In-between strengthened accessibility and economic demands : analysing self-service libraries from a user perspective
Engström, Lisa LU
and Rivano Eckerdal, Johanna
LU
(2016)
In Journal of Documentation
73(1).
p.145-159
- Abstract
- Purpose - The aim of this paper is to explore the implementation of self-service at public libraries from the perspective of their users. The implementation of self-service is related to a diverse societal context including for example an overall digitalisation, budget constraints and political expectations on public libraries to contribute to marketing the local community.
Methodology - Semi-structured interviews with users and observations have been undertaken at self-service libraries in the south of Sweden. The material is analysed by means of a theoretical framework consisting of previous critical LIS-research, Fairclough’s critical discourse analysis and Habermas’ theory of the colonisation of the lifeworld.
Findings - The... (More) - Purpose - The aim of this paper is to explore the implementation of self-service at public libraries from the perspective of their users. The implementation of self-service is related to a diverse societal context including for example an overall digitalisation, budget constraints and political expectations on public libraries to contribute to marketing the local community.
Methodology - Semi-structured interviews with users and observations have been undertaken at self-service libraries in the south of Sweden. The material is analysed by means of a theoretical framework consisting of previous critical LIS-research, Fairclough’s critical discourse analysis and Habermas’ theory of the colonisation of the lifeworld.
Findings - The implementation of self-service is affecting the users’ library practices as well as their expectations on the library. These expectations are shaped by various and sometimes competing discourses.
Social implications - To support public libraries’ role as democratic public spheres the complexity of the users’ understandings should be taken into consideration when implementing self-service.
Originality/value – The differing expectations articulated by the users, and the various discourses they can be related to, implicate a hegemonic struggle, corresponding to a changing view on public libraries.
(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/645c4053-e53c-4edf-b095-49913cfa4726
- author
- Engström, Lisa
LU
and Rivano Eckerdal, Johanna
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2016-12-22
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- Journal of Documentation
- volume
- 73
- issue
- 1
- pages
- 15 pages
- publisher
- Emerald Group Publishing Limited
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85006700565
- wos:000395677700008
- ISSN
- 0022-0418
- DOI
- 10.1108/JD-02-2016-0013
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 645c4053-e53c-4edf-b095-49913cfa4726
- date added to LUP
- 2016-08-22 12:35:02
- date last changed
- 2025-10-14 10:56:26
@article{645c4053-e53c-4edf-b095-49913cfa4726,
abstract = {{Purpose - The aim of this paper is to explore the implementation of self-service at public libraries from the perspective of their users. The implementation of self-service is related to a diverse societal context including for example an overall digitalisation, budget constraints and political expectations on public libraries to contribute to marketing the local community.<br/>Methodology - Semi-structured interviews with users and observations have been undertaken at self-service libraries in the south of Sweden. The material is analysed by means of a theoretical framework consisting of previous critical LIS-research, Fairclough’s critical discourse analysis and Habermas’ theory of the colonisation of the lifeworld.<br/>Findings - The implementation of self-service is affecting the users’ library practices as well as their expectations on the library. These expectations are shaped by various and sometimes competing discourses. <br/>Social implications - To support public libraries’ role as democratic public spheres the complexity of the users’ understandings should be taken into consideration when implementing self-service.<br/>Originality/value – The differing expectations articulated by the users, and the various discourses they can be related to, implicate a hegemonic struggle, corresponding to a changing view on public libraries.<br/>}},
author = {{Engström, Lisa and Rivano Eckerdal, Johanna}},
issn = {{0022-0418}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{12}},
number = {{1}},
pages = {{145--159}},
publisher = {{Emerald Group Publishing Limited}},
series = {{Journal of Documentation}},
title = {{In-between strengthened accessibility and economic demands : analysing self-service libraries from a user perspective}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/JD-02-2016-0013}},
doi = {{10.1108/JD-02-2016-0013}},
volume = {{73}},
year = {{2016}},
}