LAMs as objects of knowledge and cultural policy

Looking at six decades of libraries, archives, and museums (LAMs) policies in Scandinavia, we see that the idea of what LAMs might contribute to society has changed. The ambitions for their part have become more prominent, their roles more numerous, and their tasks more general. Libraries and museums have widened their scope to become more general cultural institutions. There is little evidence to suggest that the policy on archives is moving in the same direction, although they are expected to have a more outward-, audience-, and public service-oriented role than before. The gradual convergence between LAMs has not been of equal strength and character in the three Scandinavian countries, but the widening of LAM responsibilities might explain the characteristics of the development of LAM policies. Expanded responsibilities create institutions that are the object of both knowledge and cultural policies: Serving the public through being institutions for heritage, identity, entertainment, and experience and still being institutions for education, learning, research, and general enlightenment. Secondly, the expanded responsibilities also increase the relevance of LAM synergy and convergence. When tasks and goals are becoming more general, and when all three institutions face a similar challenge in digitalization, there is an opportunity for gradual policy gravitation between the LAMs.