See you at the library? Inequality in library use and cultural participation in Denmark
The project 'See you at the Library?' studies social and geographic inequality in library use and cultural participation in Denmark using 'big data' about library takeout and survey data.
The project studies social and geographic inequality in library use and cultural participation in Denmark. The research contribution is to use new 'big data' about library takeout and survey data to describe and explain inequality in reading and cultural participation. The policy contribution is to identify factors among libraries and municipalities (e.g. funding levels, organisation, local initiatives) that affects local library takeout and cultural participation, in particular among disadvantaged groups.
The project builds on a study by the project team carried out in 2020 which showed that social inequality in online takeout of children’s books increased significantly during the first Covid-19 lockdown in spring 2020.
The project will communicate its findings through an advisory board with participation from the Ministry of Culture, the Danish Library Association, and Statistics Denmark.
The project contributes with knowledge that can further the understanding of inequality in a broader perspective. Research shows that children who read and are culturally active have better educational outcomes, which has a positive impact on their later income, health and social participation. In this way, social and geographical inequality in reading and cultural participation are foundations for inequality in other domains.
In 2022, the project will carry out a survey among all Danish libraries. The survey will collect information on e.g. the organisation of local libraries, their collaborations with schools, the dispersion of different initiatives to reduce inequality in library use, etc. We will use information collected in this survey to study how libraries might affect local levels of inequality in library use.
If you have any questions related to the survey, or the project in general, you are welcome to contact Postdoc Ea Hoppe Blaabæk or Professor Mads Meier Jæger.
Researchers
| Name | Title | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Search in Name | Search in Title | Search in Phone | |
| Mads Meier Jæger | Professor | +4535323284 |
Funded by:
Project: See you at the library? Inequality in library use and cultural participation in Denmark
Period: December 2021 - November 2024
Contact
Postdoc Ea Hoppe Blaabæk
Email: ebl@soc.ku.dk
Professor Mads Meier Jæger
Email: mmj@soc.ku.dk