Today’s library storage is evolving. It’s shifting from a place to simply check out a book or study to being a pillar of their communities. That means offering the full gamut of resources—computer labs, meeting rooms, collaboration centers, cafes, and more. With this evolution comes an inevitable question—where is the space to do all of this?
Nothing is more inadequate than an unread library. These spaces are intended to be community hubs for knowledge, technology, and history. Our storage solutions improve your library to more than just a bookstore. We develop libraries into one-of-a-kind learning centers that enlighten patrons to a world of wonder and fascination beyond book reading and keeps calling them back for more.
Whether you need help storing items in your archive, or creating an inviting space for children and families, our team can help. We have years of experience helping other libraries like yours maximize space while creating functional environment designed to help your community browse, explore, and read.
All shelving units are infinitely customizable for adaptable and aesthetically pleasing spaces on the library floor,
including the option to add concealed casters that turn seemingly stationary shelving into mobile carts.
All shelving units are infinitely customizable for adaptable and aesthetically pleasing spaces on the library floor, including the option to add concealed casters that turn seemingly stationary shelving into mobile carts.
Also known as the standard in library shelving. Our cantilever shelving is infinitely customizable and can be designed to fit your library’s interior aesthetic:
Flexibility is key to a space’s versatility — that’s why a library’s stationary shelving doesn’t always have to be stationary. Heavy-duty concealed casters (wheels) are available for all shelving units to turn these already versatile library shelves into mobile carts, meaning your library’s space is completely reconfigurable on the fly by staff. This provides ample room for activity in children’s areas, when the library is holding an event.
Regardless of their size, weight or shape, virtually any type and variety of material can be stored using a Spacesaver mobile storage system. Not only that, they can be stored in less floor space, reducing your building lease and construction costs. To help eliminate non-productive space created by fixed aisles, the shelving and cabinets of mobile systems are mounted on wheeled carriages that travel on rails.
Rest assured, when properly designed, installed and maintained – the Spacesaver mobile storage systems we install will serve your purposes safely, while saving you time and space. To initiate carriage movement, three basic modes of operation are available – manual, mechanically assisted, and powered.
Archiving little-used materials off-site gives you mores usable on-site space. With an XTend® system you are assured that your rare or valuable materials are safely archived and thoroughly protected.
While high-density mobile storage is a viable option to free up space, there are situations where square footage is nonexistent—and in those cases, we look up with our storage, literally. Mobile and static high-bay shelving makes use of vertical space while eliminating empty aisles.
When the St. Louis Public Library opened in 1912, a structural shelving system for “the stacks”—considered a major engineering feat of its time, was seven floors high, stretching up from the basement level. Eventually, this structure of steel, metal, and glass started to create safety and spatial limitations for the library—and for that reason, planners chose to replace the outdated and hazardous system.
Working with the library’s architecture firm and planning team, we assisted in replacing the stacks with three mezzanine levels of high-density mobile shelving. The system reduced the number of aisles between shelves—and now, bookcases simply roll together and aisles open and close as needed. Because of the compact mobile shelving systems, seven floors of books could now be stored in three—and new functional spaces within the library, including a café, meeting rooms, study areas, technology rooms, and an atrium—were able to be created in the building’s existing footprint.
When the St. Louis Public Library opened in 1912, a structural shelving system for “the stacks”—considered a major engineering feat of its time, was seven floors high, stretching up from the basement level. Eventually, this structure of steel, metal, and glass started to create safety and spatial limitations for the library—and for that reason, planners chose to replace the outdated and hazardous system.
Working with the library’s architecture firm and planning team, we assisted in replacing the stacks with three mezzanine levels of high-density mobile shelving. The system reduced the number of aisles between shelves—and
now, bookcases simply roll together and aisles open and close as needed. Because of the compact mobile shelving systems, seven floors of books could now be stored in three—and new functional spaces within the library, including a café, meeting rooms, study areas, technology rooms, and an atrium—were able to be created in the building’s existing footprint.
The installation team was great — they were always here when they said they would be, were communicative about schedules and work, and cheerfully did any minor tasks we asked them to do. We completely trusted them to come and go in the department with the Library’s most valuable materials. The collection movers, too, worked quickly and handled our materials with care. Somehow the movers were able to phase the work so we didn’t have a traffic jam of carts in the department.
Linda A. Naru, Assistant University Librarian for Administrative Services
UIC University Library
