Moving Bookstacks

1
Moving Bookstacks
Susan MetzLibrary 120
2
Reasons for a move

• Renovation
• New facility
• Consolidation of holdings
• Lack of space
• Improved layout
• ADA/building code requirements

3
Planning and executing

• With a consultant and moving company (or two, one
  for collection and one for furniture)
• With staff supervisor/committee and moving
  company
• Staff only
• Staff and volunteers
• Staff and paid temps

4
Other considerations

• Stay open close keep limited service?
• Move in one step or in a domino effect?
• Try for good weather, or keep to schedule
  constraints?

5
Specialty movers

• Some of the biggest
• Hallett Bros., Chicago
• National Library Relocations, NY
• William B. Meyer, Connecticut (moved Seattle
  Central the first go-round)
• Apollo Movers, Minneapolis
• Compass Library Relocations, Brooklyn
• American Interfile and Library Services, Long
  Island

6
Equipment single floor move

• Stack moversthese can move 35,000 books in 5-6
  hours.
• They can be rented.

7
Indoor/outdoor equipment

• Book carts
• Bigger wheels than the everyday carts
• Can carry 1000 lbs.
• Bins
• Cant read call nos., if pack to preserve books

8
Planning measuring collection

• Two measurements or estimates
• Number of items
• Linear feet
• Measure both, if large collection. Round linear
  figures to closest ¼ inch per shelf (!)
• Estimate volume with shelf list or OPAC estimate
  feet by sampling.

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More on measurements

• Estimate expected growth of collection,
  especially of periodicals. Look at purchasing
  patterns.
• Use formulas
• If bookstacks will be standard 3 feet, 7 shelves
  each, and you want the top and bottom shelves
  empty and the shelves no more than 2/3 full, for
  growth, then the number of bookstacks you need is
  current linear feet
• 10
• Do time and motion studies with flow charts and
  spreadsheets. Theres at least one program just
  for library moves, BiblioPlan Relocation
  Software.

10
Process without stack mover

• Label increments of books in source
  stacksusually NOT call no. but row and bookstack
  and shelf designation.
• Label goes with book boxes or bins or carts.
• Books go to matching label in destination stacks.
  

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Down-home move --with volunteers and staff
only--bucket brigade or continuous line

• Advantages
• Cheap! Can work.
• Disadvantages
• Need for a lot of fit people
• Likely mess
• Book damage
• Need for re-shelving
• Liability
• Need for more detailed planning
• Also any get everyone to check out as much as
  possible strategy makes it hard to gauge if
  shelving locations are ok.

12
Heroic moving

• How a librarian saved Basra's treasured books
• Shaila K. Dewan, NYT
• IHT Online, July 28, 2003
• Alia Muhammad Baker's house is full of books.
• "In the Koran, the first thing God said to
  Muhammad was 'Read,'" she said.

13
Bibliography

• 1. Bagley, Elizabeth L. Re-Building a Learning
  Communityor What to Do When You Face a Library
  Move. Georgia Library Quarterly 40,1 (2003)
  4-10.
• 2. Brinkman, Carol S., and Stephen W. Whiteside.
  Planning and Space Calculation for Shifting a
  Journal Collection. Kentucky Libraries 66, 1
  (2002) 12-17.
• 3. Burkhardt, Joanna M. Dos and Donts for
  Moving a Small Academic Library Fourteen
  Helpful Tips. College Research Library News
  59 (1998) 499-5-3.
• 4. Compiled from wire services. Library Seeks
  Movers to Help Transfer Books. Spokesman Review.
  12 May 1999 B2.
• 5. Dewan, Shaila K. How a Librarian Saved
  Basras Treasured Books. IHT Online. 28 July
  2003. 30 Oct. 2003.
• 6. Habich, Elizabeth Chamberlain. Moving
  Library Collections A Management Handbook.
  Westport, CN Greenwood Press, 1998.
• 7. Myers, Charles. A Mover that Only Moves
  Libraries. American Libraries 23 (1992)
  332(2).
• 8. Pool, Bob. Moving Day Student Booklift
  Writes Librarys Opening Chapter. Los Angeles
  Times. 27 Mar. 1985, Valley ed. 6.
• 9. Rogers, Michael. Iraqi Librarian Saves
  Basra Collection Central Library Chief
  Secretly Moved Books Before Assault. Library
  Journal 128 (2003) 20(1).
• 10. Tucker, Dennis C. Library Relocations and
  Collections Shifts. Medford, NJ Information
  Today, Inc., 1987.
• 11. Wells, Marianna S., and Rosemary Young.
  Moving and Reorganizing a Library. Brookfield,
  VT Gower, 1997.
• 12. Wong, Stacy. A Move Thats One for the
  Books Services Six Companies Are Maneuvering
  for the Lucrative Contract to Transport the Los
  Angeles Central Librarys Volumes and Equipment.
  Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 1992, Home ed. 1.