“En överlevnadsfråga” : En fallstudie om föreställningar och praktiker kring ekologiskt hållbarhetsarbete på Malmö universitetsbibliotek
(2026) ABMM54 20261Division of ALM, Digital Cultures and Publishing Studies
- Abstract
- This explorative case study examines librarians’ perceptions and practices regarding environmental sustainability at Malmö University library. More specifically the study addresses which conditions and challenges that underlie these practices, with a core emphasis on the librarians’ perceptions regarding the role of academic libraries in the sustainable shift in Swedish society. Analytically the study delves into how these perceptions are legitimized and which green role they embody.
The study adopts a qualitative method with a qualitative survey sent out to all librarians at Malmö university complemented by two focus groups and an interview allowing for more in-depth data. The analytical lens is provided by two points of departure -... (More) - This explorative case study examines librarians’ perceptions and practices regarding environmental sustainability at Malmö University library. More specifically the study addresses which conditions and challenges that underlie these practices, with a core emphasis on the librarians’ perceptions regarding the role of academic libraries in the sustainable shift in Swedish society. Analytically the study delves into how these perceptions are legitimized and which green role they embody.
The study adopts a qualitative method with a qualitative survey sent out to all librarians at Malmö university complemented by two focus groups and an interview allowing for more in-depth data. The analytical lens is provided by two points of departure - legitimization, which is further narrowed down in the culture sociology theory of Orders of worth (Boltanski & Thévenot 2006), as well as the theory of the Library’s Green Role (Miller 2010) and the related notions of futures literacy and active hope.
The analysis reveals that the librarians mostly identify as environmental leaders, focusing their green practices on lowering the library’s environmental footprint. Also noticeable was the notion of the library as an environmental educator with emphasis on inspiring and giving the necessary tools for self-education. Furthermore it is revealed that the librarians primarily legitimized their perceptions and practices through a personal interest in sustainability. Local policies at the university and library also emerge as important factors in legitimising work. Political directives, however, do not seem to play a central role in incentivising sustainable work or legitimizing work, and arguably need to be strengthened. Other enabling factors revealed were, for example, having a dedicated group of librarians working with implementing a sustainable mindset at the workplace. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9228817
- author
- Lindahl, Maja LU and Smedberg, Embla LU
- supervisor
- organization
- alternative title
- “A Question of Survival” : a Case Study of Perceptions and Practices Regarding Environmental Sustainability at Malmö University Library
- course
- ABMM54 20261
- year
- 2026
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Academic libraries, librarians, ecological sustainability, sustainable practices, environmental leadership, environmental education, environmental literacy, legitimacy, cultural policy, neutrality
- language
- Swedish
- id
- 9228817
- date added to LUP
- 2026-07-06 09:18:35
- date last changed
- 2026-07-06 09:18:35
@misc{9228817,
abstract = {{This explorative case study examines librarians’ perceptions and practices regarding environmental sustainability at Malmö University library. More specifically the study addresses which conditions and challenges that underlie these practices, with a core emphasis on the librarians’ perceptions regarding the role of academic libraries in the sustainable shift in Swedish society. Analytically the study delves into how these perceptions are legitimized and which green role they embody.
The study adopts a qualitative method with a qualitative survey sent out to all librarians at Malmö university complemented by two focus groups and an interview allowing for more in-depth data. The analytical lens is provided by two points of departure - legitimization, which is further narrowed down in the culture sociology theory of Orders of worth (Boltanski & Thévenot 2006), as well as the theory of the Library’s Green Role (Miller 2010) and the related notions of futures literacy and active hope.
The analysis reveals that the librarians mostly identify as environmental leaders, focusing their green practices on lowering the library’s environmental footprint. Also noticeable was the notion of the library as an environmental educator with emphasis on inspiring and giving the necessary tools for self-education. Furthermore it is revealed that the librarians primarily legitimized their perceptions and practices through a personal interest in sustainability. Local policies at the university and library also emerge as important factors in legitimising work. Political directives, however, do not seem to play a central role in incentivising sustainable work or legitimizing work, and arguably need to be strengthened. Other enabling factors revealed were, for example, having a dedicated group of librarians working with implementing a sustainable mindset at the workplace.}},
author = {{Lindahl, Maja and Smedberg, Embla}},
language = {{swe}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{“En överlevnadsfråga” : En fallstudie om föreställningar och praktiker kring ekologiskt hållbarhetsarbete på Malmö universitetsbibliotek}},
year = {{2026}},
}