Revisiting the notion of the public library as a meeting place : challenges to the mission of promoting democracy in times of political turmoil
Purpose: This article explores how public librarians understand and perform the democratic mission of public libraries in times of political and social turbulence, and critically discusses the idea of public libraries as meeting places.Methodology: Five group interviews conducted with public librarians in southern Sweden are analyzed using a typology of four perspectives on democracy.Findings: TwoPurposeThis article explores how public librarians understand and perform the democratic mission of public libraries in times of political and social turbulence and critically discusses the idea of public libraries as meeting places.Design/methodology/approachFive group interviews conducted with public librarians in southern Sweden are analyzed using a typology of four perspectives on democracy.Fi
