A quick survey, March 1996, showed that all libraries except one were still run by contractors. However, the wave of contracting out public libraries have faded away. Newcomers are more or less non existent. The whole thing of contracting out of public libraries has become a lame duck. The experience of contracting out Swedish public libraries causes some principal questions.
Garbage collecting is a very important public service in a civilised society.
And if not properly operated it will immediately cause damage. The explanation probably is that there is a principal difference between garbage collecting and public libraries. In addition very few would find it a good idea to contract out the National Defence. The public library is a part of a democratic society and profit should not be made on their maintenance. In the mind of people and of librarians the public library run as a public institution is a symbol for a democratic society.