Task Group on Library Collections Space

Final Report

June 11, 1992

Appendix B

Solutions Considered by the Task Group

4. Davis Centre Compace Shelving

The concept of moveable compact shelving denotes a method of housing material on shelves, all or some of which are designed to be moveable in such a way as to maximize the use of available space.

The system proposed for the lower level of the Davis Centre Library is perpendicular sliding (rolling) shelving. Double-faced ranges of shelving are mounted on wheeled carriages that move laterally on rails installed on the structural floor, perpendicular to the ranges of shelving. An arrangement of sliding (rolling) shelving units offers considerable saving in storage space. In a conventional shelving layout, aisles occupy two-thirds of the storage space and shelving one-third. In an installation of moveable compact shelving, depending on the size and configuration of the space available, the proportion can be at least reversed.

While a system of movable compact shelving can be manually or electrically operated, an electrically powered system is required if library users are to have access to the stacks. Systems are fitted with safety features to protect both users and material from accidental injury.

Gain in Shelf Space (in number of volumes)

Total current capacity:	128,750
Total new capacity:	312,625*
Increase:	183,875 or 143%

* based on modules of 6 shelves high; modules of 5 shelves high would provide capacity for 265,731 volumes, an increase of 106%

Gain in shelf space for phased installation
	Current Capacity	New Capacity	Increase
Phase I	24,000	60,000	36,000
Phase II	40,625	92,000	51,375
Phase III	35,750	75,375	39,625
Phase IV	28,375	85,250	56,875

Start-up Financial Costs (approximate)

Total cost of system plus shelving: $1,086,000 (this does not include the cost of site preparation)

Phased installation:
Phase I:	$210,000
Phase II:	$315,000
Phase III:	$266,000
Phase IV:	$295,000

Continuing Financial Costs:
N/A
Effects on Staff Morale
1. The lower level of the Davis Centre Library is not regarded as suitable space for staff occupancy. Increasing the density of collections space in that site would therefore have no (predictable) negative effect on staff morale from the perspective of desirability of the location for staff use.
2. Depending on the volume of daily reshelving per module, User Services staff may find that the task of shelving (already one of the least desirable) becomes more time-consuming with the use of movable compact shelving.
Effects on the Accessibility of the Collection
1. The proximity of at least part of the Dana Porter Library collection to students and faculty in disciplines in the Faculties of Arts and Environmental Studies would be affected. While the materials would continue to be housed on campus in an open stack environment, people would be required to spend more time travelling between classroom (office) buildings and the Library that housed materials they use regularly.
2. Depending on what materials were identified for relocation to the Davis Centre, collections supporting any one discipline could be located in two different sites.
3. Depending on the number of people who need simultaneous access to books shelved in the same module, students and faculty may feel that it takes more time to access material. Moreover, both may also feel that their freedom to browse is curtailed by the needs of other users to access different aisles in the same module.
Potential Resistance
See 4b; 5a, b and c above.

With more of the collection located in the Davis Centre, there would likely be more library users requiring seating (study) space and less (or at least no more) space available for seating.
Implications for Seating

Converting the lower level of the Davis Centre Library to compact shelving would require removing seating for approximately 100 people.
Long Term or Short Term

Assuming a continued growth of approximately 11,000 volumes per year in the Dana Porter Library, the phased installation of compact shelving on the lower level of the Davis Centre Library would provide for:
- the continued housing of all of the materials currently housed in the Davis Centre
- the immediate removal of 80,000 volumes from the Dana Porter Library to restore the optimum collection size of the Dana Porter stacks.
- the annual removal of 11,000 volumes for the next 12 1/2 years to provide for incoming material in Dana Porter.
NOTE: Compact shelving requires a loading capacity of between 120 and 150 pounds per square foot. The installation of compact shelving in the Dana Porter Library would therefore be possible only on the first floor. Indeed the Doris Lewis Rare Book Room currently houses approximately 30,000 volumes on compact shelving. All other floors in the Dana Porter Library have a rated loading capacity of 114 pounds per square foot.

David Emery
Associate Librarian, Collections

WWW version: June 5, 1995