Lund’s public libraries and Gothenburg City Library are joining Biblioteket Play, the streaming service run by Stockholm City Library. The step brings the platform, launched in 2022, closer to its long-term goal of becoming a common digital platform for libraries in Sweden. The service is free, open to everyone and requires no library card, login or registration.
What changes
With the two new partners, Biblioteket Play is run by Stockholm City Library in cooperation with the libraries of Malmö, Gothenburg, Lund and Örebro. The service offers programmes on literature and culture, through livestreams and productions for both children and adults. City librarian Elisabeth Aquilonius said that more libraries joining means reading-promotion content can reach even more people.
The first programmes
Both new partners start with author talks:
- Lund will livestream the programme series Nordiskt ljus this autumn, including conversations with Tone Schunnesson, author of “Ultravåld”, and Kjell Westö, author of “Coda”.
- Gothenburg City Library broadcasts its first programme on 17 September, an author talk with Lena Andersson about the new edition of “Duck City”.
Earlier steps
The partnership has grown one library at a time. Since 2024, the Malmö libraries have livestreamed their programme series “Författarscenen” on Biblioteket Play, making conversations with authors such as Édouard Louis, Arundhati Roy and last year’s Booker Prize winner David Szalay available to audiences across Sweden. Örebro library joined in 2025.
| Year | Step |
|---|---|
| 2022 | Stockholm City Library launches Biblioteket Play |
| 2024 | Malmö starts livestreaming Författarscenen |
| 2025 | Örebro library joins |
| Now | Lund and Gothenburg join |
According to Stockholm City Library, the original aim of a shared national platform is now on its way to becoming reality as more libraries in the country join the cooperation. Because the service is free and needs no account, programmes from partner libraries can be followed by audiences anywhere in Sweden.