For all readers who are already somewhat familiar with the Urbanity Index u and concept of urban mine canaries, here is comprehensive survey of all twenty (20) second hand/antiquarian booksellers in Stockholm, Sweden.
Before we begin, just to recap:
A high Urbanity Index: u ≥ 1.0
A low Urbanity Index: u < 0.5
A neither high nor low Urbanity Index but rather somewhere in between: 0.5 ≤ u < 1.0
01. Aderton Antikvariat, Norrtullsgatan 13, Stockholm, Sweden (in between) u = 0.9
02. Alfa Antikvariat, Olof Palmes gata 20, Stockholm, Sweden (low) u = 0.4
03. Antikvariat Antiqua, Kommendörsgatan 25, Stockholm, Sweden (high) u = 1.0
04. Antikvariat August, Drottninggatan 85, Stockholm, Sweden (high) u = 1.1
05. Antikvariat Hundörat, Östgötagatan 20, Stockholm, Sweden (in between) u = 0.5
06. Antikvariat Mullvaden, Torkel Knutssonsgatan 31, Stockholm, Sweden (high) u = 1.0
07. Antikvariat Strix, Scheelegatan 9, Stockholm, Sweden (high) u = 1.5
08. Antikvariat Tälje, Bondegatan 44, Stockholm, Sweden (in between) u = 0.9
09. Aspingtons Antikvariat, Värtavägen 21, Stockholm, Sweden (high) u = 1.2
10. Centralantikvariatet, Österlånggatan 53, Stockholm, Sweden (low) u = 0
11. Halléns Antikvariat, Tegnérgatan 17 i Stockholm, Sweden (low) u = 0.4
12. Leopolds Antikvariat, Sturegatan 44, Stockholm, Sweden (high) u = 1.3
13. Lindberg & Persson Antikvariat, Banérgatan 41, Stockholm, Sweden (high) u = 1.2
14. Lorenz B. Hatt, Hägerstensvägen 141, Stockholm, Sweden (in between) u = 0.9
15. Mats Rehnström, Jakobsgatan 27B, Stockholm, Sweden (low) u = 0
16. Oceanen Antikvariat, Sveavägen 104, Stockholm, Sweden (in between) u = 0.9
17. Pro Rebus Antiquis Antikvariat, Birger Jarlsgatan 44, Stockholm, Sweden (high) u = 1.2
18. Ryös Antikvariat, Hantverkargatan 21, Stockholm, Sweden (in between) u = 0.6
19. Rönnells Antikvariat, Birger Jarlsgatan 32, Stockholm, Sweden (low) u = 0.1
20. Stockholms Fotoantikvariat, Torkel Knutssonsgatan 31, Stockholm, Sweden (high) u = 1.0
High: 45% (9 out of 20)
In between: 30% (6 out of 20)
Low: 25% (5 out of 20)
In other words: this survey confirms the author’s hypothesis/supposition that urban mine canaries are more likely to exist in city districts with a relatively high Urbanity Index u. The higher the u, the higher the probability for urban “mine canaries” (such as second hand/antiquarian bookshops) to both establish and to survive.
All u-values above 0.5 may be considered acceptable in cases where a socially, culturally, and economically dynamic development is desired, i.e. a genuine urban development of a neighborhood or district over time. In the case of second hand/antiquarian booksellers in Stockholm, Sweden:
Acceptable u-values: 75% (15 out of 20)
Problematic u-values: 25% (5 out of 20)
This survey is based on Mikael Askergren’s own inventory of Stockholm’s antiquarian booksellers (2018). All photos/snapshots above by Mikael Askergren (2018). All street block maps above from the official web site of the city council of Stockholm, Sweden. (Blog post/survey edited in 2019.)
More about the Urbanity Index u: Urbanity: What Is It?
More about antiquarian booksellers: Ask for Kenneth