id author title date pages extension mime words sentence flesch summary cache txt crl-12881 Rovelstad, Mathilde V. Open Shelves/Closed Shelves in Research Libraries 1976-09-01 12 .pdf application/pdf 6951 429 61 College and Research Libraries • MATHILDE V. ROVELSTAD Open Shelves/Closed Shelves in Research Libraries This article traces the traditional method of making books accessible through their topical arrangement on library shelves, outlines the rea- sons for the abandonment of this method in European research li- braries, explores its modified reappearance in postwar academic li- braries, and cites modern arguments against the practice of making an entire research collection available on open shelves. Open access libraries were the exception in France and Ger- many, not to mention southern Euro- pean countries. cache/crl-12881.pdf txt/crl-12881.txt