Is the school library the space it claims to be? : An observation of how the library room promotes reading and information seeking in five high school libraries

The aim of this thesis is to study five high school libraries as rooms. Many authorities and organizations associated with school libraries emphasize the library’s role as reading promoter and as a place for information seeking.I have observed how the objects and functions that represent reading and information seeking are distributed through the room and organized on the shelves. The ambition is neither to investigate the intention behind the configuration of the room, nor how the students actually use it. I wanted to see if the organization of objects and functions promotes a certain use of the library and how the distribution corresponds with reading promotion and information seeking. My intention was to view the library through the eyes of a high school student and not as a librarian. I also investigated if and how the libraries’ wayfinding systems would aid the user with the information seeking process or in finding something to read.I found that the libraries have much work to do before the library spaces help users find the artifacts that promotes reading and helps them in information seeking situations. The wayfinding system is not helpful to anyone who does not know about the Swedish classification system, SAB. The library desks are not inviting and the bookshelves look the same and the books with the backs towards the users can discourage many people from trying to find anything in the library