[Original posting on this topic is reproduced below; the responses follow it.]
From: Lorelei Tanji <ltanji_at_lib.uci.edu>
UCI Libraries is planning to put compact shelving in the basement of one
of their libraries. We are doing a space analysis and literature search,
but in addition, we would appreciate hearing about other libraries'
experiences, such as:
-Which collections did you put in compact shelving & are you satisfied
with the results?
-Did you choose manual or electronic compact shelving? And are you happy
with this choice?
Any other comments/tips regarding the actual planning and implementation
of compact shelving projects would be appreciated. Thanks in advance,
Lorelei Tanji
Main Library - ZOT 8100 VOICE: 949/824-5216
University of California, Irvine FAX: 949/824-2472
PO Box 19557 / Irvine, CA 92623-9557 Ltanji_at_uci.edu
==============================================================================
(1) From: Wee Joo Gim <clbweejg_at_leonis.nus.edu.sg>
We put less-used books & bound journals into the compact shelves and newly
acquired materials to be processed in units installed in the technical
processing area in libraries. Owing to lack of space, our Media Services
Dept also keep the media materials in compactus shelving. So far, both
manual and electronic ones are being used and there are no problems.
In your plan, please take note of the depth of your shelves required in
your needs because you have to take into consideration the suitable height
to be set up between the shelves within each bay as well as the shelf
depth in order to accommodate your materials of different sizes. There
were cases in which the shelf depth was not deep enough or the
shelf-to-shelf space within each bay is too low to hold big bulky items
and libraries ended having the problem of not being able to push back the
shelves into the compact position and the compactus shelving were left
opened and used like the traditional standalone shelves, which in my
personal opinion, defeats the purpose of using compactus shelving.
Another point you have to take note of in installing the compactus
shelving is the floor load that is necessary to hold the weighty
units. Your library architect and shelf supplier will be able to advise
you according to the building safety requirements. Check the detailed
specifications of the compact shelving to be used and consult your
architect on the floor strength to see if it is strong enough to hold the
heavy load.
Hope this may be of some help to you.
Regards
Joo-Gim Wee
Deputy Librarian
National Univ of Singapore
Note: Comments made are personal and not institutional.
(2)============================================================================
From: H Robert Malinowsky <hrm_at_uic.edu>
The University of Illinois at Chicago Library has one area of compact
shelving in the basement of the Daley Library and is having another
section installed in our warehouse storage facility. The Daley Library
shelving houses monographs that have been pulled from the open circulating
collection. These are items of low use--20 years or more old and not
circulated for 20 years. The shelving is automated. We are very happy
with the shelving. Obviously it is closed to the public. The warehouse
shelving will be used for storage of little used periodicals and other
materials that are not immediately needed.
H. Robert Malinowsky
Professor and Manager of
Collections Development and Reference
University of Illinois at Chicago Library
(3)============================================================================
From: "Barbara Voss" <bvoss_at_pct.edu>
-Which collections did you put in compact shelving & are you satisfied
with the results?
The Audiovisual collection (videocassettes, videodiscs, films, audiocassettes)
-Did you choose manual or electronic compact shelving? And are you happy
with this choice?
Manual--as it is, the manual unit cost approx. $20,000 (installation
included in this cost) back in 1998. Consequently, an electrical unit was
out of the question.
Any other comments/tips regarding the actual planning and implementation
of compact shelving projects would be appreciated. Thanks in advance,
We were fortunate enough to have an efficient, CAD knowledgeable
salesperson who laid out numerous possibilities (well, 3) that would suit
our needs. The shelving has been installed for 3 years now. It still looks
like new and has, indeed, tripled the shelving space. Granted, our AV
collection is a closed collection, so I can't speak of benefits or
liabilities of using compact shelving with open collections.
Barbara A. Voss
Audiovisual Services Specialist
Pennsylvania College of Technology
One College Avenue
Williamsport PA 17701
Phone: 570 320-2400 1-7774
FAX: 570 327-4503
bvoss_at_pct.edu
(4)============================================================================
From: Erica McLaughlin <emclaugh_at_calbaptist.edu>
-Which collections did you put in compact shelving & are you satisfied
with the results?
We installed compact shelving in an 8th story archive mainly because we
didn't have space for regular shelves. We are very satisfied with the
results; we have improved access to the collection as well as room to grow.
-Did you choose manual or electronic compact shelving? And are you happy
with this choice?
We chose manual shelving because only the archivist and full-time employees
were going to actually use the shelving. The electronic shelving would be
helpful if numerous patrons and/or disabled persons were going to need
access to the shelves.
Good luck,
--------------------------------
Erica McLaughlin
Collections Development Librarian
(5)============================================================================
From: Tom Izbicki <izbicki_at_jhu.edu>
-Which collections did you put in compact shelving & are you satisfied
with the results?
I was involved in selection for our compact shelving. The only floor
eligible, because of floor load, was the lowest level, which has the
literature & art collections. We put the earliest sections of P in compact
shelving, including Classics. At least one regional classicist (not one of
our community) refuses to use that collection. Otherwise, people make do,
although there have been occasional problems with multiple demands on the
same section. That has included students sitting in the aisle reading when
someone else needs access & users having to ask shelvers to make room for
them.) I think our offsite facility more successful than our experiment
with compact shelving.
Another portion used to have certain parts of the collection identified as
likely to be of low use (L, U-V-Z & Rand reports); but we reintegrated that
"annex" collection when we needed to relocate the Special Collection "Cage"
to that space. This has been more successful with our Education students,
who too frequently had to use the compact shelves - evidence that the
decision to locate L there had been an error.
-Did you choose manual or electronic compact shelving? And are you happy
with this choice?
We have had occasional problems with the electric shelving we installed,
but I have heard no major complaints of late. I often have thought
mechanical might have been a better choice.
Any other comments/tips regarding the actual planning and implementation
of compact shelving projects would be appreciated. Thanks in advance,
Get use data on anything you think of relocating to compact shelving.
Tom Izbicki
Thomas M. Izbicki
Collection Development Coordinator
Eisenhower Library
Johns Hopkins University
3400 N. Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218
Telephone: 410-516-7173
Fax: 410-516-8399
(6)============================================================================
From: Archives <archives_at_lacrosse.lib.wi.us>
We have manual compact shelving which works very well. When we called other
libraries we found at that time anyway that the floor switches that the
electronic type use for safety often wore out. Then there were problems
with how fast the custodial or maintenance staff responded to those problems.
Our compact shelving is right off of our reading room so it is not like
"off site" storage, and it is in a staff only area so patrons are not
browsing the stacks back there. The University in town uses their compact
storage for bound periodicals and older ed. of reference materials and
series. Theirs are browseable by the public and are in the basement area.
Anita Doering
Archivist
--
Archives & Local History
La Crosse Public Library
800 Main St.
La Crosse, WI 54601-4122
(608) 789-7136
archives_at_lacrosse.lib.wi.us
La Crosse area genealogy databases:
http://lacrosselibrary.org/genealogy
Received on Thu Aug 09 2001 - 16:50:49 EDT