Tag Archives: library storage

Flexible Shelving for an Illinois Library | Case Study

Flexible Shelving for Illinois Library

A Commitment to Learning

On most campuses, the library is a lively hub of learning and collaboration. But students and faculty at Harper College in Palatine, Illinois, found that working in the old library was more about endurance than enjoyment. The aging building hadn’t been remodeled in more than 20 years, and it was dark, overcrowded, and noisy. Perhaps most importantly, the building’s labyrinthine layout made it difficult for students to find their way around.

harper college shelving periodicals
“We needed to find a better place for them to learn.” – Njambi Kamoche, Dean | Resources for Learning

Sleek Shelving for an Open Learning Layout

The library’s main level is bright, open, and busy. The planning team wanted to provide casual collaboration spaces on this level, along with access to popular periodicals, digital media, best sellers, popular reading, graphic novels, and other materials. Counter-height cantilever shelving contributes to the open feel, allowing natural light from large windows to fill the space. A-frame shelving and carts provide storage and display for DVDs and other media. The flexible shelving is fitted with casters that allow staff to move them when they want to repurpose the space.

The third floor is dedicated to independent research and quiet study. Tall flexible shelving units house the majority of the library’s collection, and study carrels offer privacy. Throughout the library, Spacesaver shelving was fitted with custom end panels that integrate with the rest of the building’s interior design. The result is a sleek, clean look that unifies the facility while also providing convenient access to the library’s collection.

harper college a frame shelves
A-Frame casters allow for more flexibility, whenever needed

Secure Archives with Preservation in Mind

The Spacesaver design team also worked with Bradford Systems to design a secure area to house the college’s archives and special collections. They chose 4-Post shelving mounted on a high-density mobile system to store archival boxes and printed materials. The archives were designed with room to grow. Some of the high-density storage shelves are currently empty, awaiting future acquisitions, which gave Harper College peace of mind for future collection storage. The cabinet trays can be raised or lowered without special tools, allowing staff to adjust tray spacing to maximize space and accommodate objects of different heights. Additional trays can also be added as the collection grows in the future. All in all, the success of this project was a great accomplishment for all parties involved.

Harper College Archives Storage
Archive Storage for More Flexibility and Ease of Browsing

Contact Us for All Your Library Storage Needs

If you want to learn how you can get more out of your existing library space, contact us online today or call us at 1-800-696-3453.

Innovative Ways to Enhance Student Spaces

Cantilever Shelving with Wooden Cubbies at St. Louis Library mr scaled

Students don’t just enjoy imagination. They thrive on it. Whether it’s a kindergartner drawing pictures of nature or a college student exploring world history, imagination leads to creativity and critical thinking.

At Bradford Systems, we’re in the business of imagination. Let us transform your overburdened and underused areas into enriching spaces that foster – not force – the learning experience. Keep reading to learn about some of the creative ways we do it.

Unlocking Library Space

Long gone is the idea that a library needs to be designed around stack after stack, shelf after shelf, of textbooks. To be effective as well as popular, today’s library must focus on the patron. In your case – students.

Bradford Systems is a leading expert in repurposing library storage. From retrofitting wooden bookcases to replacing stacks with cantilevered shelving, energy efficient lighting to customized compact mobile storage, we offer a variety of library solutions fully personalized to your specific facility and needs. Start making a difference in your students’ lives today.

Burdened by Mail? We Deliver.

Sending and receiving mail is one of the most important ways for students to feel at home, even when they’re far away. Customized mail solutions for colleges, boarding schools, and military academies from Bradford Systems deliver centralized mail hubs that fully integrate into your campus. Talk to a member of our team to see how our many mail center components make securely sending, receiving, and processing envelopes and packages easier than ever before.

A Better Way to Organize Your Sports

Running out of space in the locker room? At Bradford Systems, we have decades of experience in athletic equipment and uniform storage. Lockers, modular shelving, helmet/pad storage, and workspace solutions are just a few of our many products and services designed to improve your team’s efficiency, so you and your student-athletes can focus on the game ahead. Want to see our work in action? Find out how we outfitted the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team.

Creative Spaces = Student Success

Ready to learn how to enhance existing student spaces? Let us teach you what we know about organization. Contact Bradford Systems and ask for a free, no-obligation consultation. With more than 45 years of experience and hundreds of happy clients across the country, there is no educational storage challenge that we cannot solve. Discover school storage ideas that work best for your institution right now.

Space-Saving Storage Ideas for Libraries

books magazines building school large

Libraries provide a priceless resource for young and old minds alike. Shelves upon shelves of books, rows of computer workstations – and everything in between – give patrons a space to relax, imagine, and learn.

Speaking of space, it is often in short supply as more libraries research plans to modernize and keep pace with ever-advancing trends and technologies.

Here are three solutions for maximizing library storage space:

1. Books

One of the world’s oldest forms of information is still one of our favorites. While books are wonderful, they take up a lot of space. Some of the world’s richest libraries are also the most cluttered.

To counter this, storage solutions like the acclaimed Spacesaver system employ proven design aspects that not only maximize library space; they enhance the patron experience. Cantilever shelving and face-out end panels allow for more books to be displayed. Floor-to-ceiling lighting and soft colors invite guests to browse a bit longer. And, engineered-to-order (ETO) storage products are customized for a flawless fit in any space.

2. Other Media

Books aren’t the only items that attract patrons to the library. Newspapers, magazines, movies, music, and games are just a few of the many other features.

The answer is smart consolidation of media. High-density mobile shelving condenses materials and opens up floor space. And, static shelving that features universal slots is ETO and fully customizable to allow libraries to store more in fewer square feet.

3. Multipurpose Spaces

The library of the future is a learning center with collaboration at its core. Long, empty corridors are quickly evolving into open floor plans, study centers, children’s areas, and cafés. Making room for these inviting spaces is key!

In addition to enhanced shelving and stack solutions in areas open to the public, libraries can benefit from ETO archiving systems to securely store out-of-rotation books and other supplementary media materials.

Personalized Solutions for Your Library

Planning a redesign? Going digital? Focusing on community engagement? All of the above? Whatever the goals, Bradford Systems has personalized storage solutions to fit your library’s needs and its budget. Learn more about the products we carry and the services we offer. Find real success stories on our website, and contact us today for proven techniques to enhance the spaces you and your patrons rely on every day.
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