Task Group on Library Collections Space

Final Report

June 11, 1992

Appendix B

Solutions Considered by the Task Group

2. High Density Storage Buildings

• 2.1 North Campus
• 2.2 South Campus

A high density storage building is one in which space is used to its maximum through compact shelving and/or by storing books according to size rather than according to call number. An explanation of compact shelving and its benefits is provided in the introduction to section 4 of this Appendix. Storing books according to size can be done on either compact or conventional shelving and eliminates the waste space which results when books of varying size must be stored adjacent to each other.

Benefits of a high density storage building:

1. can be located anywhere without concern for ease of patron access
2. services and functions such as circulation, reference, user education and security do not need to be duplicated
3. start-up costs are less than for a library because a storage building does not need to be so attractively designed or as finely finished and because it does not need much by way of public use amenities; the building is essentially a shell which contains shelving units, furniture and equipment for staff use, and possibly a small area minimally equipped for public use
4. requires less care and maintenance than a library

2.1 North Campus

Assumptions

1. no patron access
2. low use material across all subject areas

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
   • the building of a facility or the retrofitting of an existing building
   • shelving (regular or compact)
   • book trucks, book ends, kick stools
   • staff work stations including desks, chairs, terminals, supplies, telephones
   • space in the main libraries to keep the material requested by patrons

3. Continuing Financial Costs

   • staff (librarians) to decide what to locate here
   • staff (clerical, van driver) to effect the transfer of material
   • staff (clerical, van driver) to retrieve and reshelve material for patron use as requested
   • staff (clerical) in the main libraries to receive material for patrons
   • a van for the initial transfer of material and for moving material between sites at patron request
   • utilities
   • routine maintenance and equipment replacement
   • regular cleaning of the building

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 building
     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

   • gradually more and more of the collection will not be available for immediate access by patrons
   • gradually more and more of the collection will not be available for browsing
   • patrons will have to rely increasingly on access tools, such as WATCAT, to identify what they want
   • patrons will have to rely increasingly on staff to obtain what they want and they will have to accept delays in getting material (delays could be reduced in direct proportion to the amount of staff time we devote to retrieving material; we now make material available within 24 hours this could be less if we had more staff)

6. Potential Resistance

   • patrons will not like the fact that they cannot browse
   • patrons will not like delays in obtaining material

7. Long vs Short Term Solutions

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

2.2 South Campus

There seems to be 2 differences between a storage building on the south campus and one on the north campus:

1. It may be easier to get land for building on the north campus than on the south campus.
2. Materials and staff would have a shorter distance to travel from the main libraries to a building on the south campus than to one on the north campus. I think that the difference in distance would be of negligible consequence if material is transported by van. If, on the other hand, a south campus building could be linked to the main libraries by something like a conveyer belt, a van would not be needed, some labour could be saved, and patrons might be able to have requested materials in less than 24 hours.

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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