Forskningscirkeln som resurs för utveckling av bibliotekariers läsfrämjande verksamhet

In recent decades, changes in the professional role of librarians – in terms of both content and complexity – haveled to an increased need for further education. This need is particularly prominent in reading promotion for groupswhere reading and reading proficiency is decreasing (Sverige. Litteraturutredningen 2010). This article concernstwo “research circles” where librarians reflected on and explored different possibilities for reading promotion.The purpose of this article is to understand how the research circle was used as a resource for knowledge building,and for the changes and development of the librarians’ work with reading promotion in different contexts. Theoverarching theoretical framework is sociocultural (Vygotskij 1978, Bakhtin, 1984; Wertsch 1998). The source ofdata used includes audio-recorded meetings, the reflections I wrote in proximity to the meetings and interviewswith the participants. The results show how the participants became important resources for each other throughthe exchange of experiences and through critical reflection. The investigations challenged the participants’flexibility and ability to cope with uncertainty and to remain open to change. The interviews indicate that therehave been changes in the participants' understanding of reading-promotion and that this kind of supplementaryeducation has the prerequisites to achieve lasting results. The research circle work was linked to a discussionregarding the changed professional role of librarians and the challenge of linking the profession to a wider socialand democracy perspective, where questions about access to language, knowledge, power and democraticinfluence are crucial for the development of librarians’ professional work.