Location, Location, Location: The media debates on the New Central Libraries in Oslo and Helsinki

This paper examines how two library building projects, running almost parallel in Oslo and Helsinki, have played out in the public debate. How are these cultural policy investments received and discussed, and how do they adhere to the image of libraries held by the public as expressed in the media?
By analyzing articles, op-eds, and editorials from each capitalʼs leading newspapers, we explore two main aspects of the debates. First, which perceptions on the role of libraries do the different stakeholders have, and to what extent are they conflicting? Second, we seek to identify the dominating discourses throughout the almost three-decade-long process. We know there are differences between Finland and Norway concerning public library policy, spending, and usage. Are these differences reflected in the public debates?
The analysis is informed by a modified garbage can approach (March & Olsen 1976; Kingdon 1984), where the coupling between problems, solutions, and participants with limited attention. The role of windows of opportunity, the relative strength of the policy field in question, and alliances are key elements in the analysis.
Our study shows that the main participants – or interest groups – are (local) politicians, architects, and library professionals. The latter group is the least dominant, especially in the Oslo debates, whereas library professionals are more active discussants in the Helsinki case, indicating that Finnish librarianship has a stronger position than the Norwegian policy field of librarianship. The “new public library discourse”, first formulated by the library directors in both cases, was gradually accepted by both citiesʼ political and civil society environments. The modified garbage can model seems to be explanatory in both cities, although the modelʼs anarchic elements are stronger in Oslo compared to Helsinki.