Future-Proofing Your Library: Storage Systems for Community Engagement

By Stuffey | January 3, 2020

Step into a library today, and you’ll see books and periodicals — but also patrons learning to knit, searching for a job on a computer, or researching genealogy. Entrepreneurs working in the Maker’s Lab. Parents and preschoolers at story hour, and teens learning to code or playing video games. Flexible library storage is key to future-proofing an institution that needs to evolve with the times.

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Librarians are civic-minded and want to continue to serve and adapt to the needs of the communities that rely on them. With patron needs always evolving, your library may need to invest in storage that can grow and change with the times. Fortunately, plenty of adaptable library storage systems are available to provide customized, future-proofed solutions.

The Changing Face of Libraries

Librarians have a lot to keep up with. From finding offsite storage for less in-demand periodicals and books to adapting to modern eBooks and audiobooks, the tide of library innovation is constantly changing.

Ohio-State-University-Library-Storage-SystemsAt the same time, the librarian needs to keep up with technological offerings. Where are the Smartboards? Do they have a maker space where library patrons can create physical or digital products?

Plus, visitors continue to look to the library as a social center. Libraries need meeting rooms and lounge spaces where teens can experience an escape room, a book club can hold discussions, or patrons can learn a new lifelong skill.

For years, we've been developing library storage solutions that enhance and outfit library spaces with modern book shelving systems and storage items. In planning to future-proof a library, consider these many adaptable storage solutions that go beyond shelving to free up space.


Flexible Library Storage Systems

Even with all of the changes in library use these days, circulation remains a top priority. Keep the need to showcase and display books at the forefront of a design plan with outward-facing shelves, custom end panels, or browsing bins encouraging patrons to linger and engage with materials.

The Harris County Library in Georgia achieved flexibility by integrating fixed shelving with high-pressure laminate end panels from Wilson Art alongside 14 repositionable library carts. The carts, in six-foot and nine-foot lengths, are affixed with casters to provide moveable shelving sections. “Using shelving that can be temporarily moved around was of course very important for usage design today and in the future,” said Keith Schuermann, Troup-Harris County Library System Regional Director.

High-density mobile storage is another great way to consolidate shelving to regain space. Consider the work Patterson Pope has done with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO) to renovate its music library. With more than 35 mechanical assist high-density carriages, the library could store its more than 11,500 sets of music with additional capacity available for future growth, in a large, repurposed hallway/walkway. 

Static-High-Bay-Shelving-Library-Storage-SystemsHigh-density mobile storage is also a good way to expand library storage facilities in the same space parameters. The College of Charleston (CoC) needed to accommodate a gift of the South Carolina Historical Society’s collection of research papers and documents, without increasing its footprint. Replacing static shelving with high-density mobile storage systems, the library enlarged manuscript storage and gained 200 seats for students. “We decided on mobile shelving to help us maximize capacity and open up space, and it’s been hugely successful on both fronts,” said Claire Fund, the library’s Director of Administrative Services.

More libraries are also going vertical. For instance, High-Bay Shelving is similar to traditional book shelving systems but extends up to 35 feet high to make the most of vertical space. Emory University and the Georgia Institute of Technology used this shelving when they partnered together to develop a Library Service center in an on-campus space to house both university’s valuable collections.

Beyond Stack Shelving

The right library shelving systems also help meet preservation goals. Perforated shelving units, sometimes installed in conjunction with perforated end panels, can help maintain ideal conditions to preserve rare books and other historical documents. Yet conservation storage isn’t specific to books alone either.

Open up space with modular walls, room dividers, and privacy screens. Genius and Lightline movable wall systems, for instance, integrate with permanent construction, existing furniture, and architectural elements, while reducing noise, promoting sustainability, and making the best use of existing light.

Libraries can also help patrons protect their belongings (while reducing chances of theft from your library's collection) by offering day-use lockers. These smart lockers meet temporary storage needs and come in a durable, aesthetic design. Lockers can also offer power stations for guests to charge their securely locked-away devices while they attend a meeting or are in the stacks.

Each of our solutions is compliant with ADA requirements, fire codes, seismic regulations, and other directives. Find a home for all objects in a collection with options for fluid use of library spaces with these top-notch library storage solutions.

Patterson Pope can help author your solution. Request more information today.

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Stuffey

About Stuffey

To say that Stuffey was made for this role would be an understatement. A life long hoarder, Stuffey understands how the Laws of Stuff can wreak havoc in the real world of an organization’s space. Now as part of his reformation, he is committed to passing on to you his secrets in our battle against the tyranny of STUFF.

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