The SSLIS seminar | Public libraries addressing social problems: a new role in a reconfigured welfare society?

Welcome to this SSLIS seminar on Public libraries addressing social problems: a new role in a reconfigured welfare society? with Sofia Lindström Sol and Jenny Johannisson,  University of Borås,, and John Brauer, Örebro University.

Zoom link: https://hb-se.zoom.us/j/66891319632 

Language: English if called for, otherwise Swedish
Chair: Ola Pilerot

The seminar will address an application to FORTE summarized like this:

Increased social unrest in Swedish public libraries has been the focus of media debates and studies conducted by the trade union DIK. What is sometimes referred to as manifestations of social problems, such as mental illness, substance abuse, homelessness and socio-economic vulnerability, have become increasingly common in public libraries. As a consequence, some libraries have employed library social workers. A recent national survey of public libraries shows that almost one in five implements initiatives addressing various social problems. The report (SOU 2020:47) that forms the basis for the new Social Services Act also argues that cultural and leisure activities, including public libraries, have an important preventive role in social welfare. This project aims to explore the role of public libraries in addressing social problems. In particular, the project studies the collaboration between public libraries, public welfare organisations and/or civil society organisations as a way of addressing what are seen as social problems in the library space.

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Sofia Lindström Sol, University of Borås
Jenny Johannisson, University of Borås
John Brauer, Örebro University