Community, conflict and neutrality – a Scandinavian perspective on public library research

As Scandinavian public libraries have developed and adapted to societal and technological changes during the past 15 years, their role has become increasingly complex. On the one hand, libraries are becoming important community hubs with extensive outreach and programming. The COVID-19 lockdown showed clearly how important the physical library space is for many patrons, especially like children, youth and senior citizens. On the other hand, an increasing level of conflict and tension has built, as political divides have found their way into libraries. Scandinavian public library research reflects these issues, and providing increased understanding of the library’s complex role in changing times seems more important than ever. Also, as Scandinavian public library research is closely connected to librarianship, the field of practice, it aims to provide practitioners with both knowledge and tools to develop their practice further.