Aktörer och artefakter
Ett samtida perspektiv på bibliotek och automatisering
AutomationBruno LatourUniversity librariesTechnical changeTextual analysisAutomatiseringBruno LatourUniversitetsbibliotekTeknikutvecklingTextanalys
This bachelor thesis examines the activities and values associated with automation and technical development at four Swedish research libraries. It does so by applying textual analysis to annual reports and job advertisements from the respective libraries. The study also questions whether some assumptions of automation have changed or remain over time, and includes a short historical discussion in relation to the contemporary analysis. As an added perspective it introduces the methods and philosophies of French sociologist Bruno Latour. The author reflects on the merits of Latour in research of library automation. The study reveals that automation, though rarely discussed as a contemporary phenomenon in itself, is an ongoing process closely associated with activities such as system updates, organizational change and competence development. Narrative analysis of the primary sources shows that the libraries connect technology with an idea of evolution and growth, and create a divide between technical-related practice and library activities in general by assigning them different values. These are recurring themes that have changed little over time. Taking Latour into consideration, the study observes that the social and technical aspects of the automation process are integrated to the point of invisibility. Library automation moves forward by circling back in a repeating pattern, picking up and developing technology and organizations along the way, while the main purpose of automation rarely change. In conclusion, the methods of Latour are useful for deepening our understanding of the social and shifting dynamics between technical change and human factors in contemporary library automation.