The development of the public library in Österåker during 1958 : 1983

The purpose of this thesis is to describe and analyse the development of the public library in the district of Österåker during a period of 1958-1983. The main goals have been to identify the crucial events in the history of the library within their historical context and to analyse the factors that have been important for the development: financing, location, staffing, stock of books, book-lending level and different activities for children, youngsters and adults. The consideration has been taken to reasons and consequences of these events. The hermeneutic interpretation model of interaction between parts and wholes, between reasons and results is the basic method in this research which leans mainly upon local archives in Österåker. The public library in Österåker was established in 1952 as a fusion of previously existing small libraries: the parish library in Östra Ryd, the Labour Movement’s library and the temperance movement’s library. This public library, which was small and neglected in the fifties, developed to a relative big and modern cultural community centre in the seventies. The most important milestones in the development were: moving to Municipal Hall in 1955, employment of the very first professionally skilled librarian in1969, receiving of a Government subsidy for developing of regional libraries in 1970, moving to the larger premises in 1971 and moving to the permanent location in Folkets hus in 1978. The library fortune depended on the local conditions and the national politics, both constituting the framework for possibilities to grow and develop. The research shows that a good economy together with appropriate premises and skilled staff provides a good base for a successful development.Uppsatsnivå: