Referensarbete i Sverige och Tyskland : en jämförelse

Sammanfattning: The purpose of this Master thesis is to compare the perception and significance of reference work in two countries, Sweden and Germany. This will be achieved by means of a literature review of previous research literature and public documents and a content analysis of articles from two library journals.A first step was to examine the historical development of reference work in the selected countries. In connection with this there proved to be distinct phases in the discussion regarding reference work. These phases with their specific discourses, themes and emphases reflected and thus later were confirmed in the second part of the study.The results show that despite some similarities there are also quite a few differences in how reference work is perceived in both countries. For Sweden, the idea of reference work was introduced relatively early. But only little has been done over time to develop this service. Germany has only recently been orientating itself away from a collection-oriented to a service-oriented library. Reference work was therefore established relatively late in German libraries, despite some earlier theoretical discussions. Swedish literature deliberates primarily reference service quality and how it could be improved. The German literature considers in contrast, mainly reference work’s more general role, its functions and forms of organization.In recent years the meaning both countries ascribe to reference work has become more similar, this is due to fact that libraries, regardless of whether they are located in Sweden, Germany or the United States, are faced with the same challenges.