Professional identity of public librarians, archivists and museum professionals in five European countries

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose is to investigate the professional identity of public library, archive and museum (LAM) professionals in Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Norway and Sweden.

Design/methodology/approach

The data have been gathered through the administration of three questionnaires. A comprehensive analysis is conducted to explore the variations in the professionals’ perceptions of their professional proximities to the other LAM professions and other related professions, considering demographic factors such as age, education, gender and immigrant background of participants.

Findings

Through a lens of micro- and macro-professional identities, the findings underscore both clearly perceived role separation between the LAM professions and notable points of convergence, suggesting opportunities for collaborative efforts. The implications of these discoveries are discussed, offering a foundation for future research endeavors.

Originality/value

The study highlights the professions perceived to have the most and least similarity to LAMs based on questionnaire responses, providing valuable insights into the interplay between various professional domains.

Citation

Khosrowjerdi, M., Johnston, J., Rydbeck, K., Vårheim, A., Huvila, I., Tóth, M., Pálsdóttir, Á. and Mierzecka, A. (2024), "Professional identity of public librarians, archivists and museum professionals in five European countries", Journal of Documentation, Vol. 80 No. 6, pp. 1570-1596. https://doi.org/10.1108/JD-03-2024-0060