Between the Lines and in the Margins : Investigating the Attitudes of Library Staff at Swedish University Libraries Towards Marginalia in Library Books

Abstract: This thesis explores the attitudes of Swedish university library staff towards marginalia in library books. The study aimed to investigate their experiences and opinions on the topic and any existing routines and guidelines regarding marginalia. Additionally, the study aimed to compare its findings to previous literature, which had made negative assumptions about how librarians feel about marginalia. Despite these assumptions, there has been no research to support them. The study used a mixed-method approach and collected data through a questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and qualitative content analysis. Based on the results, it was found that library staff regularly come across marginalia in library books. While most staff members hold a negative view towards marginalia, there are varying opinions that differ from what previous literature suggests. Those with negative attitudes believe that marginalia ruins the book as an object and hinders future readers from reading autonomously. However, there are also positive attitudes towards marginalia, with some believing that it is a sign of the book being used and that the reader has benefited in some way. Overall, those with both negative and positive views understand marginalia as a byproduct of reading and studying and as a study technique. Current routines and guidelines do not provide much information about handling books with marginalia, with only a few mentioning it. Some library staff believe that explicit guidelines are necessary, while others consider marginalia an inevitable part of libraries and therefore do not require guidelines.