Affiliation
I recieved my PhD from the former Royal School of Library and Informations Science, Denmark (now Copernhagen University) in 2012. Since the, I my research have been focused on topics related to library development, library policy making, and the library profession.
My research interests are coloured by my background as a librarian. I have worked in school libraries, public libraries and academic libraries, and my primary goal as a researcher is to shed light on issues relevant for the library sector. In recent years I have researched and written about the library as place and space, the relational dimensions of librarianship, as well as cultural and library policy issues. Current projects include reading and reading engagement, library services for refugees and immigrants, as well as library development in local communities.
Disciplines
Research projects
Active research projects
Public libraries for immigrants and refugees (PubLIB)
This project consists of an international research group dedicated to studying how public libraries address the needs of recently arrived refugees and immigrants.
Completed research projects
Political Dynamics of the Cultural Sector (POLYCUL)
This project depart from the hypothesis that explanations for developments in cultural policy, and in particular its failure to realize programmatic goals, are found in the dynamics of interest-based politics that at work in the cultural sector.
The big city library survey 2025
How are libraries actually used and what needs do the users have?
Publications and research
Scientific publications (19)
- Evjen, Sunniva; Audunson, Ragnar Andreas; Eskola, Eeva-Liisa (2025). Libraries in urban cultural politics. Journal of Documentation. p. 17-17
- Vårheim, Andreas; Johnston, Jamie; Eskola, Eeva-Liisa; Jochumsen, Henrik; Kisilowska-Szurmińska, Małgorzata; Pálsdóttir, Ágústa; Rydbeck, Kerstin; Toth, Mate; Wimmer, Ulla; Khosrowjerdi, Mahmood; Mierzecka, Anna; Evjen, Sunniva; Skare, Roswitha (2025). Public library services for migrants in national government policies across eight European countries: a comparative analysis. Information Research: An international electronic journal. Vol. 30. p. 29-51
- Evjen, Sunniva (2025). The relational dimension of librarianship. Information Research: An international electronic journal. Vol. 30. p. 604-617
- Audunson, Ragnar Andreas; Eskola, Eeva-Liisa; Evjen, Sunniva (2024). Location, Location, Location. The media debates on the New Central Libraries in Oslo and Helsinki. Nordisk kulturpolitisk tidsskrift (NKT). Vol. 27. p. 26-44
- Evjen, Sunniva (2023). Pusterommet. Romlige og sosiale kvaliteter ved skolebiblioteket. Bøyum, Idunn; Tveit, Åse Kristine (Ed.). Rom for lesing og utforsking:Skolebibliotekets muligheter. ABM-media AS
- Evjen, Sunniva; Colbjørnsen, Terje; Bøyum, Idunn; Tallerås, Kim; Olsen, Heidi Kristin (2021). Samfunnsoppdrag under press Erfaringer og vurderinger i norske bibliotek under Covid-19. Nordic Journal of Library and Information Studies. Vol. 2. p. 17-37
- Johnston, Jamie; Pálsdóttir, Ágústa; Mierzecka, Anna; Audunson, Ragnar Andreas; Hobohm, Hans-Christoph; Rydbeck, Kerstin; Toth, Mate; Rasmussen, Casper Hvenegaard; Jochumsen, Henrik; Khosrowjerdi, Mahmood; Evjen, Sunniva (2021). Public librarians' perception of their professional role and the library's role in supporting the public sphere: a multi-country comparison. Journal of Documentation
- Evjen, Sunniva; Olsen, Heidi Kristin; Tveit, Åse Kristine (2020). Rød mix: Ragnar Audunson som forsker og nettverksbygger. 324 p.. ABM-media AS
- Vold, Tonje; Evjen, Sunniva (2020). Being, learning, doing: A palace for the children? A Tween’s Library Seen from the User’s Perspectives. Audunson, Ragnar Andreas; Andresen, Herbjørn; Fagerlid, Cicilie; Henningsen, Erik; Hobohm, Hans-Christoph; Jochumsen, Henrik (Ed.). Libraries, Archives and Museums as Democratic Public Spaces in a Digital Age. De Gruyter Saur
- Audunson, Ragnar Andreas; Aabø, Svanhild; Blomgren, Roger; Evjen, Sunniva; Jochumsen, Henrik; Larsen, Håkon; Rasmussen, Casper Havnegaard; Vårheim, Andreas; Johnston, Jamie; Koizumi, Masanori (2019). Public libraries as an infrastructure for a sustainable public sphere: A comprehensive review of research. Journal of Documentation. Vol. 75. p. 773-790
- Evjen, Sunniva; Vold, Tonje (2018). "It's all about relations" - an investigation into the youth librarian’s role and proficiency. Nordisk Tidsskrift for informationsvitenskab- og kulturformidling. Vol. 7
- Kannelønning, Mari Serine; Evjen, Sunniva (2018). Tillit og tverrfaglighet - om bibliotekaren som forskerstøtte. Nordisk Tidsskrift for informationsvitenskab- og kulturformidling. Vol. 7. p. 74-88
- Audunson, Ragnar Andreas; Evjen, Sunniva (2017). The public library: an arena for an enlightened and rational public sphere? The case of Norway. Information Research: An international electronic journal. Vol. 22
- Audunson, Ragnar Andreas; Aabø, Svanhild; Andersen, Jack; Evjen, Sunniva; Jochumsen, Henrik; Koizumi, M; Widdersheim, M.M. (2017). Libraries as an Infrastructure for a Sustainable Public Sphere in a Digital Age. Sterzer, Wjatscheslaw (Ed.). iConference 2017 Proceedings: Effect, expand, evolve: Global collabaration across the information community. iSchools, 2017
- Vold, Tonje; Evjen, Sunniva (2016). How children find their way: Access, adaptability and aesthetics in the organisation and design of a new children's library. Proceedings of the Association for Information Science and Technology. Vol. 53. p. 1-9
- Vold, Tonje; Evjen, Sunniva (2016). How children find their way: access, adaptability and aesthetics in the organisation and design of a new children's library.. Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Information Science and Technology. Vol. 53
- Evjen, Sunniva; Olsen, Heidi Kristin (2015). Med viten som verktøy – referansebibliotekaren i det digitale skiftet. Audunson, Ragnar Andreas (Ed.). Samle, formidle, dele: 75 år med bibliotekarutdanning. ABM-media AS
- Evjen, Sunniva (2015). The image of an institution: Politicians and the urban library project. Library & Information Science Research. Vol. 37. p. 28-35
- Evjen, Sunniva; Audunson, Ragnar Andreas (2009). The complex library - do the public's attitudes represent a barrier to institutional change in public libraries?. New Library World. Vol. 110. p. 161-174
Research reports (1)
- Evjen, Sunniva; Audunson, Ragnar Andreas; Johannsen, Carl Gustav (2012). Placing the public library – a comparative analysis of political perceptions. Det Informationsvidenskabelige Akademi
Dissemination (60)
- Evjen, Sunniva (2026). Demystifying the Review Process
- Evjen, Sunniva (2026). Academic Libraries between their Critical Mission and Institutional Constraints
- Evjen, Sunniva (2026). What's the value? What does research tell us about the outcome and impact of public libraries?
- Jochumsen, Henrik; Johnston, Jamie; Evjen, Sunniva (2026). Service for Refugees and Immigrants: A New Toolbox!
- Losnegard, Åshild; Evjen, Sunniva; Tveit, Åse Kristine (2026). Lesekrise eller leseboom?
- Evjen, Sunniva (2025). Children and cultural policy – a means towards which end?. IRSCL 2025 International Conference
- Evjen, Sunniva (2025). The relational dimension of librarianship. COLIS 2025. 12th International Conference on Conceptions of Library and Information Science
- Evjen, Sunniva (2025). Community, conflict and neutrality – a Scandinavian perspective on public library research. Leseforum
- Evjen, Sunniva; Audunson, Ragnar Andreas; Eskola, Eeva-Liisa (2024). Libraries in urban cultural politics. 13th International Conference on Cultural Policy Research 2024
- Evjen, Sunniva (2024). Skolens pusterom – romlige og sosiale kvaliteter ved skolebiblioteket. Bedre Skole
- Rasmussen, Casper Hvenegaard; Larsen, Håkon; Rydbeck, Kerstin; Johnston, Jamie; Jochumsen, Henrik; Evjen, Sunniva (2023). Keynote Panel: Libraries, Archives, and Museums in Transition. BOBCATSSS2023
- Audunson, Ragnar Andreas; Evjen, Sunniva; Eskola, Eeva Liisa; Widen, Gunilla (2023). New central libraries in Oslo and Helsinki - Perceptions of the public library in two cultural projects in Norway and Finland. Nordic Conference on Cultural Policy Research
- Evjen, Sunniva (2023). Pusterommet. Romlige og sosiale kvaliteter ved skolebiblioteket.. Rom for lesing og utforsking: Skolebibliotekets muligheter. Skolebibliotekseminar 2023.
- Audunson, Ragnar Andreas; Evjen, Sunniva; Widén, Gunilla; Eskola, Eeva-Liisa (2022). New central libraries in Oslo and Helsinki: a comparative study on the public debate on two major cultural projects in Norway and Finland. 12th. International Conference on Public Policy Research
- Dahl, Tor Arne; Evjen, Sunniva; Tallerås, Kim; Tveit, Åse Kristine (2021). Hva lærer bibliotekarer om ytringsfrihet og debatt?. Aftenposten (morgenutg. : trykt utg.)
- Bøyum, Idunn; Colbjørnsen, Terje; Evjen, Sunniva; Olsen, Heidi Kristin; Tallerås, Kim; Hellekjær, Anne-Inger (2021). Bak lukkede dører. Bob : Bok og bibliotek. p. 47-49
- Audunson, Ragnar Andreas; Evjen, Sunniva; Eskola, Eeva-Liisa; Widén, Gunilla (2021). Planning new metropolitan libraries and perspectives on the library’s role: The case of Oslo and Helsinki. The 10th Nordic Conference on Cultural Policy Research
- Evjen, Sunniva (2021). Building bridges: The Role of the Relational Librarian. New Librarianship Symposium. Symposium 1 Post-neutrality Librarianship
- Johnston, Jamie; Tallerås, Kim; Dahl, Tor Arne; Evjen, Sunniva; Rice, Curt (2020). Et bibliotek for alle
- Evjen, Sunniva (2020). Studio 2
- Vold, Tonje; Evjen, Sunniva (2019). Barnas plass, barnas palass?. Storbykonferansen
- Skare, Roswitha; Vårheim, Andreas; Audunson, Ragnar Andreas; Evjen, Sunniva; Aabø, Svanhild; Jochumsen, Henrik; Rasmussen, Casper Havnegaard; Rydbeck, Kerstin (2018). Libraries as Public Sphere Infrastructure in the Digital Age: A Review of Research. Libraries in the Digital Age (LIDA) 2018
- Evjen, Sunniva (2018). Mer enn bare leseglede? Verdien av norske folkebibliotek. Bibliotekledermøte
- Evjen, Sunniva; Fagerlid, Cicilie; Golten, Elin; Mathiasson, Mia Høj; Vold, Tonje (2018). Deltagerbiblioteket. Det 76. norske bibliotekmøte
- Evjen, Sunniva; Clementz, Anne; Røe, Cecilie (2017). Der ingen ville se, at så mye kunne skje - Et studie over hvordan konfliktsituasjoner og uønsket adferd fra brukere påvirker arbeidsmiljøet i folkebibliotek. OsloMet - storbyuniversitetet
- Audunson, Ragnar Andreas; Aabø, Svanhild; Evjen, Sunniva; Larsen, Håkon; Jahnsen, Heidi; Ødemark, Ingjerd Legreid; Vårheim, Andreas; Rydbeck, Kerstin; Johnston, Jamie; Blomgren, Roger; Jochumsen, Henrik; Rasmussen, Casper Hvenegaard (2017). Public libraries, as an infrastructure for a sustainable public sphere: A systematic review of research: a preliminary paper. 8th Nordic Conference on Cultural Policy Research
- Evjen, Sunniva; Bøyum, Idunn (2017). Kult, men stress. Bibliotekarstudenters opplevelse av Pecha Kucha som formidlingsformat. VIRAK
- Evjen, Sunniva (2017). Folkeopplysningen er død. Leve folkeopplysningen. Bob : Bok og bibliotek
- Evjen, Sunniva (2017). The head or the heart? On institutional libraries, positioning and design. Nordisk medarbeidermøte
- Evjen, Sunniva (2016). Kulturhuset hovedsending. Trender og tendenser i kulturen.
- Evjen, Sunniva (2016). Kulturhuset hovedsending
- Frisvold, Øivind; Evjen, Sunniva; Bøyum, Idunn; Olsen, Heidi Kristin (2016). Gamle bibliotek blir som nye. Flaggskipet Tønsberg rigges for nye oppgaver. Bob : Bok og bibliotek. Vol. 83. p. 41-44
- Evjen, Sunniva (2016). Perspektiver på fremtidens bibliotek. Yrkesfaglig frokostseminar,
- Evjen, Sunniva; Vold, Tonje (2016). How children find their way: Access, adaptability and aesthetics in the organization and design of a new children’s library. Annual Meeting 2015. Association for Information Science and Technology.
- Evjen, Sunniva (2016). Ungenes eget. Bibliotekaren (Oslo)
- Evjen, Sunniva (2016). Jo flere vi er sammen – jo gladere blir vi?. Bibliotekaren (Oslo)
- Evjen, Sunniva (2016). Tverrfaglig samarbeid. Bibliotekaren (Oslo)
- Evjen, Sunniva (2016). The public library: an arena for an enlightened and rational public sphere? The case of Norway. Conceptions of Library and Information Science (CoLIS 9)
- Evjen, Sunniva (2016). Brobyggeren. Bibliotekmøtet 2016
- Evjen, Sunniva (2015). – Blir et viktig signalbygg som bygger image
- Evjen, Sunniva (2015). Kulturhuset bok: de nye superbibliotekene
- Bøyum, Idunn; Evjen, Sunniva (2015). Bibliotekstudentar og formidling: Bruk av Pecha kucha i undervisning. UH-bibliotekkonferansen 2015
- Audunson, Ragnar Andreas; Aabø, Svanhild; Evjen, Sunniva; Vårheim, Andreas (2015). Recent changes in Norwegian public library law and the PLACE project. 7th Nordic Conference on Cultural Policy Research (NCCPR2015)
- Aabø, Svanhild; Audunson, Ragnar Andreas; Evjen, Sunniva (2015). Recent changes in Norwegian public library law and the PLACE project. 7th Nordic Conference on Cultural Policy Research, August 25-27, 2015, Bø, Norway (NCCPR2015)
- Evjen, Sunniva; Audunson, Ragnar Andreas (2014). Ny formålsparagraf - nye bibliotekoppgaver?. Det 74. norske bibliotekmøte: Møteplass for kompetanse, innovasjon og debatt
- Evjen, Sunniva (2014). Placing the public library - on politicians and the urban library project. Forskningsseminar
- Evjen, Sunniva (2014). PLACE - biblioteket som møtested?. Bibliotekdagane 2014
- Evjen, Sunniva (2013). Etterlyser bibliotekplan
- Evjen, Sunniva (2013). Bibliotekvisjoner. Hvor går veien videre - et blikk på bibliotek- og stedsutvikling. Bibliotekdagen i Telemark
- Evjen, Sunniva (2013). By- eller bibliotekutvikling?. Skandinavisk fagforeningsmøte
- Evjen, Sunniva (2013). Hvor går veien videre? En komparativ analyse av folkebibliotekperspektiver. Bibliotekkonferansen i Nord
- Evjen, Sunniva (2013). By- eller bibliotekutvikling - ja takk, begge deler. Bob : Bok og bibliotek
- Evjen, Sunniva (2013). Innledning til debatt. Halmstadkonferansen
- Evjen, Sunniva (2012). Placing the public library – a comparative study of political perceptions. SSLIS Borås Jubilee Conference
- Evjen, Sunniva (2011). Placing the Public Library – a qualitiative study of public library perspectives. 4th Annual Information Studies Postgraduate Symposium
- Audunson, Ragnar Andreas; Evjen, Sunniva (2008). Verdien av det komplekse. p. 20-20
- Evjen, Sunniva (2008). Bruk og brukere i sentrum: Hvem er de og hvor går de?. Bibliotekaren (Oslo). p. 8-9
- Evjen, Sunniva (2007). Bilder av biblioteket - en kvalitativ undersøkelse av Drammensbibliotekets brukere og ikke-brukere. 100 p.. Høgskolen i Oslo og Akershus
- Evjen, Sunniva (2007). Bibliotekar, quo vadis?. Bibliotekforum
- Evjen, Sunniva (2007). Der kunnskap møter teknologi - rapport fra Online Information 2006. Bibliotekforum
These publications are obtained from Norwegian Research Information Repository. The list may be incomplete.