To Örebro University

The new Social Services Act increases the demand for preventive measures, which are expected to takeplace in collaboration with other actors. One actor that has received attention in the media is publiclibraries, where, among other things, the introduction of library social workers is a concrete example ofefforts to address social vulnerability. Since their establishment, public libraries have had the task ofserving as universally preventive spaces, aiming to promote social inclusion by providing equal accessto literature, information, and culture. However, there is a lack of knowledge about the role of librariesin offering targeted interventions for socially vulnerable groups. This article aims to map how publiclibraries work to address social vulnerability. The empirical analysis is guided by the following researchquestions: At what level and for which target groups are measures implemented? What characterises thelibraries that carry out such measures? With which actors do libraries collaborate in connection withtargeted interventions? The project is based on a survey answered by 566 public libraries in 259 Swedishmunicipalities. The results show that almost 30 percent of libraries carry out targeted measures to add-ress social vulnerability, and that the majority of these initiatives are conducted in collaboration withother actors. A distinctive feature of the libraries that implement such targeted efforts is a higher pre-valence of visitors with extensive and complex problems. These findings suggest that public librariescould be further developed as venues for preventive social work. However, such a development mayrisk undermining the general trust and legitimacy that libraries currently enjoy. Therefore, any such de-velopment must take place within the library profession itself, where the results of this and similar stu-dies can serve as a foundation for further knowledge and discussion