The public library as a factor of regional and local development

This study aims mainly to investigate what kind of role the public library plays in the regional and local development. The aim is also to investigate how the public library can strengthen the role as a factor of regional and local development. To explore the subject, the study is focused on the Swedish region of Västra Götaland. Three officials along with two policy documents, are included in the study as representatives of the region. Four public library managers are also interviewed but as representatives of the local perspective. To investigate the role of the public library in the regional and local development in more than one dimension, the theoretical framework consists of three different theories, which are used to answer the three research questions of the study. A qualitative analysis is performed to examine the relationships between the rhetorical statements and the theories. The study reveals that the major motives of the public library to work with regional and local development, are following the labels of the theory, the motive of enlightment and the motive of social issues. The study also shows that several functions of the public library, such as being a center of knowledge, a center of culture and a center of social issues, are particularly linked to the regional and local development. It is also clear that the public libraries of Västra Götaland, have the potentials to develop into more powerful factors in the regional and local development.Program: Bibliotekari