Making a Collection Count

6

Collection organization

This chapter considers how physical layout of a library’s collections contributes to collection quality. Some of the implications in this area are physical space, such as building layout, floor plan, and shelving, as well as classification systems, ergonomics, and signage. We will also discuss how physical layout of staff work areas contributes to collection quality. This expands the previous chapter’s ideas of workflow efficiency, but with more emphasis on physical spaces.

Physical space

Building layout is the first consideration in a discussion of a library’s physical space. When staff decide where to house a collection, they need to make sense of the functionality of each part of the building. Let’s look at an example ...