Nobel and August at the library : Attitudes and standpoints amongst librarians towards literary awards

The aim of this Master’s thesis is to examine attitudes and standpoints amongst librarians at the Swedish public library towards literary awards and awarded literature. The questions posed in the study are: What attitudes are expressed amongst these librarians towards the Nobel Prize in literature, the August Prize and literary awards and awarded literature in general? What significance do the Nobel Prize in literature, the August Prize and other literary awards have concerning purchase and display at these public libraries? How is awarded literature perceived and how do they talk about it concerning quality and are questions of quality significant? Qualitative interviews with seven librarians at four different public libraries have been done. Theories regarding Jϋrgen Habermas the bourgeois public sphere and Pierre Bourdieu’s terms habitus, field and capital have been used as to explain the library as a public sphere. Concerning quality and value, theories by Barbara Herrnstein Smith have been used. The results of the study indicate that librarians have a positive attitude towards literary awards and the handling of awarded literature. None of the libraries have any specific policy regarding awarded literature though, and it is handled like any other literature of current interest. The awarded literature is of high quality, according the librarians, who also think quality is a criterion that should be rewarded. Librarians are also regarded as a competent group as to evaluate quality and judge literature accordingly