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Mellan böcker och människor : En undersökning av bibliotekssocionom som yrke på svenska folkbibliotek / Between Books and People : An Investigation of Library Social Worker as a Profession in Swedish Public Libraries.

Authors
  • Arvidsson Lagerlöf, Sarah
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2024
Source
DiVA - Academic Archive On-line
Keywords
Language
Swedish
License
Green
External links

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that social workers in public libraries in the United States are beneficial for improving the work environment of the library staff, referring patrons to social service agencies, or assisting patrons in crisis. In 2021, the first library social worker was employed at a Swedish public library, Stockholms City Library. In the following year, 2022, another social worker was hired at Örebro City Library. There is limited research in the field of social work at Swedish public libraries. The aim of this study was to fill the knowledge gap and create an understanding of the profession of library social worker in Swedish public librar-ies. A qualitative research method was used that consisted of 15 interviews with the management staff, librarians and, as of writing, the only two library social workers in Stockholms City Library and Örebro City Library. Other management staff and librarians that worked in other public libraries in Sweden were also interviewed. In addition to the interviews the study was also supplemented with a document analysis of two reports from Stockholm city and Örebro Municipality. The results were analyzed through organizational theory, collaboration theory as well as professions theory. Through the qualitative method and theoretical framework, a comprehensive picture of library social work as a profession was created, including the factors behind the hiring of social workers in Swedish public libraries and how the informants perceive the future potential of the profession in Sweden. The need for library social workers is found to be rooted in a changing society and professional challenges faced by librarians. Library staff regularly engage with a large number of patrons with different needs every day, includ-ing socially vulnerable individuals who often seek refuge in the library. It underscores the demand for personnel equipped with social expertise, such as that of a social worker. The future of the profession of library social worker at Swedish public libraries is hard to predict, as it depends on the financial resources of the library. However, the informants expressed an optimistic attitude towards the new profession.

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