Bokstölder : konsekvenser för bibliotekens tillgänglighet
(2016) ABMM54 20161Division of ALM and Digital Cultures
Department of Arts and Cultural Sciences
- Abstract
- The purpose of this master’s thesis, based on literary and empirical studies, is to illustrate and discuss how libraries with special collections are affected by thefts.
All institutions working with cultural heritage are possible targets of theft.
The study examines how thefts from library special collections affect the libraries. In Sweden only a few regional and university libraries own collections of rare, older books and documents. However, some occasional unique and rare documents can also be found at smaller institutions, such as school or diocese libraries. All large libraries have at some point experienced that books disappear. But it is not always a question of theft. The reason could also be that books are being misplaced or... (More) - The purpose of this master’s thesis, based on literary and empirical studies, is to illustrate and discuss how libraries with special collections are affected by thefts.
All institutions working with cultural heritage are possible targets of theft.
The study examines how thefts from library special collections affect the libraries. In Sweden only a few regional and university libraries own collections of rare, older books and documents. However, some occasional unique and rare documents can also be found at smaller institutions, such as school or diocese libraries. All large libraries have at some point experienced that books disappear. But it is not always a question of theft. The reason could also be that books are being misplaced or that the library is unaware of the theft and therefore suspects misplacement rather than theft. There is a history of silence around this matter because it is considered to be shameful when libraries do not succeed in maintaining the material safe from thefts and damage. Another reason why some incidents are considered shameful is when an employee is involved in the thefts. These particular book thefts have caught a lot of media attention, due to their scandalous nature. However, most special collection thefts occur during daytime in guarded special collections reading rooms.
The challenge for libraries is to make the material accessible and at the same time preserve it, to create an environment that does not attract thieves and simultaneously offer good research facilities.
Thefts are apparently a serious problem for libraries and archival institutions. Libraries with special collections therefore take action regarding security; one example is to let patrons study valuable and irreplaceable material solely in guarded reading rooms.
This study has shown that thefts affect libraries with special collections in various ways, from working procedures and routines to how the physical library environment is structured. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/8876929
- author
- Estling, Emelie LU
- supervisor
-
- Eva Nylander LU
- organization
- alternative title
- Rare book thefts : Implications for library access
- course
- ABMM54 20161
- year
- 2016
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- special collections reading room, special collections, cultural heritage theft, book thieves, book thefts, Library security, Information Studies, Library and information science, Ulrich Beck, risk society, Michel Foucault, theory on power, biblioteks- och informationsvetenskap, bibliotekssäkerhet, bokstölder, specialsamlingar
- language
- Swedish
- id
- 8876929
- date added to LUP
- 2016-06-16 09:19:53
- date last changed
- 2016-06-16 09:19:53
@misc{8876929,
abstract = {{The purpose of this master’s thesis, based on literary and empirical studies, is to illustrate and discuss how libraries with special collections are affected by thefts.
All institutions working with cultural heritage are possible targets of theft.
The study examines how thefts from library special collections affect the libraries. In Sweden only a few regional and university libraries own collections of rare, older books and documents. However, some occasional unique and rare documents can also be found at smaller institutions, such as school or diocese libraries. All large libraries have at some point experienced that books disappear. But it is not always a question of theft. The reason could also be that books are being misplaced or that the library is unaware of the theft and therefore suspects misplacement rather than theft. There is a history of silence around this matter because it is considered to be shameful when libraries do not succeed in maintaining the material safe from thefts and damage. Another reason why some incidents are considered shameful is when an employee is involved in the thefts. These particular book thefts have caught a lot of media attention, due to their scandalous nature. However, most special collection thefts occur during daytime in guarded special collections reading rooms.
The challenge for libraries is to make the material accessible and at the same time preserve it, to create an environment that does not attract thieves and simultaneously offer good research facilities.
Thefts are apparently a serious problem for libraries and archival institutions. Libraries with special collections therefore take action regarding security; one example is to let patrons study valuable and irreplaceable material solely in guarded reading rooms.
This study has shown that thefts affect libraries with special collections in various ways, from working procedures and routines to how the physical library environment is structured.}},
author = {{Estling, Emelie}},
language = {{swe}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Bokstölder : konsekvenser för bibliotekens tillgänglighet}},
year = {{2016}},
}