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Policy Brief : Strengthen Librarians' Social Role

Rivano Eckerdal, Johanna LU orcid and Engström, Lisa LU orcid (2024)
Abstract
The authors of this policy brief are contributors to the research project Infrastructuring Libraries in Transformation (ILIT). ILIT’s objective is to examine public libraries’ role in this era beset by social challenges such as segregation, discrimination, austerity measures, and unemployment. ILIT began conducting research in three urban communities in 2022: Malmö, Sweden; Rotterdam, the Netherlands; and Vienna, Austria. The project will conclude in 2025.
ILIT’s research explores three principal themes: community librarianship, the politics of the library, and local involvement. This policy brief addresses the theme related to ILIT’s study of community librarianship.
The central thrust of our study comprises an attempt to... (More)
The authors of this policy brief are contributors to the research project Infrastructuring Libraries in Transformation (ILIT). ILIT’s objective is to examine public libraries’ role in this era beset by social challenges such as segregation, discrimination, austerity measures, and unemployment. ILIT began conducting research in three urban communities in 2022: Malmö, Sweden; Rotterdam, the Netherlands; and Vienna, Austria. The project will conclude in 2025.
ILIT’s research explores three principal themes: community librarianship, the politics of the library, and local involvement. This policy brief addresses the theme related to ILIT’s study of community librarianship.
The central thrust of our study comprises an attempt to understand libraries as social infrastructures. Infrastructure is defined as a fundamental structure that plays an important role in maintaining a well-functioning society. The term is often used to refer to physical infrastructure, such as conduits for electricity, water, and Internet cables, and transportation networks for cars, trains, bicycles, and pedestrians. Publicly funded libraries are an infrastructure providing access to information and culture. In Sweden, the Swedish Library Act stipulates that each municipality must provide public libraries for its residents.

By describing public libraries as social infrastructures we emphasize their social function, in which library staff play a key role. Libraries contribute to a community’s well-being through the support they provide to individuals in their everyday lives, which includes serving as meeting places. Notwithstanding, we observe that this social function of libraries is currently under threat due to cutbacks and austerity policies. In light of these developments, we wish to draw attention to the value of libraries and their staff as an asset in maintaining a well-functioning, sustainable, and robust society.

This policy brief presents recommendations aimed at strengthening librarians’ social role. These can be used to advocate in favor of granting public libraries greater resources to use in support of their cities and local residents.
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Popular Science
pages
8 pages
publisher
Infrastructuring Libraries in Transformation (ILIT)
language
English
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yes
id
cbb44036-c113-4dfc-a65a-3a6281394796
date added to LUP
2025-03-05 14:10:58
date last changed
2025-04-04 15:11:01
@misc{cbb44036-c113-4dfc-a65a-3a6281394796,
  abstract     = {{The authors of this policy brief are contributors to the research project Infrastructuring Libraries in Transformation (ILIT). ILIT’s objective is to examine public libraries’ role in this era beset by social challenges such as segregation, discrimination, austerity measures, and unemployment. ILIT began conducting research in three urban communities in 2022: Malmö, Sweden; Rotterdam, the Netherlands; and Vienna, Austria. The project will conclude in 2025.<br/>ILIT’s research explores three principal themes: community librarianship, the politics of the library, and local involvement. This policy brief addresses the theme related to ILIT’s study of community librarianship.<br/>The central thrust of our study comprises an attempt to understand libraries as social infrastructures. Infrastructure is defined as a fundamental structure that plays an important role in maintaining a well-functioning society. The term is often used to refer to physical infrastructure, such as conduits for electricity, water, and Internet cables, and transportation networks for cars, trains, bicycles, and pedestrians. Publicly funded libraries are an infrastructure providing access to information and culture. In Sweden, the Swedish Library Act stipulates that each municipality must provide public libraries for its residents.<br/><br/>By describing public libraries as social infrastructures we emphasize their social function, in which library staff play a key role. Libraries contribute to a community’s well-being through the support they provide to individuals in their everyday lives, which includes serving as meeting places. Notwithstanding, we observe that this social function of libraries is currently under threat due to cutbacks and austerity policies. In light of these developments, we wish to draw attention to the value of libraries and their staff as an asset in maintaining a well-functioning, sustainable, and robust society.<br/><br/>This policy brief presents recommendations aimed at strengthening librarians’ social role. These can be used to advocate in favor of granting public libraries greater resources to use in support of their cities and local residents.<br/>}},
  author       = {{Rivano Eckerdal, Johanna and Engström, Lisa}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Infrastructuring Libraries in Transformation (ILIT)}},
  title        = {{Policy Brief : Strengthen Librarians' Social Role}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/209727719/PB-Community_Librarianship_SE-EN_30052024.pdf}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}