Biblioteksrummet utifrån och in : en aktör-nätverksanalys av två fakultetsbiblioteks fysiska lärandemiljöer vid Lunds universitet

Sammanfattning: The purpose of this master’s thesis is to study the concept of learning environments in relation to research libraries and their physical environments. Formerly related to classrooms or lecture halls, a learning environment can now include a wide range of locations. A successful learning environment should support collaborative and social activities, as well as quiet and individual work. This broadening of the concept has also, as I argue, affected the research libraries. By providing stimulating physical environments for their students, many libraries have seen an opportunity to become involved in their universities’ overall development of campus learning environments. My question is how research libraries portrays as learning environments; where collaborative activities must blend with for example quiet study - which could be said to be the libraries’ traditional trademark. I also discuss the subject of the librarian’s role and significance in a library learning environment. My study takes place at two faculty libraries at Lund University. My methods of choice are observations and semi-structured interviews. With the help of actor-network theory as my theoretical framework, I set out on a journey through my empirical data to trace the actors – both human and non-human – that take part in creating and maintaining the libraries as learning environments. The study also goes beyond the mere physical boundaries of the libraries, as I trace actors through both space and time. My results show, in summary, that the networks of actors constituting the libraries as learning environments are, indeed, both human and non-human; why I argue that both types of actors are of equal importance in creating a successful library learning environment. I can also conclude that all library learning environments are not the same. The setting, in which a library is a part of, is a factor in relation to how a library functions as a learning environment. Regarding the librarian’s role my results show that it resembles that of a “care taker”, who has the responsibility to make sure everything is working as intended in a library’s learning environment.