Det demokratiska referensarbetet : Bibliotekarier om samtidens krav på referensarbete för barn

Sammanfattning: The purpose of this study is to examine, through qualitative interviews, how children's librarians see the child's perspective as well as how this is reflected in the reference work of the children's librarian. To do this we have asked the following questions: How does the librarian see the perspective of children? How do they perceive the balance of power between themselves and the patron in question? And how do they feel that the Convention on the Rights of the Child influences their work? We have chosen this approach since the Convention on the Rights of the Child has become part of Sweden's legislation and also, due to the criticism that previously has been directed to the children's libraries ability to put the treaty into practice. Results show that children's librarians do not in fact use a distinctive children's perspective when carrying out their duties as a librarian and during reference talks but in turn use a widened individual perspective where the child is included. At the same time librarians experience that there are clear distinctions between children and adults that are important to bear in mind and be able to discern during a reference talk in order to meet the patrons' on their terms. The differences in power between children and adults at the libraries are however something that the interviewed took a negative stance towards, meaning that children should be respected as individuals and that it is the librarians duty to make sure that they feel heard and understood through their own behavior and also defending the interests of the child enabling them to feel a sense of empowerment in the confines of the library as well as in society. The Convention on the Rights of the Child was something the librarians were positive towards, but they saw it more as something that decision makers were more influenced by rather than something influencing the treatment of the patron and reference talks.