Library material arrangement:
Irrespective of the category to which a library belongs, collection of a library is first broken into sequences. Depending upon the size of a library collection may be arranged only under two sequences- books and periodicals- or more than two sequences. Once the material has been grouped by sequence the question of arrangement on shelf comes up. The arrangement of library material will include:
1) Sequence Arrangement
2) Shelf Arrangement
1) Sequence Arrangement: Based on any one or more of the following features:
- Access: Open, Closed
- Size of books
- Purpose: Reference, Text books, lending books
- Category of user: Children, Adult
- Physical aspects: Book, Non-book (film, palm leaf, tape)
- Special sequence
2) Shelf Arrangement: Based on any one of the following features:
- Alphabetical by author/title
- Classified or by subject
- Block arrangement
- Broken order management
- Accession number