The aim of this study is try to map the view of libraries and promote reading in four SOU-documents (Statens Offentliga Utredningar/state public invesigations) from the years 1974, 1984, 1997 and 2012. Different approaches used to promote reading during the years are also investigated.

The method, a Mixed Method Research, intends to discover rare or divergent terms in each of these documents. The documents directives and chapters related to promote reading are summarized. A quantitative content analysis which consists of a compilation of the terms in the documents is made. Unique or divergent terms are selected from this compilation, and further their contextual meaning in libraries and promote reading is investigated with a qualitative content analysis.

Conclusions drawn from this study show that there are changes in SOU’s views of libraries and promote reading between the different years. For example, there was regularly a positive attitude to libraries and their role in promote reading during periods of declining reading abilities. Another example showed that Internet was held in a much more negative regard for people’s reading abilities during 2012 than in earlier years. A big change in the approaches for promote reading was technological advances due to the Internet, and the distribution of books via digital bookstores.