Bokbussverksamhet. Effektiv decentralisering av svensk biblioteksservice?
The purpose of this masters thesis is to evaluate bookmobile service as a decentralised library service. I have made a qualitative interview survey, with seven Swedish municipalities participating, all providing bookmobile service in their rural parts. The purpose with the interviews is to examine their bookmobile service. I have also studied articles on bookmobile service, and decentralisation through small library units in library journals, to get an insight into how the work with decentralised library service is done in Swedish municipalities. In this thesis answer is sought to the following questions: - Which decentralised library services are suitable for inhabitants and institutions in sparsely populated areas, considering factors such as number of inhabitants, proportion of old people and children, demographic changes, economy, possibilities to cooperate with other municipalities? - What is the current bookmobile service situation in Sweden, taking seven municipalities in the region of Småland as a starting point? My conclusions are that each municipality must decide which decentralised library services that best suites their needs. The bookmobile is very flexible and apart from ordinary library service it can also be used as a transport vehicle and for library education and service for schools and pre-schools. I also examine the possibilities to develop bookmobile service. The current situation must be considered when deciding which alternative of decentralised library service that is the best for a certain municipality, how the library service is decentralised today, the current economical situation, the possibilities to cooperate with other municipalities on bookmobile service, demographic changes. I take in consideration the lending of e-books and library service via Internet, which is supplied by some Swedish libraries. They could become a good supplement to, rather than an alternative to bookmobile service. The decentralised bookmobile service must adjust to the changes any municipality will undergo; the best solution concerning decentralised library service today may not be the best in the future.