[Original posting on this topic appeared in COLLDV-L no. 1857 and is
reproduced below; the responses follow it.]
From: Katina Strauch <strauchk_at_cofc.edu>
We are a medium-sized liberal arts college library located in Charleston,
SC. We are preparing plans for a new building and are considering the use
of compact shelving in both staff and public areas. Has any library had any
experience with compact shelving, especially in public areas, that you
could share with me? Thank you very much. Katina Strauch, College of
Charleston Libraries
Katina Strauch
Head, Collection Development
College of Charleston Libraries
66 George St.
Charleston, SC 29424
843-953-8020, 8008, 8009 (phone)
843-953-8019 (fax)
strauchk_at_cofc.edu
===========================================================================
(1) From: Ellen Chapman <ellen_at_hawaii.edu>
From a small pilot project at the University of Hawaii Library we learned
that air control was not good in our compact shelving. Hawaii is always
humid (I believe Charleston often is?) and no matter how we adjusted the
temperature or installed de-humidifiers and fans, the books all developed
mold. Eventually we dismantled the compact shelving. You would probably
have better luck with the latest technology, especially if the compact
shelving areas had separate air control systems. Public areas often allow
in humidity and heat as doors open and people come and go. Best wishes.
Ellen Chapman
Archvist for Congressional Papers
University of Hawaii at Manoa Library
2550 The Mall
Honolulu, HI 96822
(808) 944-7656
ellen_at_hawaii.edu
(2) From: "Dr. Theodore E. Drake" <tdrake_at_tcjc.cc.tx.us>
I'm not associated with them but the University of texas at
Arlington libraries use compact shelving in public areas. You may wish to
contact them
http://www.uta.edu/library/home.html
t.e.d.
Theodore E. Drake, Ed.D
Director of Library Services
Tarrant County Junior College, South Campus
5301 Campus Drive phone 817.515.4513
Ft. Worth, TX 76119 fax 817.515.5726
(3) From: Thomas Izbicki <izbicki_at_jhu.edu>
We have made limited use of compact shelving. Patrons hate it, because
they cannot sit on the floor & brouse / read to their hearts' content.
Also, it is given, like all equipment, to technical problems. Ours is
electric driven with sensors under floor pads to prevent injury to
patrons. I have wondered, when people have come to me to complain or when
I have had headaches with it, whether it would not be best to stay with
the hand crank kind as less likely to break down.
Tom Izbicki, Johns Hopkins
(4) From: ABHS <abhs_at_CRDS.EDU>
The American Baptist-Samuel Colgate Historical Library moved into new
facilities in 1997 with all compact shelving. Our stacks are closed to the
public, so I can't speak to the issue of public access. I just want to alert
you to make sure you're going to have good service support once you install
them. It is apparently routine to have a number of breakdowns and other
glitches in the first six weeks or so. Make sure that whoever installs them
is willing and able to respond quickly when that happens because, when the
system shuts down, you're locked out of everything.
We found that after that initial break-in periodk, our system has been very
reliable, but there were bugs to work out. Good service support is a must!
Kindest regards,
Dana Martin
Director of the Library
American Baptist Historical Society
Received on Fri Oct 02 1998 - 11:25:51 EDT