Violent incidents, aggressive visitors and social unrest are increasing in the Swedish libraries, according to a new survey among 1618 Swedish librarians. The trade union association DIK, which is behind the report, believes that it is the third in a row that shows the same tendency: Development is going in the wrong direction. Now they want to see political action:

- A very large responsibility rests with politicians. Money is needed for both libraries in order for it to work with this, but money is also needed for the communities around the libraries - so that they are also strengthened, says Anna Troberg, associate chair of DIK.

Both Anna Troberg and many of the responding librarians in the survey believe that the problems in the libraries come from increasing problems in the community around them. Addicts, mentally ill and messy youth gangs are some of the groups that are considered to end up in libraries when they are not taken care of elsewhere.

"As society withdraws - for example, psychiatry, substance abuse treatment, youth activities and government agencies - libraries are forced to shoulder a far greater responsibility than is stipulated by the Library Act," Troberg writes in the report.

Don't want to be a social worker

A perspective that is supported by librarians, where 66 percent point to a changing society as the cause of the increasing problems.

“I want to be a librarian. Instead, I am now a banker, insurance fund, employment agency and migration agency, ”writes one of the responding librarians, and continues:

“As a fellow human, I cannot deny these people help. As a librarian, I just want to refer them further. The problem is that these institutions do not help them. The library has become the last stop. "

"Employers also have a responsibility"

At the same time, the libraries have their own responsibility to act on the matter, which DIK believes is done. 70 percent of Swedish libraries today have security alarms installed, and half have hired security guards. Training of staff, work environment work and increased cooperation with police, social services and psychiatry are all good ways forward and a responsibility for employers, according to Troberg.

At the same time, the report states that increased investments are needed in vulnerable areas, especially in suburbs and smaller cities - where the problems are at their worst.

- The libraries are a bit like a paint test, it is the community institution with the lowest threshold. If it works well around then it works well at the library, but if it is a socially vulnerable area, it is also visible, says Stina Hamberg, head of community policy at DIK.

The trade union DIK's survey is made in a questionnaire. 1618 union librarians responded, and the response rate was 34 percent.