The aim of this study is to compare how three local libraries handle their collections, and to compare this with handling collections at national level. I have investigated librarian’s opinions of their collections and how they take care and preserve them for the future. It has also been studied if the libraries collections of old material contains more than just old book rarities. In this study I had compared my respondents answer with Svante Beckman and Magdalena Hillström`s theory of museum`s four idealtypes. Their view of a museum is in the forms of a treasury, archive, school and a theatre. The answers of the interviews are compared with the four different ideals from the museum, and from that conclusions are drawn. The main method that I have used for this study is qualitative interviews that handle different aspects of this subject. My respondents have been four different librarians from three local libraries in three counties. The results of the study were that all three libraries saw that their collections both have a regional and national value, and they represent both the social and cultural history of that county. Another result was that all three libraries felt that the audience should have the pleasure to view both the original of the collections and digital versions. Finally the study showed that the libraries would like that older collections in libraries should get the same protection as Cultural Heritage.