Handling of collection at antiquarian booksellers : Classification, shelving and exposure

The purpose of this thesis is to examine the classification,shelf arrangement and display of documents in antiquarianbookshops and see the reasons behind these. The results willbe compared with previous reviews of alternative shelfarrangement in Swedish public libraries, to see whatdifferences and similarities there are in the classification andshelf arrangement between antiquarian booksellers andlibraries. The questions to be answered were: (1)What formsof classification and shelf arrangement are used inantiquarian bookshops and how does it differ from theclassification and shelf arrangement made in libraries withan alternative shelf arrangement? (2)What exposure ofdocuments are there in the various antiquarian bookshops? Isthere anything regarding the exposure that differs betweenthe antiquarian bookshops and the libraries? An idea andideology analysis of various dimensions is used as atheoretical tool during the work. The dimensions were: (1)Shelf arrangement: It is important that customers/borrowerscan find themselves - it is important that staff know wherethe documents are. (2) Exposure: Important to sales/turnover- does not affect sales/turnover. The methodology used wasliterature studies and interviews with antiquarian bookshops.The result shows differences in terms of classification in theantiquarian bookshops. Shelf arrangement is more consistentand above all based on the readers-interest arrangement. Themajor factor behind classification and shelf arrangement is toenable the customers to locate what they are looking for.Factors that lead to an alternative shelf arrangement in alibrary were for example trendiness, convenience for thepublic and exposure. Exposure is in most cases seen asimportant. One suggestion for further research is to conducta larger study.Program: Bibliotekari