Good Morning,

 

Many people generously responded to my earlier query about loading capacity. There seems to be a consensus about 150lbs. per sq. foot for regular stacks and 300 lbs. per sq. foot for compact shelving. Many provided sources for this:

 

            Planning academic and research library buildings

            Author:             Leighton, Philip D.

            Format:             Book

            Published:        Chicago : American Library Association, 1999.

            Language:         English

 

and B.J. Irvine’s book: Facilities Standards for Art Libraries and Visual Resources Collections – on page 40 the weight-bearing load for art book stacks is examined.

 

This is quoted from that publication:

“The weight-bearing load for art book stacks should conform to the standard  150lb. per square ft. (7.324 kN/m2). For compact moveable shelving, the standard is 300 lb. per sq. foot (14.647kN/m2) (Metcalf 1986, 327). (See also American National Standards Institute 1972; Cohen and Cohen 1979, 89-92; Eyman 1987, 97; and Smith 1987.)”

Appendix III is also devoted to data for stacks.

 

I now want to know if anyone has any wisdom to share as to how to arrange the collection and reading tables in  a circular space of 3077 sq. feet. One idea I had was a radial  or pinwheel arrangement with stacks alternating with tables to achieve an alcove arrangement a la Avery Library. Any thought on this?

 

Many thanks,

 

Michael

 

Michael Young

Art & Design Librarian

Homer Babbidge Library

University of Connecticut

Storrs, Connecticut 06269

Tel. 860-486-4953

Fax 860-486-6100