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Lättläst för alla? - Folkbibliotekariers uppfattning om den lättlästa litteraturens målgrupper och förmedling

Hellén-Halme, Miho LU (2025) ABMM54 20251
Division of ALM, Digital Cultures and Publishing Studies
Abstract
This study aims to create a greater understanding of how public librarians in Sweden perceive target groups of easy-to-read books for adults and how they work to mediate those books to the different groups. To investigate these questions, I have conducted interviews with seven librarians at four public libraries in Sweden and analysed the results using the classification theory of Bowker and Star among others, the insights from disability studies, and the concept of universal design. The results indicate that librarians have several target groups in mind when they work on the mediation of easy-to-read books, the biggest groups being Swedish language learners and people with intellectual disabilities. The librarians' answers also indicate... (More)
This study aims to create a greater understanding of how public librarians in Sweden perceive target groups of easy-to-read books for adults and how they work to mediate those books to the different groups. To investigate these questions, I have conducted interviews with seven librarians at four public libraries in Sweden and analysed the results using the classification theory of Bowker and Star among others, the insights from disability studies, and the concept of universal design. The results indicate that librarians have several target groups in mind when they work on the mediation of easy-to-read books, the biggest groups being Swedish language learners and people with intellectual disabilities. The librarians' answers also indicate that easy-to-read books are considered as something for all, with or without disability; in other words, easy-to-read is seen as a universal design for reading, something that has the potential to reach a wide range of people. The results also indicate that the stigma often associated with easy-to-read books and reading difficulties has been reduced, especially for younger generations. However, it seems to be practically unattainable to perform universally designed mediation work as librarians need to adjust to the widely different needs and interests of the target groups. People outside the established target groups can sometimes be forgotten, and it is logistically difficult to reach out to all target groups. The study concludes with some suggestions for future development. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Hellén-Halme, Miho LU
supervisor
organization
alternative title
Easy-to-Read for Everyone? Public Librarians’ Perceptions of the Target Groups and Mediation of Easy-to-Read Literature
course
ABMM54 20251
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Library, public library, easy-to-read books, easy readers, accessible media, literature mediation, reading promotion
language
Swedish
id
9191699
date added to LUP
2025-06-24 10:59:17
date last changed
2025-06-24 10:59:17
@misc{9191699,
  abstract     = {{This study aims to create a greater understanding of how public librarians in Sweden perceive target groups of easy-to-read books for adults and how they work to mediate those books to the different groups. To investigate these questions, I have conducted interviews with seven librarians at four public libraries in Sweden and analysed the results using the classification theory of Bowker and Star among others, the insights from disability studies, and the concept of universal design. The results indicate that librarians have several target groups in mind when they work on the mediation of easy-to-read books, the biggest groups being Swedish language learners and people with intellectual disabilities. The librarians' answers also indicate that easy-to-read books are considered as something for all, with or without disability; in other words, easy-to-read is seen as a universal design for reading, something that has the potential to reach a wide range of people. The results also indicate that the stigma often associated with easy-to-read books and reading difficulties has been reduced, especially for younger generations. However, it seems to be practically unattainable to perform universally designed mediation work as librarians need to adjust to the widely different needs and interests of the target groups. People outside the established target groups can sometimes be forgotten, and it is logistically difficult to reach out to all target groups. The study concludes with some suggestions for future development.}},
  author       = {{Hellén-Halme, Miho}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Lättläst för alla? - Folkbibliotekariers uppfattning om den lättlästa litteraturens målgrupper och förmedling}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}