Lund critical library studies – a new research group

We argue that there is a need for a more elaborate and sophisticated discussion of if, and then how, the public library fulfils its social role to con- tribute to democracy. Therefore, we have formed the Lund Critical Library Studies group with a shared interest of contributing to a more nuanced and rich discussion about public libraries. This allows us to engage in discussions on how the library can be a space where diverse people come together and debate dissimilar views on shared matters. We advocate the public library not by indis- criminately embracing it, but by critically examining how it is performed and discussing alternatives. In this paper, we will indicate some pathways that we previously have followed and also point out future directions that we want to pursue.