Public librarians' perception of their professional role and the library's role in supporting the public sphere:a multi-country comparison
Abstract Purpose The overarching aim of this article is to consider to what extent the perceptions of librarians in Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Norway, Poland and Sweden reflect a unified view of their professional role and the role of their institutions in supporting the formation of the pu...
Published in: | Journal of Documentation |
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2022
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Online Access: | https://curis.ku.dk/portal/da/publications/public-librarians-perception-of-their-professional-role-and-the-librarys-role-in-supporting-the-public-sphere(0b19f8a4-d291-449c-a0cc-7db0e3c24862).html https://doi.org/10.1108/JD-09-2021-0178 |
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ftcopenhagenunip:oai:pure.atira.dk:publications/0b19f8a4-d291-449c-a0cc-7db0e3c24862 2024-06-09T07:47:14+00:00 Public librarians' perception of their professional role and the library's role in supporting the public sphere:a multi-country comparison Johnston, Jamie Pálsdóttir, Ágústa Mierzecka, Anna Audunson, Ragnar Hobohm , Hans-Christoph Rydbeck, Kerstin Tóth, Máté Rasmussen, Casper Hvenegaard Jochumsen, Henrik Khosrowjerdi, Mahmood Ejven, Sunniva 2022 https://curis.ku.dk/portal/da/publications/public-librarians-perception-of-their-professional-role-and-the-librarys-role-in-supporting-the-public-sphere(0b19f8a4-d291-449c-a0cc-7db0e3c24862).html https://doi.org/10.1108/JD-09-2021-0178 eng eng info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess Johnston , J , Pálsdóttir , Á , Mierzecka , A , Audunson , R , Hobohm , H-C , Rydbeck , K , Tóth , M , Rasmussen , C H , Jochumsen , H , Khosrowjerdi , M & Ejven , S 2022 , ' Public librarians' perception of their professional role and the library's role in supporting the public sphere : a multi-country comparison ' , Journal of Documentation (JDOC) , vol. 78 , no. 5 , pp. 1109-1130 . https://doi.org/10.1108/JD-09-2021-0178 /dk/atira/pure/core/keywords/FacultyOfHumanities Faculty of Humanities Public Libraries Public sphere Librarians Librariansship Professions article 2022 ftcopenhagenunip https://doi.org/10.1108/JD-09-2021-0178 2024-05-16T11:29:20Z Abstract Purpose The overarching aim of this article is to consider to what extent the perceptions of librarians in Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Norway, Poland and Sweden reflect a unified view of their professional role and the role of their institutions in supporting the formation of the public sphere and to what extent the variations reflect national contexts. Design/methodology/approach The multi-country comparison is based on online questionnaires. The central research questions are how do librarians legitimize the use of public resources to uphold a public library service? How do librarians perceive the role of public libraries as public spaces? How do librarians perceive their professional role and the competencies needed for it? Consideration is given to how the digital and social turns are reflected in the responses. Findings The results show evidence of a unified professional culture with clear influences from national contexts. A key finding is that librarians see giving access as central for both legitimizing library services and for the library's role as a public sphere institution. Strong support is shown for the social turn in supporting the formation of the public sphere while the digital turn appears to be a future challenge; one of seemingly increased importance due to the pandemic. Research limitations/implications This study shows that libraries across the seven countries have expanded beyond simply providing public access to their book-based collections and now serve as social, learning and creative spaces: both in the physical library and digitally. Qualitative research is needed concerning librarians' notions of public libraries and librarianship, which will provide a more in-depth understanding of the changing professional responsibilities and how public libraries recruit the associated competencies. Originality/value The article provides a much needed insight into how librarians perceive the role of public libraries in supporting the formation of the public sphere and democratic ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Iceland University of Copenhagen: Research Norway Journal of Documentation 78 5 1109 1130 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
University of Copenhagen: Research |
op_collection_id |
ftcopenhagenunip |
language |
English |
topic |
/dk/atira/pure/core/keywords/FacultyOfHumanities Faculty of Humanities Public Libraries Public sphere Librarians Librariansship Professions |
spellingShingle |
/dk/atira/pure/core/keywords/FacultyOfHumanities Faculty of Humanities Public Libraries Public sphere Librarians Librariansship Professions Johnston, Jamie Pálsdóttir, Ágústa Mierzecka, Anna Audunson, Ragnar Hobohm , Hans-Christoph Rydbeck, Kerstin Tóth, Máté Rasmussen, Casper Hvenegaard Jochumsen, Henrik Khosrowjerdi, Mahmood Ejven, Sunniva Public librarians' perception of their professional role and the library's role in supporting the public sphere:a multi-country comparison |
topic_facet |
/dk/atira/pure/core/keywords/FacultyOfHumanities Faculty of Humanities Public Libraries Public sphere Librarians Librariansship Professions |
description |
Abstract Purpose The overarching aim of this article is to consider to what extent the perceptions of librarians in Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Norway, Poland and Sweden reflect a unified view of their professional role and the role of their institutions in supporting the formation of the public sphere and to what extent the variations reflect national contexts. Design/methodology/approach The multi-country comparison is based on online questionnaires. The central research questions are how do librarians legitimize the use of public resources to uphold a public library service? How do librarians perceive the role of public libraries as public spaces? How do librarians perceive their professional role and the competencies needed for it? Consideration is given to how the digital and social turns are reflected in the responses. Findings The results show evidence of a unified professional culture with clear influences from national contexts. A key finding is that librarians see giving access as central for both legitimizing library services and for the library's role as a public sphere institution. Strong support is shown for the social turn in supporting the formation of the public sphere while the digital turn appears to be a future challenge; one of seemingly increased importance due to the pandemic. Research limitations/implications This study shows that libraries across the seven countries have expanded beyond simply providing public access to their book-based collections and now serve as social, learning and creative spaces: both in the physical library and digitally. Qualitative research is needed concerning librarians' notions of public libraries and librarianship, which will provide a more in-depth understanding of the changing professional responsibilities and how public libraries recruit the associated competencies. Originality/value The article provides a much needed insight into how librarians perceive the role of public libraries in supporting the formation of the public sphere and democratic ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Johnston, Jamie Pálsdóttir, Ágústa Mierzecka, Anna Audunson, Ragnar Hobohm , Hans-Christoph Rydbeck, Kerstin Tóth, Máté Rasmussen, Casper Hvenegaard Jochumsen, Henrik Khosrowjerdi, Mahmood Ejven, Sunniva |
author_facet |
Johnston, Jamie Pálsdóttir, Ágústa Mierzecka, Anna Audunson, Ragnar Hobohm , Hans-Christoph Rydbeck, Kerstin Tóth, Máté Rasmussen, Casper Hvenegaard Jochumsen, Henrik Khosrowjerdi, Mahmood Ejven, Sunniva |
author_sort |
Johnston, Jamie |
title |
Public librarians' perception of their professional role and the library's role in supporting the public sphere:a multi-country comparison |
title_short |
Public librarians' perception of their professional role and the library's role in supporting the public sphere:a multi-country comparison |
title_full |
Public librarians' perception of their professional role and the library's role in supporting the public sphere:a multi-country comparison |
title_fullStr |
Public librarians' perception of their professional role and the library's role in supporting the public sphere:a multi-country comparison |
title_full_unstemmed |
Public librarians' perception of their professional role and the library's role in supporting the public sphere:a multi-country comparison |
title_sort |
public librarians' perception of their professional role and the library's role in supporting the public sphere:a multi-country comparison |
publishDate |
2022 |
url |
https://curis.ku.dk/portal/da/publications/public-librarians-perception-of-their-professional-role-and-the-librarys-role-in-supporting-the-public-sphere(0b19f8a4-d291-449c-a0cc-7db0e3c24862).html https://doi.org/10.1108/JD-09-2021-0178 |
geographic |
Norway |
geographic_facet |
Norway |
genre |
Iceland |
genre_facet |
Iceland |
op_source |
Johnston , J , Pálsdóttir , Á , Mierzecka , A , Audunson , R , Hobohm , H-C , Rydbeck , K , Tóth , M , Rasmussen , C H , Jochumsen , H , Khosrowjerdi , M & Ejven , S 2022 , ' Public librarians' perception of their professional role and the library's role in supporting the public sphere : a multi-country comparison ' , Journal of Documentation (JDOC) , vol. 78 , no. 5 , pp. 1109-1130 . https://doi.org/10.1108/JD-09-2021-0178 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1108/JD-09-2021-0178 |
container_title |
Journal of Documentation |
container_volume |
78 |
container_issue |
5 |
container_start_page |
1109 |
op_container_end_page |
1130 |
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1801378197437153280 |