Nordic Research School in Library and Information Science

Workshop: Research in the field of Public Libraries

The workshop aims to create a forum for senior and junior researchers doing research related to the Public libraries. The tradition for public libraries, also as a research object, has for a long time been and is still strong in the Nordic-Baltic countries. The research is in a positive sense very diverse, also in a methodological sense, and comprising studies in information seeking, user-studies, the history of public libraries, its concept and ideology, and their role in local communities and economic value, etc. In order to develop a research course, a three-day workshop is seen as a relevant starting point.

There will be a mixture of lectures with a general focus on trends in research on Public Libraries and use of different methodological traditions and sessions dedicated to discussion of current Ph.D.projects within the broad field of Public Library Research. The sessions are planned to consist of presentations of projects lasting 30 minutes, comments from senior scholars and general discussion. We assume that the number of participants will be around 20 ph.d. students and 5-10 senior faculty. We are especially happy that Leigh S. Estabrook, Professor of Library and Information Science and of Sociology at GSLIS at University of Illinois will join us as lecturer as well as commentator on projects in the project sessions.

Main responsible person:
Professor Niels Windfeld Lund (Tromsö) - homepage

Lecturers:
Professor Niels Windfeld Lund (Tromsö) - homepage
Professor Ragnar Audunsson (Oslo) - homepage
Assoc. Professor Magnus Torstensson (Borås) - homepage
Professor Leigh S. Estabrook (Univ Illinois) - homepage
Associated Professor Leif Emerek (Copenhagen) - homepage
Dr. Audrone Glosiene(Vilnius) - homepage
Dr. Baiba Sporane (Riga) - homepage

Location:
Hotel Gutenbergs, Riga

Time:
September 16-18, 2004

Arrival:
Wednesday September 15 in the evening

Accommodation:
A limited number of rooms are reserved at the Gutenbergs hotel.

Preliminary program:

Thursday 16.september
Morning session
8.30 - 9.00 Welcome by prof. Baiba Sporane og Niels W.L
9.00 - 12.00 Trends in Public Library Research

Magnus Torstensson, Associated professor, University College of Borås, Sweden :
Studying the history of Public Libraries

Ragnar Audunson,Professor, University College of Oslo, Norway:
Research on the impact and role of public libraries in today's society

12.00 - 13.00 lunch

13.00 - 17.00 Afternoon session
2 parallel sessions on ph.d.projects, thematically organized if possible - 4-5 projects in each group
presentation, critical comments and general discussion

Friday 17.september
Morning session
8.15 - 12.00 Methods in Public Library Research
Leigh Stewart Estabrook, Professor, Graduate School of Library and Information Science
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign:
The Quality of quantitative studies in the field of Public Libraries

Leif Emerek, Prorector and Associated Professor, The Royal School of Library and Information Science:
Interpreting the field of Public Libraries

12.13-00 lunch

13.00 - 17.00 Afternoon session
2 parallel sessions on ph.d.projects, thematically organized if possible - 4-5 projects in each group
presentation, critical comments and general discussion

Saturday 18.september
Morning session
9.00 - 12.00
General discussion on public library research with introduction by prof. Niels Windfeld Lund
12.00 - lunch and departure

Social program
1. 16.09 (17.00–20.00) we offer the social evening in the open-air museum (Priedeskrogs pub). Cost 20 EUR
2. 17.09 (17.00–20.00) we offer the visit of St. Peter’s Church (with panorama tower) and thematic walk – Art Noveau of the City Riga. Cost 4 EUR

How to apply:
Research students are required to submit a three/four-page abstract (approx. 1800-2400 words) of their PhD research topic, including research questions and the methodological issues of the research project. The application should also include a brief CV. This information will be used for selection purposes.

The application should be electronically submitted by August 1st, 2004 in either Word or RTF-format to Niels Windfeld Lund at niels.windfeld.lund@hum.uit.no.
The application must contain the following information:
Name of course/workshop:
Last name:
First name:
Birth date:
Male/female:
E-mail address:
Estimated travel costs:
Name of supervisor:
Supervisor's e-mail address:

Participation is primarily reserved for appr. 20 Ph.D. students registred at one of the 15 NORSLIS departments. Provided that there is room for more participants, Ph.D. students from outside the NORSLIS departments, as well as other researchers and lecturers at the NORSLIS departments, may participate. However, travel and accommodation costs cannot be financed by NORSLIS for these two groups.

Application deadline:
August 1, 2004
Accept of participation will be given no later than August 16 by e-mail followed by letter as snail-mail.

Homepage for the workshop with updated information