Introduction. When the definition of democracy and the meaning of a democratic society is re-negotiated and re-interpreted, the mission of the public library is placed in a new context. This paper reports findings from an ongoing research project focused on library managers’ and librarians’ lived experiences of recent political developments in Sweden. 

Method. Methodologically, the research project departs from the perspective of institutional ethnography, and combines a longitudinal survey study with interviews, focus-group interviews, and document studies. This paper reports findings from the first stage of a library manager survey.

Findings. Results indicate that the interplay between libraries and the local political level is experienced as mostly well-functioning, although notable exceptions exist, and that the correspondence between national cultural- and library policies and politics of the participating municipalities is perceived as high. However, the paragraph from the Library Act about particular attention to national minorities and persons with a native language other than Swedish causes notable opposition between local and national political levels.

Conclusion. Irregular political pressure is uncommon, but when it occurs, it is often connected to issues focused by radical right-wing parties. The study indicates a need to further investigate the intersection of (national) policies and (local) politics.