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This article analyses the pressure against librarianship and library and information science stemming from digitization and the increased importance attached to libraries' role as meeting places and arenas for the public sphere. Both these developmental tendencies make many question the need of librarians as intermediaries between users and the sources of information. The navigating and searching for information in a digital world when the world itself has become a library, is far from trivial and the traditional competencies of librarians relating to searching for and finding information is as relevant as ever. LIS schools should also provide their students with theoretical tools helping them reflect upon the role and potential of libraries in relation to the challenges to upholding a sustainable public sphere in a digital and multicultural age. LIS schools should also convey to their students the historical continuity and legacy of libraries as a public sphere institution. ; Norges forskningsråd 259052 ; publishedVersion

Der vorliegende Beitrag analysiert den durch die Digitalisierung bedingten Druck auf das Bibliothekswesen und die Bibliotheks- und Informationswissenschaft sowie auf die zunehmende Bedeutung der Bibliotheken als Begegnungsorte und -arenen für die Öffentlichkeit. Beide Entwicklungstendenzen stellen die Notwendigkeit von Bibliothekaren als Vermittler zwischen Nutzern und Informationsquellen in Frage. Das Navigieren und Suchen nach Informationen in einer digitalen Welt, wenn die Welt selbst eine Bibliothek geworden ist, ist alles andere als trivial und die traditionellen Kompetenzen der Bibliothekare in Bezug auf das Suchen und Finden von Informationen sind so relevant wie eh und je. LIS-Ausbildungseinrichtungen sollten ihren Studenten auch die theoretische Werkzeuge zur Verfügung stellen, die ihnen helfen, über die Rolle und das Potenzial von Bibliotheken in Bezug auf die Herausforderungen einer nachhaltigen öffentlichen Sphäre im digitalen und multikulturellen Zeitalter nachzudenken. LIS-Ausbildungseinrichtungen sollten ihren Studenten auch die historische Kontinuität und das Erbe von Bibliotheken als Institutionen der öffentlichen Sphäre vermitteln. ; This article analyses the pressure against librarianship and library and information science stemming from digitization and the increased importance attached to libraries' role as meeting places and arenas for the public sphere. Both these developmental tendencies make many question the need of librarians as intermediaries between users and the sources of information. The navigating and searching for information in a digital world when the world itself has become a library, is far from trivial and the traditional competencies of librarians relating to searching for and finding information is as relevant as ever. LIS schools should also provide their students with theoretical tools helping them reflect upon the role and potential of libraries in relation to the challenges to upholding a sustainable public sphere in a digital and multicultural age. LIS schools should also convey to their students the historical continuity and legacy of libraries as public sphere institutions.

Introduction: For some years practitioners have observed a tendency that local government authorities advertising vacant professional positions in public libraries do not specify an educational background from library and information science as a mandatory qualification for applicants. Are the observers correct? This study aims at answering this question by analysing advertisements for vacant positions. Method: All advertised vacant positions registered at the Norwegian Labour and Welfare organisation in the years 2005, 2010 and 2015 satisfying a definition of having a professional responsibility were coded and analysed in order to see if the demand for professional education has changed over time. Analysis: A consecutive cross-sectional study was undertaken using quantitative content analysis. Results: The research confirmed that a development has taken place with a reduced weight on library education and an increased weight on personal and interpersonal traits between 2005 and 2015. There are differences between local government authorities according to size. The tendency not to ask for library education is strongest with the very small authorities and a few very large cities. Conclusions: Further research with longer time series as well as comparative research is needed to get a fuller understanding of the development. ; publishedVersion

Libraries, archives and museums have traditionally been a part of the public sphere's infrastructure. They have been so by providing public access to culture and knowledge, by being agents for enlightenment and by being public meeting places in their communities. Digitization and globalization poses new challenges in relation to upholding a sustainable public sphere. Can libraries, archives and museums contribute in meeting these challenges?

Using Habermas' theory of the public sphere, this article examines the potential of conversation-based programming (e.g. conversation groups and language cafes) in public libraries to bring immigrant voices into the public sphere and thereby, to facilitate their political integration. To both support and illustrate the theoretical explorations of the article, research findings are presented from a study on language cafes and integration at Oslo and Akershus University College, Norway. Four ways in which the language cafes can support immigrants' political integration and the formation of a comprehensive public sphere include the fostering of linguistic competence, expansion of social networks, promotion of information exchange relevant to political integration, and facilitation of 'messy conversation'. ; Norges forskningsråd 259052 ; acceptedVersion

Research in digital libraries (DLs) has gained much interest across the globe. Most funding related to DL are available for building DLs, rather than producing digital librarians by developing the DL curricula and offering necessary funding to introduce state-of-the-art DL labs for future library professionals. Based on online surveys, this article investigates the status of DL education/courses in Europe, particularly, it examines the curriculum contents of DL courses, explores the future direction of library and information science (LIS) curricula, and identifies the competitors of LIS schools in the DL world. This study received responses from 54 LIS schools/departments in 27 European countries. The results of the current study clearly show that the majority of the LIS schools have already integrated digital librarianship in their regular bachelor's and master's degree programs. The importance of practical aspects in DL curricula has been highlighted by the authors. The study also reports the recommended books and journals on DL, direction of LIS curricula, and the competitors of LIS schools in the digital world. A number of future research directions have been offered by the authors. The authors expect that the study will contribute to the discussions and debates toward identifying subject elements for DL courses. The top subject areas based on their importance as reported by the participants of the current study should be taken into consideration before designing curricula for DLs and before developing a Europe-wide unique LIS curriculum.

Introduction. This paper presents a research project aiming at eliciting the potential of public libraries in building social capital, and promoting generalized trust in today's multicultural society. Method. Two approaches to research, the societal approach and the institutional approach are identified. The concept of low intensive versus high intensive meeting places is presented. A survey among inhabitants in four different metropolitan communities varying according to demographic characteristics in general, and the percentage of the population with a non-Western background in particular was undertaken. Initial results from a survey on how the public library is taken into use as a meeting place are presented and analysed. Analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the research question. Results. The survey results indicate that the library is a complex meeting place with a range of meetings along a continuum from high intensive to low intensive meetings. Conclusions. The library's potential role as a promoter of social capital by functioning as a low intensive meeting place seems to offer a promising research agenda.

Frontmatter -- Acknowledgments -- Contents -- 1 Introduction - Physical Places and Virtual Spaces: Libraries, Archives and Museums in a Digital Age -- 2 LAM institutions: a Cross-country Comparison of Legislation and Statistics on Services and Use -- 3 The Digitalization Imperative: Sacralization of Technology in LAM Policies -- 4 The Institutions Go Digital -- 5 Norwegian National Policies for Digitalization in the LAM Sector - Imperative and Implementation -- 6 Organization and Funding of Digitization in the Visegrád Countries -- 7 Institutional Convergence and Divergence in Norwegian Cultural Policy: Central Government LAM Organization 1999-2019 -- 8 LAM Professionals and the Public Sphere -- 9 Perceptions and Implications of User Participation and Engagement in Libraries, Archives and Museums -- 10 Like, Share and Comment! The Use of Facebook by Public Libraries and Museums: A Case Study from Tromsø, Norway -- 11 Reading Between the Shelves - the Library as Perspective in Life and Profession -- 12 The Use of LAM Institutions in the Digital Age -- 13 Libraries and Democracy in Germany. As Perceived by the Public in Contrast to the Professionals -- 14 Democratic Coexistence, Tiny Publics and Participatory Emancipation at the Public Library -- 15 Being, Learning, Doing: A Palace for the Children? -- 16 Libraries and the Sámi population in Norway - Assimilation and Resistance -- 17 The Joys of Wiki Work: Craftsmanship, Flow and Self-externalization in a Digital Environment -- The Authors -- Index

Purpose: The purpose of this research is to examine the shaping of public libraries as an infrastructure for a sustainable public sphere through a comprehensive literature review. Design/methodology/approach: In order to capture the whole picture of this research field, we utilize comprehensive review methodology. The major research questions are: (1) To what extent have research topics regarding libraries as public sphere institutions expanded and diversified? Which theoretical perspectives inform research? (2) Which challenges and topics does the research focus upon, such as a. Social inclusion and equal access to information, b. Digital inequalities, c. Censorship and freedom of expression, and d. Access to places and spaces with a democratic potential and the role of libraries in that respect? (3) What influence has social media exerted on libraries in the context of the expanding digital world? Findings: We identified mainly four themes regarding the public library and public sphere, such as (1) the importance of public libraries by using Habermas's theory, (2) the function of meeting places within the public library and setting those places in the center of the library in order to enhance and encourage democracy, (3) the relationship between social inclusion and public libraries and its functions in current society such as diminishing the digital divide, (4) the emerging electronic resources and arena of SNS in public libraries and utilizing them to reach citizens. Originality/value: Capturing the recent history of this research field through comprehensive review is valuable. ; acceptedVersion

Purpose : The purpose of this paper is to examine the shaping of public libraries as an infrastructure for a sustainable public sphere through a comprehensive literature review. Design/methodology/approach : In order to capture the whole picture of this research field, we utilize comprehensive review methodology. The major research questions are: first, to what extent have research topics regarding libraries as public sphere institutions expanded and diversified? Which theoretical perspectives inform research? Second, which challenges and topics does the research focus upon, such as: social inclusion and equal access to information; digital inequalities; censorship and freedom of expression; and access to places and spaces with a democratic potential and the role of libraries in that respect? Third, what influence has social media exerted on libraries in the context of the expanding digital world? Findings : The authors identified mainly four themes regarding the public library and public sphere, such as: the importance of public libraries by using Habermas's theory; the function of meeting places within the public library and setting those places in the center of the library in order to enhance and encourage democracy; the relationship between social inclusion and public libraries and its functions in current society such as diminishing the digital divide; and the emerging electronic resources and arena of SNS in public libraries and utilizing them to reach citizens. Originality/value : Capturing the recent history of this research field through comprehensive review is valuable.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to analyze the role of public libraries as institutions underpinning a democratic public sphere as reasons legitimizing libraries compared to reasons that are more traditional and the actual use of libraries as public sphere arenas. Design/methodology/approach: A survey of representative samples of the adult population in six countries – Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Hungary and Switzerland – was undertaken. Findings: Legitimations related to the libraries role as a meeting place and arena for public debate are ranked as the 3 least important out of 12 possible legitimations for upholding a public library service. Libraries are, however, used extensively by the users to access citizenship information and to participate in public sphere relevant meetings. Originality/value: Few studies have empirically analyzed the role of libraries in upholding a democratic and sustainable public sphere. This study contributes in filling that gap.

Accepted manuscript. Final version published in Journal of Documentation , available at https://doi.org/10.1108/JD-02-2019-0015. ; Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyze the role of public libraries as institutions underpinning a democratic public sphere as reasons legitimizing libraries compared to reasons that are more traditional and the actual use of libraries as public sphere arenas. Design/methodology/approach – A survey of representative samples of the adult population in six countries–Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Hungary and Switzerland–was undertaken. Findings – Legitimations related to the libraries role as a meeting place and arena for public debate are ranked as the 3 least important out of 12 possible legitimations for upholding a public library service. Libraries are, however, used extensively by the users to access citizenship information and to participate in public sphere relevant meetings. Originality/value – Few studies have empirically analyzed the role of libraries in upholding a democratic and sustainable public sphere. This study contributes in filling that gap.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to analyze the role of public libraries as institutions underpinning a democratic public sphere as reasons legitimizing libraries compared to reasons that are more traditional and the actual use of libraries as public sphere arenas. Design/methodology/approach: A survey of representative samples of the adult population in six countries – Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Hungary and Switzerland – was undertaken. Findings: Legitimations related to the libraries role as a meeting place and arena for public debate are ranked as the 3 least important out of 12 possible legitimations for upholding a public library service. Libraries are, however, used extensively by the users to access citizenship information and to participate in public sphere relevant meetings. Originality/value: Few studies have empirically analyzed the role of libraries in upholding a democratic and sustainable public sphere. This study contributes in filling that gap. ; The Research Council of Norway Project 259052 ; acceptedVersion