Public librarians’ views on library services for digital audiobooks : embarassing, important and beneficial

The purpose of this master thesis is to examine services for digital audiobooks’ role at public libraries in Sweden. The focus of the thesis is on public librarians’ views on services for digital audiobooks within the public library activities. The study is formulated against the rising demand for digital audiobooks and the impact these developments have had on the literary field, which public libraries are regarded a part of. The thesis is based on a theoretical framework which consists of two perspectives: 1) deterministic versus constructionist views on technology and 2) institutional identity and legitimacy. Semistructured interviews have been held with seven public librarians in the municipality of Gothenburg in order to examine how the librarians perceived the implementation and development of the public library services for digital audiobooks, if the services have imposed any changes for the individual librarian and how the librarians perceive the service as a part of the public library’s activities. The empirical data has been analyzed through qualitative content analysis. The empirical data shows that the librarians experience a limited capacity to effect change in regard to the service for digital audiobooks’ implementation, functionality, interface and supply of literature. The informants describe how shortcomings in regards to these aspects hinders the service from being used to meet perceived expectations and needs from users, as well as to live up to the public library’s institutional identity, which threatens the legitimacy of the public library.