Läsning för framtidens samhällsmedborgare: en studie av dåtidens och nutidens svenska kulturpolitiska debatter om barns läsning

Abstract

Bibliotekarie, Gnesta bibliotek Ellen Jonsson har en masterexamen i ABM (Arkivvetenskap, Biblioteks-och informationsvetenskap, Musei-och kulturarvsvetenskap) från Uppsala universitet med inriktningen biblioteks-och informationsvetenskap. För närvarande arbetar hon som bibliotekarie på folkbibliotek.

Drag story hour at public libraries: the reading child and the construction of fear and othering in Swedish cultural policy debate

“…Children are then seen as becomings , that is as adults-to-be, rather than beings, that is individuals in their own right (cf. Hedemark and Jonsson, 2021). To the radical right movement, reading promotion at libraries is therefore of great importance since it is assumed to educate and mold the child into becoming the adult they envision (cisgender and heterosexual).…”

“…However, although the child as “being” is endorsed by DSH, it should also be noted that the reading promotion policies that DSH supports equally entail ideas of what sort of future society the reading child will contribute to, that is a democratic and empathetic society (cf. Hedemark and Jonsson, 2021). The contradicting views of opponents and proponents of DSH thereby reveal the tensions between different imaginings and meanings of the child, childhood, and the future of society that collide in the debates over these storytelling events.…”

“…Edelman, 2004). Analyses of Swedish reading policies from the late 19th century until today clearly show how the role of the reading child is construed as instrumental for the development of the good society (Hedemark and Jonsson, 2021; Lindsköld et al. , 2020).…”

“…Today, debates over the content of children's literature, like the book challenges in the US, are uncommon in Sweden. This can be explained by a pragmatic and influential turn in cultural policies for reading promotion in Sweden during the 20th century; from promoting the importance of quality literature, to promoting the activity of reading (Hedemark, 2020;Hedemark and Jonsson, 2021). Contemporary Swedish national policies on reading convey a commonly held idea that reading and literacy promotes empathy and democracy (Lindsk€ old et al, 2020).…”

‘Talk to them like they’re people’: A cross-cultural comparison of teen-centred approaches in public library services

“…Teenagers value having a range of seating options, such as couches, beanbag chairs and stools, to allow for movement and a variety of postures (Cranz and Cha, 2006). Studies in Sweden have found that tweens 3 value the environment a library offers, such as cosy areas for reading (Hedemark, 2011) and inviting, homey spaces where they can relax (Linnros, 2014).…”