In library science, collation refers to the process of arranging items, such as books or manuscripts, in a specific order. This order is typically based on the author’s name, title, or publication date, and is used to help users find and access the materials they need. Collation is an important aspect of cataloging and classification, and helps to ensure that materials are organized in a way that is easy to understand and use.
An example of collation in a library would be arranging all of the books written by a certain author in alphabetical order by the author’s last name. For example, all of the books written by Jane Austen would be grouped together and placed in order by the letters of her last name (A-U-S-T-E-N). Another example would be arranging all the books by title in a specific order, like the Dewey Decimal System, which organizes books by subject and assigns each book a unique number based on its subject. This system makes it easy for patrons to find and access the materials they need by browsing the shelves in a logical and organized way.