Folkbiblioteket i vardagslivet. En studie av folkbibliotekets betydelse för människor i vardagen
The aim of this Masters thesis is to examine the importance of public libraries for individuals in their everyday life and to study the differences in views between the individuals. Questions posed in this study are: What do public libraries mean to individuals? Which differences between individuals views of the public library are to be found? What is the reason for differences to occur? The analysis is based upon qualitative interviews with six persons, four women and two men between 31 and 55 years of age. The theoretical starting points are Anderson and Skot-Hansens theory of four different roles of public libraries and Bourdieus theory of lifestyle. The study acts on a hermeneutic attitude. We have been able to illustrate how individuals see upon public libraries and its importance to them. We have also been able to perceive patterns, which show why some do not visit a public library. The opinions of the influence of the library are divided due to the informants economic capital salary and occupation and cultural capital education and cultural interests according to Bourdieus theory of lifestyle. Finally we have been able to illustrate that different ways of living the everyday life can have importance of how people regard the public library.