A disappearing indigenous language : a study concerning the role of the Swedish public libraries in revitalizing the South Sami language

The year 2000 the Sami languages were recognized as official minority languages in Sweden, which among other things mean that there is a government decision to provide the means for their further existence. The purpose of this thesis is to discuss the role of the Swedish public libraries in revitalizing the South Sami language. This is an important topic to address, since the South Sami language faces serious threats today. Furthermore, the role of the public libraries in revitalizing the minority languages due to the Swedish engagement is not yet defined. The study focuses on Jämtlands läns bibliotek, a choice based on the fact that this library is located in a region with a large South Sami population. In the light of existing policy documents, and up-to-date research results dealing with the South Sami language situation, we made an interview study based on three distinct questions at issue. These deals with the responsibility of the library, the present work at the library, and the future work of the library. In answering these questions at issue, we made eight interviews with strategically selected persons; four librarians and four Samis. Since there is no established library praxis regarding the routines to revitalize threatened languages in Sweden, the purpose was to let the informants themselves contribute to the definition of the phenomenon’s at hand. Our conceptual frameworks were Kenneth Hyltenstam´s theories on language processes, Dorte Skot-Hansen´s & Marianne Andersen´s categorization of the different functions of the library, and Mikael Stigendal´s perspective on the librarian’s role in integration. Our results show that there is a gap between what the librarians perceived as immediate demand, and the real needs of the South Sami group; a gap which the library in the light of it´s educating commission has a responsibility to bridge. The results also show that the library´s work today concerning this matter is inadequate, and that the library receives a low level of trust from the Sami informants. However, the results also show a mutual interest in cooperation, in order to investigate possible and constructive ways forward. Crucial to successful results showed to be the integration of South Sami competence in the overall resources of the library, and to contribute to the normalization of the Sami presence in the region in other ways.Folkbiblioteken och de nationella minoritetern