Förädling genom lämplig läsning

Litterära värdeförhandlingar i Folkbiblioteksbladet, 1903–1911

Abstract

Cultivation through suitable reading: Negotiations of literary value in Folkbiblioteksbladet, 1903–1911

This study looks at negotiations of literary value, as well as the discourse about (un)suitable literature and reading, in a Swedish library periodical published during the first decade of the 20^th century. Based upon Barbara Herrnstein Smith’s definition of values and her description of literary evaluation, I examine the role of suitability in the negotiations regarding literary value which took place in Folkbiblioteksbladet, as well as the perceived purposes of literature and reading.

A main aim of Folkbiblioteksbladet was to help spread suitable literature – and at the same time minimize the spreading of unsuitable literature – by guiding libraries and librarians in their selection process. This guidance, which mainly took the form of reviews but was also offered in opinion pieces, shows a perception of literature and reading as key factors in the education and cultivation of the Swedish people. Unsuitable books are perceived as unhealthy, even toxic, both for the individual and for society as a whole. The distinction between suitable and unsuitable books, while in some parts widely agreed upon, was the object of debate and a key part of the value negotiations.

The study shows that emotional values, related to entertainment and the significance of awakening a passion for reading, are emphasized in Folkbiblioteksbladet. The need for books that are easy for working class readers to comprehend, as well as popular science texts, is accentuated. Aesthetic values are largely subordinated to social values, as idealism and moral content are crucial aspects of literary suitability. While moral tendency is favored, neutrality and impartiality are also highly valued, and social agitation is described as unsuitable in a library context. Economic values are mostly present in the expressed need for cheap books of high quality, as well as in concerns regarding unsuitable books being cheap, and thus accessible to common citizens.