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On Friday, the government and the Swedish Public Health Agency announced new stricter restrictions in Sweden. The offer was then to shut down municipal, regional and state activities and institutions that “are not absolutely necessary.”
Libraries were explicitly mentioned by CEO Johan Carlson, and subsequent libraries were also featured in written advice posted on the government and Public Health Agency websites.
– As we have heard from several government ministers, state, municipal and regional activities are recommended to close all activities that are not absolutely necessary to carry out, such as bathrooms, libraries and museums, until January 24, Carlson said during the conference of press.
Lack of support in the law
Thus, many libraries followed the call and closed during the weekend or at the beginning of the week. But on Tuesday, the directives were reformulated, without being communicated, writes Biblioteksbladet.
Libraries are no longer mentioned in the regulation, and even “state activities that are not entirely necessary” have been removed from the councils.
The Swedish Public Health Agency explains the error in an email to Expressen:
“The libraries covered by the Law on Libraries are a community service that, according to the law, must be available to everyone. In dialogue with SKR, the government and the Swedish Public Health Agency have therefore adjusted the recommendation that was communicated at the press conference on Friday. “
“Really unhappy”
The general secretary of the Swedish Library Association, Karin Linder, is upset by the lack and tells the TT news agency that the directives have already had far-reaching consequences.
– Now almost all public libraries in Sweden have closed. I think it’s quite difficult to adapt again, says Karin Linder.
According to her, a library closure means that many people do not have access to the internet, newspapers and other information, which is contrary to the right to freedom of information and expression.
– I believe that recommendations that have such a wide impact should be thoughtfully prepared. It has not happened here and it is really regrettable.
