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Utbrytningar på bibliotek: En fallstudie av tre bibliotek i Skåne

Hellryd, Frida LU (2025) ABMM54 20251
Division of ALM, Digital Cultures and Publishing Studies
Abstract
This thesis is a case study of the phenomena known as broken order in three Swedish libraries: two public libraries and one university library. While Swedish libraries often use the Swedish national classification scheme, SAB, or the international classification scheme, Dewey Decimal Classification, to shelve the majority of their material, parts of the stock are placed in alternative arrangements, whether permanently or temporarily, creating a broken order. By using observations this thesis aims to answer what kinds of alternative arrangements exist in libraries. Complementary interviews are used to answer why they exist. This study finds that materials can be broken out of the main sequence based on various factors, such as the... (More)
This thesis is a case study of the phenomena known as broken order in three Swedish libraries: two public libraries and one university library. While Swedish libraries often use the Swedish national classification scheme, SAB, or the international classification scheme, Dewey Decimal Classification, to shelve the majority of their material, parts of the stock are placed in alternative arrangements, whether permanently or temporarily, creating a broken order. By using observations this thesis aims to answer what kinds of alternative arrangements exist in libraries. Complementary interviews are used to answer why they exist. This study finds that materials can be broken out of the main sequence based on various factors, such as the material’s age, target audience, genre, format, language and content. The interviews show that these changes to the classification system are done to help patrons find materials. However, the broken order can also help the librarians find materials. The findings from the observations and interviews are then analysed in a thematic analysis using classification theory and theories on browsing behaviour. The broken order can make it more difficult to search for specific items, since documents can be placed in unexpected arrangements. It can, however, make it easier to browse, since the visibility these categories afford can help patrons find things they would not otherwise find. The study also finds that the university library has the fewest alternative shelf arrangements, partly because it has less fiction. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Hellryd, Frida LU
supervisor
organization
alternative title
Broken order at libraries. A case study of three libraries in Skåne
course
ABMM54 20251
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Library, Information, Classification, Reader Interest Categories, Knowledge Organisation, Shelf Arrangement, Broken Order
language
Swedish
id
9194091
date added to LUP
2025-06-24 10:57:49
date last changed
2025-06-24 10:57:49
@misc{9194091,
  abstract     = {{This thesis is a case study of the phenomena known as broken order in three Swedish libraries: two public libraries and one university library. While Swedish libraries often use the Swedish national classification scheme, SAB, or the international classification scheme, Dewey Decimal Classification, to shelve the majority of their material, parts of the stock are placed in alternative arrangements, whether permanently or temporarily, creating a broken order. By using observations this thesis aims to answer what kinds of alternative arrangements exist in libraries. Complementary interviews are used to answer why they exist. This study finds that materials can be broken out of the main sequence based on various factors, such as the material’s age, target audience, genre, format, language and content. The interviews show that these changes to the classification system are done to help patrons find materials. However, the broken order can also help the librarians find materials. The findings from the observations and interviews are then analysed in a thematic analysis using classification theory and theories on browsing behaviour. The broken order can make it more difficult to search for specific items, since documents can be placed in unexpected arrangements. It can, however, make it easier to browse, since the visibility these categories afford can help patrons find things they would not otherwise find. The study also finds that the university library has the fewest alternative shelf arrangements, partly because it has less fiction.}},
  author       = {{Hellryd, Frida}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Utbrytningar på bibliotek: En fallstudie av tre bibliotek i Skåne}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}