• Cultural policy, the public sphere and public libraries: a comparison of Norwegian, American and Japanese models 

      Widdersheim, Michael; Koizumi, Masanori; Larsen, Håkon (International Journal of Cultural Policy;, Journal article; Peer reviewed, 2020-04-16)
      This study compares cultural policy, public libraries,and the public sphere in Norway, the United States, and Japan. Results of the comparison indicate that Norway emphasizes physical meeting spaces and the public sphere. ...
    • Den digitale offentligheten i kultur- og bibliotekpolitikken 

      Larsen, Håkon; Solheim, Per Aleksander (Nordic Journal of Library and Information Studies; Vol 1 No 2 (2020), Journal article; Peer reviewed, 2020-11-22)
      Echo chambers, fake news, filter bubbles and algorithms have been framed as great threats to our contemporary democracies and public spheres. In the Nordic countries, the state plays an active role in sustaining democracy ...
    • Do We Need a New Approach to Library and Information Science? 

      Audunson, Ragnar Andreas (BIBLIOTHEK Forschung und Praxis;Volume 42, issue 2, Journal article; Peer reviewed, 2018-06-01)
      This article analyses the pressure against librarianship and library and information science stemming from digitization and the increased importance attached to libraries’ role as meeting places and arenas for the public ...
    • Private taste and public space: the heated media debate about a privately initiated sculpture park in Oslo 

      Larsen, Håkon (The International Journal of Cultural Policy;, Peer reviewed; Journal article, 2022-02-28)
      In 2003, billionaire and art collector Christian Ringnes launched an idea to fund a sculpture park in the Ekeberg area of Oslo, based around his private collection of female sculptures. The idea spurred heavy criticism for ...
    • Public libraries as an infrastructure for a sustainable public sphere: A comprehensive review of research 

      Audunson, Ragnar Andreas; Aabø, Svanhild; Blomgren, Roger; Evjen, Sunniva; Jochumsen, Henrik; Larsen, Håkon; Rasmussen, Casper Havnegaard; Vårheim, Andreas; Johnston, Jamie; Koizumi, Masanori (Journal of Documentation;Volume 75, Issue 4, Journal article; Peer reviewed, 2019-07-08)
      Purpose: The purpose of this research is to examine the shaping of public libraries as an infrastructure for a sustainable public sphere through a comprehensive literature review. Design/methodology/approach: In order to ...
    • Public libraries as public sphere institutions: A comparative study of perceptions of the public library’s role in six European countries 

      Audunson, Ragnar Andreas; Aabø, Svanhild; Blomgren, Roger; Hobohm, Hans Christoph; Jochumsen, Henrik; Khosrowjerdi, Mahmood; Mumenthaler, Rudolf; Schuldt, Karsten; Rasmussen, Casper Hvenegaard; Rydbeck, Kerstin; Toth, Mate; Vårheim, Andreas (Journal of Documentation;Publication date 26 September, Journal article; Peer reviewed, 2019)
      Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to analyze the role of public libraries as institutions underpinning a democratic public sphere as reasons legitimizing libraries compared to reasons that are more traditional and the ...
    • The public sphere and Habermas: Reflections on the current state of theory in public library research 

      Larsen, Håkon (Journal of Documentation;Volume 77, Issue 1, Journal article; Peer reviewed, 2020-10-06)
      Purpose: This article addresses a recent debate in this journal between Buschman and Widdersheim and Koizumi on public libraries and public sphere theory in library and information science (LIS). The article moves beyond ...
    • Theorizing Public Libraries as Public Spheres in Library and Information Science 

      Larsen, Håkon (Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence;Volume 12051, Conference object, 2020-03-19)
      During the 21st century, library and information scholars have set out to theorize the role of public libraries as public spheres. Most of this research is engaging with Habermas’ early work on the structural transformation ...