The aim of this bachelor thesis is to investigate what kinds of support that is available for school librarians in Japan and in Sweden and make a comparison between the countries. The research questions are:
The methodology used was semi-structured interviews. Three interviews with school librarians were conducted in each country. The theoretical framework used is David V. Loertscher’s Library media specialist taxonomy and Cristina Sacco Judge’s model for school libraries in Scotland.
The results of the study are that the possibility to supplement the collection in the school library by extern loans is good in both countries. Regarding the school librarian’s need for professional information and support, conferences and courses seem to play a bigger role in Japan. Advice and help from experienced colleagues in the vicinity to the school seems to be important in Sweden but more or less non-existing in Japan.