Empirical Research on the function of Scandinavian public libraries as places of lifelong learning

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This research identifies Scandinavian public libraries as a model for Japanese ones. The purpose of this research is to clarify the practice and the new philosophy of Scandinavian public libraries and, based on these findings, establish the meaning of the public library as a place for lifelong learning. The results of this research would ideally be applied to research on Japanese public libraries.This research involved bibliographical survey, fieldwork in public libraries, and theoretical examination based on the results of the fieldwork. The research clarifies the current state-of-the-art of practice, system, and philosophy of the public library service in Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. Finally, the findings clearly showed the significance of the Scandinavian public library as a place for lifelong learning and its status within the community and gave meaningful suggestions for Japanese research on public libraries.