Original post followed by responses:
> Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2008 21:00:15 +0000
: CDL: Compact shelving
>
> Hello,
>
> It has been suggested that we put our print periodicals on compact shelving to
> gain some much needed space for collection growth, among other things. Does
> anyone have an open stacks collection on compact shelving? Are users reluctant
> to retrieve materials housed there? I have only seen compact shelving used in
> closed stacks and for little used government documents, so I'm wondering if it
> can be beneficial in an open stacks environment.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Gwen Vredevoogd, Librarian
> Marymount University - Reinsch Library
> 2807 North Glebe Road
> Arlington, VA 22207
> 703-526-6835
> gwen.vredevoogd_at_marymount.edu
-==1==
>From deg farrelly <deg.farrelly_at_asu.edu>
Subject Re: CDL: Compact shelving
This is not exactly the same... But related.
At ASU's West campus we house the video collection in compact shelving.
This is essentially vertical drawers similar to those used for microfilm
reels.
The drawers face each other, and open into a common area on a common track,
so that if a drawer on the left is opened the drawer on the right cannot.
It is possible that someone who enters the area after someone else can block
someone from leaving.
But such occurrences are exceptionally rare. The space savings is
significant.
--
deg farrelly, Associate Librarian
Arizona State University at the West campus
PO Box 37100
Phoenix, Arizona 85069-7100
Phone: 602.543.8522
Email: deg.farrelly_at_asu.edu
==2==
From: Kristin Buxton <kbuxton_at_library.caltech.edu>
In one of our buildings all of the journals are on compact shelving and in
another of our buildings on one floor everything is on compact shelving. We do
occasionally get questions about how to make the shelving work, but overall it
seems to work ok. Granted, I don't know how many people couldn't make it work
and gave up rather than ask.
Kristin
==3==
>From Terrence Paris <tparis_at_eastlink.ca>
Re: CDL: Compact shelving
Hello Gwen;
We have a large chunk of our circulating collection in compact shelving
(the LC classification from PS to Z) and we've never had any
complaints. Ours are non-electronic so users have to actually turn a
"crank" to open the stacks for access. In our previous facility we had
our bound periodicals in compact shelving and, as with the present
arrangement, I heard no complaints. The only mishap we've had was the
mangling of a scarce out of print book which had to be send to our
bindery for repair. It had fallen off the shelf and got caught in the
works.
Terrence Paris
Mount Saint Vincent University
Halifax Nova Scotia
Canada
==4==
>From "Ewing, M Keith" <kewing_at_stcloudstate.edu>
Subject RE: Compact shelving
St. Cloud State University has had the majority of it circulating collection
(about 65%) and all of its bound periodicals collection on open stack compact
shelving for the past eight years. Initially, there was some reticence about
the compact shelves, but improved signage on how the compact shleves work
alleviated most problems. All of the compact shelving is in the basement where
there are no services, but some nice quiet study spaces. One of the keys to
successful use of compact shelving is the length of the ranges. We've kept our
ranges to not more than 9 sections in length, 6-7 shelves height, in a pattern
of one stationary unit with 5-movable units and a 46-inch aisle. We have had
few problems over the years and just this summer expanded the compact shelving
units (60 double-face ranges) to accommodate part of the government publications
collections.
keith
Keith Ewing
Collections Management
St. Cloud State University
St. Cloud, MN 56301
==5==
From: John Abbott abbottjp_at_appstate.edu
Appalachian State installed compact shelving in the newly-built library
(opened 2005) to hold paper periodicals, gov docs, and microfilm.
The shelving is patron-accessible and electric-motor driven. The
safety features are the higher level that counts
entries and exits in an open row before moving the carriage.
In ca2002, when the library was designed the future of paper
periodicals seemed unclear. Now it is clear that except for a
minority of journals, electronic is preferred by patrons and
easier for mid-sized and smaller libraries (leaving archiving to
the largest and much better funded state R-1 universities, who
should embrace this role and seek funding for it). Before
spending money for compact shelving, instead join JSTOR,
and purchase one-time the online backfiles of the publishers most
represented in your holdings. Paper journals are a dead
medium. Appalachian State is beginning to re-evaluate how
the very expensive compact shelves might be used as we
follow this advice. Possible solutions are to move the Z's
(including NUC, CBI, and national bibliographies to compact),
perhaps the A's, move all microform, media
(dvd,vhs), and maybe topo maps onto carriages.
John Abbott
Coordinator, Collection Management
Appalachian State U.
Received on Sun Aug 17 2008 - 01:28:11 EDT