Digital inclusion in the making: civic literacy practices in public libraries

My research interest concerns the role of the public library in a socially and digitally sustainable society. In my PhD project I study how the public libraries’ mandate to improve digital inclusion and information literacy is related to perceptions of citizenship and how this is reflected in the public libraries’ practices.

Digital inclusion and exclusion have increasingly become a matter of skill and knowledge in relation to use. Today, there are several public libraries in Sweden engaged in projects that aim to increase the digital inclusion of citizens, especially those that are considered to be outside, or not fully included, in the digital realm. The activities and educational programs may for example be targeted at newly arrived immigrants or senior citizens. The educational programs for an increased digital inclusion can be seen in the light of an overall strengthened focus on learning and education in the public library sphere. Not least due to the development of new information and communication technology (ICTs), as well as an increased focus on learning and education in society overall.

In my dissertation project, I am interested in further analyzing what sort of meaning that can be attributed to the concept of digital inclusion as well as the motives behind the public libraries’ educational efforts for working with such initiatives. This raises questions about the public library's educational and democratic ideals and how these ideals relate to the perception of citizenship. Methodologically, a qualitative approach is used comprising interviews, observations and document analysis.