Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate what effect the shelf classification of fiction had on the ways how library's clients use the library's stock of fiction and how they loan fiction. The study was carried out in the town of Kajaani – in its two branch libraries. In one library the fiction stock was divided in eleven shelf categories, based on genres of fiction – in the other no changes were made. The books were also indexed and classified in the library's database. The experimentation lasted about three years and the results were gathered by interviewing clients and making statistical analysis on loans in both libraries.
The basic finding was, that shelf classification of fiction does not have a great effect on what genres are used and loaned in library. Clients were using mostly recreational fiction in both libraries – both in the one that had shelf categories and in the one that did not. On the other hand, shelf classification helped the clients in finding for themselves what they are looking for more efficiently and faster compared to the library where fiction was not divided in categories – a fact that was appreciated by the clients when interviewed. And what is more, classification and indexing the fiction stock helped the library staff in their daily reference work and improved their means of serving their clients.