Mnemonics in the Mouseion: Considerations on spatial mnemonics as a tool for classification and retrieval

Abstract

Purpose

Mnemonics was a tool in classification and information seeking processes in pre-print libraries. The purpose of this paper is to study the role of spatial mnemonics in Hellenistic libraries, including the one in Alexandria.

Design/methodology/approach

Since library- and information science has not explored this subject in depth, philology, rhetoric, book-history and archeology constitute the core literature. From this literature, the role of mnemonics in the libraries is discussed.

Findings

A new description of the practice of classification and retrieval in Hellenistic libraries, based on spatial mnemonics.

Originality/value

This paper is a new analysis of spatial mnemonics in the Hellenistic libraries. As will become clear, they blend easily and logically with each other.

Citation

Olesen-Bagneux, O. (2015), "Mnemonics in the Mouseion: Considerations on spatial mnemonics as a tool for classification and retrieval", Journal of Documentation, Vol. 71 No. 2, pp. 278-293. https://doi.org/10.1108/JD-01-2014-0016