunson and Svanhild Aab{\o} and Roger Blomgren and Hobohm, {Hans Christoph} and Henrik Jochumsen and Mahmood Khosrowjerdi and Rudolf Mumenthaler and Karsten Schuldt and Rasmussen, {Casper Hvenegaard} and Kerstin Rydbeck and M{\'a}t{\'e} T{\'o}th and Andreas V{\aa}rheim",
year = "2019",
month = sep,
day = "25",
doi = "10.1108/JD-02-2019-0015",
language = "English",
volume = "Vol. 75",
pages = "1396--1415",
journal = "Journal of Documentation",
issn = "0022-0418",
publisher = "Emerald Group Publishing",
number = "No. 6",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Public libraries as public sphere institutions

T2 - A comparative study of perceptions of the public library’s role in six European countries

AU - Audunson, Ragnar

AU - Aabø, Svanhild

AU - Blomgren, Roger

AU - Hobohm, Hans Christoph

AU - Jochumsen, Henrik

AU - Khosrowjerdi, Mahmood

AU - Mumenthaler, Rudolf

AU - Schuldt, Karsten

AU - Rasmussen, Casper Hvenegaard

AU - Rydbeck, Kerstin

AU - Tóth, Máté

AU - Vårheim, Andreas

PY - 2019/9/25

Y1 - 2019/9/25

N2 - Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to analyze the role of public libraries as institutions underpinning a democratic public sphere as reasons legitimizing libraries compared to reasons that are more traditional and the actual use of libraries as public sphere arenas. Design/methodology/approach: A survey of representative samples of the adult population in six countries – Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Hungary and Switzerland – was undertaken. Findings: Legitimations related to the libraries role as a meeting place and arena for public debate are ranked as the 3 least important out of 12 possible legitimations for upholding a public library service. Libraries are, however, used extensively by the users to access citizenship information and to participate in public sphere relevant meetings. Originality/value: Few studies have empirically analyzed the role of libraries in upholding a democratic and sustainable public sphere. This study contributes in filling that gap.

AB - Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to analyze the role of public libraries as institutions underpinning a democratic public sphere as reasons legitimizing libraries compared to reasons that are more traditional and the actual use of libraries as public sphere arenas. Design/methodology/approach: A survey of representative samples of the adult population in six countries – Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Hungary and Switzerland – was undertaken. Findings: Legitimations related to the libraries role as a meeting place and arena for public debate are ranked as the 3 least important out of 12 possible legitimations for upholding a public library service. Libraries are, however, used extensively by the users to access citizenship information and to participate in public sphere relevant meetings. Originality/value: Few studies have empirically analyzed the role of libraries in upholding a democratic and sustainable public sphere. This study contributes in filling that gap.

KW - Citizenship information

KW - Community meeting place

KW - Democracy

KW - Public libraries

KW - Public sphere

KW - Social role of libraries

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85071288053&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1108/JD-02-2019-0015

DO - 10.1108/JD-02-2019-0015

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:85071288053

VL - Vol. 75

SP - 1396

EP - 1415

JO - Journal of Documentation

JF - Journal of Documentation

SN - 0022-0418

IS - No. 6

ER -

ID: 227566140