Folkbibliotekarien och det livslånga lärandet En undersökning av ett projekt till stöd för vuxenstuderandes livslånga lärande
The purpose of this master thesis is to investigate issues concerning lifelong learning and the role of the public librarian. This is done by examining LärForum Forum for Learning, a project initiated at a public library located outside of Stockholm, with the aim of supporting adults lifelong learning. The major questions raised in this study are: How do the seven librarians interviewed define lifelong learning and how do they perceive their own role in relation to lifelong learning in the public library? Do they work with adult learners in a different way than they do with "ordinary" users of the library? Has their conception of their own role as a public librarian changed as a result of LärForum, and do they find it necessary to acquire new skills because of the project? Data was collected through interviews and observation, and the study is a qualitative case study. The main results are that the librarians see their role in lifelong learning in the public library as self-evident, and they see lifelong learning mostly as learning for an individuals personal development. They view their role as being educational in nature, but they dont seem to relate with adult learners differently than with "ordinary" users of the library, and they do not feel that their profession has changed because of the LärForum project. Lär-Forum has probably existed too short a time in order to see a change in the informants´ perception of their profession. A change in working methods may also demand further education and an awareness concerning working methods for interaction with adult learners.