The hybridisation of public libraries: a comparative study between Helsinki, Oslo and Stockholm

Nordic public libraries (PL) are considered ‘houses of democracy’, which have played a key role in ensuring free access to social and cultural capital, and more recently, knowledge capital. In several PL, there has been a shift towards ‘hybrid hubs’, which has not yet been adequately explored, either theoretically or empirically. Firstly, this study reviews existing scientific studies and builds a conceptual framework for exploring the hybridization of PL. Secondly, the study examines links of the National Library Acts and strategies to socio-cultural and knowledge capital in Finland, Norway and Sweden. Thirdly, the study explores the ways in which hybridization is manifested in selected libraries in Helsinki, Oslo and Stockholm, those that are both central and peripheral to the city. The study reveals several factors that mark PL as hybrid places, and it can contribute to the understanding of various dimensions in which hybridization occurs and transforms our cities.