Added value : About librarians view´s on a public library in transformation

The aim of this Master’s thesis is to examine the professional discourses that can be identified in the public library field. My main focus is to look at the professional views on the added value of public library. Questions posed in this study are: how does the professional language look when it comes of speaking and reasoning about the public librarys added value and function, which discourses can be identified in the professional language about the public library, what could the discourses entail for the future of public library? The empirical data consist of four interviews where the respondents have been constituted by public librarians. The theory and method used is a discourse analysis from where the discourse theory of Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffe have been utilized. In my analysis I have interpreted what is said by the librarians about the added value of the public library. From there I have been able to identify four discourses: market economy discourse, social entrepreneur discourse, democratic meeting place discourse and changes discourse. My conclusion is that the future public library holds changes and challenges where the role of the public librarian will be more strongely influenced by a market-driven mentality. Also I have concluded that it is of importance that public librarians are prepared for the challenges that are and the challenges that are yet to come.Program: Bibliotekari