----------------------------Original message---------------------------- To Jeffrey Weidman/ARLIS-L I highly recommend Elecompack compact shelving 212-760-1607, 225 W. 34th St., NY NY 10122. I installed it for the Tufts Music Library several years ago and based my purchase on recommendations from other libraries who installed the shelving as well as comparisons with other compact shelving manufacturers. I would highly advise you to look at quality as an equal factor to price. Some vendors make highly competitive bids on price, but the shelving does not often stand up to use. If you are spending thousands on compact shelving you might as well get something you'll be happy with in the long term. You can ask me directly about some experiences..... I would recommend against electrical mechanisms. The type of shelving installation you plan depends on whether this is hands on/public stack shelving, or long term archival storage (i.e. not much public traffic). If you have oversized materials (like art books often are) make sure you size the shelves properly and make sure that when the shelves compress they have decent sized "bumpers" on them which will prevent the shelves from compressing the materials themselves. This is often overlooked. If you are planning this for a public stack area, you need to plan adequate aisle space so that users can access various sectors of the shelving without too much inconvenience. Need more tips-- give me a holler! Margaret Ericson Bixler Art and Music Library Colby College Waterville, ME 04901 [log in to unmask] 207-872-3232 > >At 02:44 PM 09/06/1999 EDT, you wrote: >>----------------------------Original message---------------------------- >>The Spencer Art Reference Library is getting bids for compact storage from >>two vendors. The two vendors disagree on the best kind of handle. One >>recommends the three-pronged variety and the other recommends the >>one-pronged variety. >> >>If you have experience with this, please let us know. >> >>We are leaning strongly toward compact storage "without" electrical >>mechanisms, because of the simplicity of maintenance. >> >>Any suggestions in this area? >> >>Any other advice from those with experience with compact storage would be >>most welcome. >> >>Jeffrey Weidman >>Associate Librarian for Access Services and Collection Development >>(Chair, Research Committee, ARLIS/NA) >>Spencer Art Reference Library >>Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art >>4525 Oak Street >>Kansas City, MO 64111-1873 >>voice: (816) 751-0409 >>fax: (816) 561-7154 >>e-mail: [log in to unmask] >>web site: http://www.nelson-atkins.org >>