PBIB9220 Libraries in Society: Between Trend and Tradition Course description

Elective specialisation subject.

Libraries, together with other memory institutions, have been institutions underpinning  the public sphere ' the political and social public sphere as well as the cultural public sphere.

The course aim at providing participants with a thorough background in theoretical approaches for studying and understanding the public sphere by studying central texts from the age of enlightenment till today's globalized and digital reality. Libraries and other ALM institutions role as institutions for the public sphere will be discussed and analyzed from an historical perspective but first, and foremost, from the perspective of current challenges stemming from social and technological developments. The course shall provide the participants with a theoretical background for doing research on ALM institutions as arenas for a cultural and social public sphere.

No prerequisites.

Knowledge

The candidate will obtain both broad and in-depth knowledge about

• institutional theory and use of institutional theory library and information science Research
• the growth and institutionalisation of the modern library's values and theory structure
• research studying how the library's role and value structure are influenced by social, demographic and technological change

Skills

The candidate is able to

• reflect over how the field's institutionalised norm and value structure are influenced and challenged by digitalisation, globalisation and the growth of multicultural societies
• reflect over the interaction and reciprocal influence between an institutionalised practice field as the library field and the relation and change processes in the society of which the library is a part
• develop research projects which are relevant to the challenges that a multicultural and digital society raises

 Lectures will be combined with seminars and active participation from the participants.

No coursework requirements.

The candidates shall write an essay of approximately 15 pages. The essay shall be handed in within 2 months after the subject is concluded.

The reading is defined in relation to the candidate's own project. The selected reading is partly determined by candidates in connection with their research project and partly based on a core reading list.

All aids allowed as long as source reference and quotation technique requirements are applied.

Approved/not approved. 

The essay will be approved by the course coordinator.

The candidates for this subject are doctoral students in library and information science but the course is also relevant for doctoral students in cultural studies, cultural sociology, and political science.

Aiming primarily to cover the needs of PhD students admitted to the PhD program in library and informations sicence at OsloMet. Doctoral candidates from other institutions and other subject fields as mentioned above, are also welcome to apply. The course is also to the extent there is room, open to applicants who have completed either 'hovedfag' or a master's degree (120 credits) within a relevant academic area.

Professor Ragnar Audunson