School librarians in Sweden: A case study in change

Abstract

This study reveals the complexities and dynamics of law, governance, and practice that have impacted school libraries in Sweden. The Education Act of 2010 and the Swedish Library Act of 2013, which mandated school libraries, did not address staffing, and that loophole has been given recent attention, especially in light of national curriculum changes and librarian shortages. The University of Borås’s School of Library and Information Science is the largest, leading institution within Sweden for preparing professional librarians. Their school librarianship faculty is in the process of changing its curriculum. This paper explains the school librarianship situation in Sweden as a case study of a change process in the profession.

Keywords

Change process curriculum school librarians school libraries Sweden

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