Task Group on Library Collections Space

Final Report

June 11, 1992

Appendix B

Solutions Considered by the Task Group

1. High Density Storage Libraries

• 1.1 South Campus, Open Stacks
• 1.2 South Campus, Closed Stacks
• 1.3 North Campus

A high density storage library is one which uses compact shelving instead of conventional shelving. An explanation of compact shelving and its benefits is provided in the introduction to section 4 of this Appendix.

Benefits of a high density storage library:

1. patrons have more immediate access to material
2. browsing can be permittedif an open-stacks policy is adopted
3. some level of access tools and reference service can be provided close to the materials

1.1 South Campus, Open Stacks

Assumptions

1. low use material across all subject areas
2. patron access to building

1. Gain in Shelf Space

   • at this point, it could be whatever we can afford; as a long term solution, the more the better

2. Start-up Financial Costs

   • the cost of land for a building site; for land on campus, factors such as lost opportunity to use the land for other purposes need to be considered
   • the erecting of a building or the retrofitting of an existing one; the cost of a new library can be roughly estimated at between $100.00 and $200.00 per square foot
   • the building of a facility or the retrofitting of an existing building
   • shelving (regular or compact)
   • book trucks, book ends, kick stools
   • staff workstations including desks, chairs, terminals, telephones, supplies
   • service desk, equipment and supplies for circulation
   • service desk, equipment and supplies for reference and/or user education (if these services are provided)
   • a security system for the patron exit
   • furniture and equipment for patrons to use when working with access tools such as WATCAT
   • study carrels or tables and chairs (if the library is to include study space for users)

3. Continuing Financial Costs

   • staff (librarians) to determine what to locate here
   • staff (clerical, van driver) to effect the transfer of material
   • staff to provide circulation service (and reference and/or user education service, if provided)
   • staff for stacks maintenance activity
   • a van to transfer material
   • a security system for the patron exit
   • utilities
   • routine maintenance and equipment replacement
   • regular cleaning of the facility

4. Effects on Staff Morale

   • staff morale should not be a significant factor provided the following concerns are addressed:
     1. the air quality and temperature should be reasonable for people working in the facility
     2. there should be adequate staff for the tasks involved
     3. there should be adequate and well maintained furniture and equipment (e.g. terminals, book trucks) for the tasks involved

5. Effects on Accessibility

   • because this library would be on the south campus, it is close to the current centre of campus activity
   • patrons have immediate access to the collection
   • patrons may browse
   • patrons must go to two libraries to locate material within a subject area

6. Potential Resistance

   • all categories of patrons will not like the fact that they must go to two buildings to obtain material within a subject area
   • we could, however, offer a service whereby staff retrieve material from the stacks and arrange to send it to the location of the patron's choice; this would require increased staff and would lead to increased wear and tear on equipment such as a van
   • proximity to the main libraries would help to reduce resistance based on inconvenience

7. Long vs Short Term Solutions

   • a high density storage library could be both a short term and a long term solution it depends on the size of the facility

1.2 South Campus, Closed Stacks

Assumptions

1. low use material across all subject areas
2. patron access to building

1. Gain in Shelf Space

   • at this point, it could be whatever we can afford; as a long term solution, the more the better

2. Start-up Financial Costs

   • the cost of land for a building site; for land on campus, factors such as lost opportunity to use the land for other purposes need to be considered
   • the erecting of a building or the retrofitting of an existing one; the cost of a new building can be roughly estimated at between $100.00 and $200.00 per square foot
   • shelving (regular or compact)
   • book trucks, book ends, kick stools
   • staff workstations including desks, chairs, terminals, telephones, supplies
   • service desk, equipment and supplies for circulation
   • service desk, equipment and supplies for reference and/or user education (if these services are provided)
   • a security system at the patron exit furniture and equipment for patrons to use when working with access tools such as WATCAT
   • study carrels or tables and chairs (if the library is to include study space for users)

3. Continuing Financial Costs

   • staff (librarians) to determine what to locate here
   • staff (clerical) to effect the transfer of material
   • staff to provide circulation service (and reference and/or user education service, if provided)
   • staff to retrieve and reshelve material required by patrons
   • a van to transfer material
   • a security system for the patron exit (since there is closed access stacks and no study space the security system might be less complicated than in an open stacks facility; the security system might tie in closely with the circulation desk function)
   • utilities
   • routine maintenance and furniture replacement
   • regular cleaning of the facility

4. Effects on Staff Morale

   • staff morale should not be a significant factor provided the following concerns are addressed:
     1. the air quality and temperature should be reasonable for people working in the facility
     2. there should be adequate staff for the tasks involved
     3. there should be adequate and well maintained furniture and equipment (e.g. terminals, book trucks) for the tasks involved

5. Effects on Accessibility

   • because this library would be on the south campus, it is close to the current centre of campus activity
   • patrons will have to rely on staff to retrieve what they want from the stacks; there will be some delay but not as much as with a storage facility
   • patrons cannot browse to identify what they want but must rely on access tools such as WATCAT
   • patrons must go to two locations to locate material within a subject area

6. Potential Resistance

   • patrons will not like the fact that they cannot browse
   • patrons will not like even brief delays in obtaining material
   • patrons will not like the fact that they must go to two buildings to obtain material within a subject area

7. Long vs Short Term Solutions

   • a high density storage library could be both a short term and a long term solution it depends on the size of the facility

1.3 North Campus

There seems to be three differences between a storage library on the north campus and one on the south campus:

1. It may be easier to get land for building on the north campus than on the south campus.

2. A library on the north campus would require that patrons travel a greater distance in order to get to the library than to one on the south campus. This fact would probably lead to significant user resistance especially because of the difficulty of carrying books any distance. In addition, there could be concerns about personal safety for people walking to and from an area that is not yet well developed. On the other hand, students living in residence might find the proximity of such a library very appealing.

3. Materials and staff would have a greater distance to travel from the main libraries to a library on the north campus than to one on the south campus. The increased distance would have a significant impact if staff had to travel back and forth to any extent. If, however, staff were not required to move back and forth very much the increased costs would be negligible.

David Emery
Associate Librarian, Collections

University of Waterloo Library
200 University Avenue West
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1
519 888 4883

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