When long ranges of library book stacks needed to be moved in the past, the shelves were first emptied of books taking numerous hours and square feet of space to store the books out of the way of moving shelves. The process strained facilities, designers and staff. Today, specialists can be called in to move the book shelves with the books in place.
Step 1
A steel skeleton on wheels is aligned on both sides of the range of shelves to be moved. Its steel cross members are bolted onto the existing steel shelving standards, a prerequisite for using this equipment.
Step 2
Photo by Suzan Globus
Hydraulics supplied by the canister shown on the right lift the book stacks off the floor. The move is executed slowly with many hands ensuring the book stack remains stable on its trip.
Step 3 Photo by Suzan Globus
Once the range is relocated, the air is released and the shelving sets down to make contact with the floor. The skeleton is removed, reapplied to the next range of book shelves and the process is repeated. Compared to the time and safety hazards involved in moving long ranges of book stacks previously, this equipment makes moves much quicker and safer. Thanks to Jefferson Township Public Library Director Seth Stephens, the library staff and the movers, this move looked easy.
