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dc.contributor.authorVårheim, Andreas
dc.date.accessioned2013-10-03T11:47:33Z
dc.date.available2013-10-03T11:47:33Z
dc.date.issued2009
dc.description.abstractPurpose – The purpose of this paper is to show why studies of public libraries, regarding their possible contribution in creating social capital, are important for social capital research in general, and are important for library practice in particular. Design/methodology/approach – Building on the latest theoretical developments and empirical findings of social capital research, the role of the public library as a potential creator of social capital is discussed. Findings from both quantitative and qualitative empirical research are discussed, and also the need for further studies is presented. Findings – The paper reports quantitative macro-level results concerning whether public library expenditure can contribute in explaining social trust patterns in the OECD countries. However, to be able to ascertain this, numerous qualitative studies revealing the mechanisms actually generating generalized trust are needed. Preliminary qualitative interviews suggest that this approach can prove fruitful. Research limitations/implications – The implications for further research into public libraries and the building of generalized trust are twofold: one the one hand, more specific research questions on the role libraries can be asked regarding accommodating diversity and increasing trust among diverse groups, e.g. immigrants. On the other hand, the suitability of the public library for investigating these questions makes the results relevant for social capital research in general. Practical implications – The library profession points to the importance of libraries for social capital and maintain that libraries have been overlooked in this matter. Strong sentiments like this should be ideal for implementation of research based library policies, strategies and activities for creating social capital. Originality/value – What is new in this research is that studies of public libraries may contribute in resolving the impasse within contemporary social capital research where neither institutional nor societal perspectives seem to be able to verify how social capital is created. Keywords: Public libraries, Social capital Paper type: Research paperen
dc.identifier.citationLibrary hi tech 27(2009) nr. 3 s. 372-381en
dc.identifier.cristinIDFRIDAID 353182
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1108/07378830910988504
dc.identifier.issn0737-8831
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10037/5436
dc.identifier.urnURN:NBN:no-uit_munin_5137
dc.language.isoengen
dc.publisherEmeralden
dc.rights.accessRightsopenAccess
dc.subjectVDP::Social science: 200::Library and information science: 320::Information politics: 322en
dc.subjectVDP::Samfunnsvitenskap: 200::Biblioteks- og informasjonsvitenskap: 320::Informasjonspolitikk: 322en
dc.subjectVDP::Social science: 200::Library and information science: 320::Documentation science: 325en
dc.subjectVDP::Samfunnsvitenskap: 200::Biblioteks- og informasjonsvitenskap: 320::Dokumentasjonsvitenskap: 325en
dc.subjectVDP::Social science: 200::Political science and organizational theory: 240en
dc.subjectVDP::Samfunnsvitenskap: 200::Statsvitenskap og organisasjonsteori: 240en
dc.titlePublic libraries: places creating social capital?en
dc.typeJournal articleen
dc.typeTidsskriftartikkelen
dc.typePeer revieweden


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