Hello, All,<br><br>We are looking at reconfiguring our rare book stacks and are starting to address how we shelve very large pre-1820 volumes. We shelve our pre-1820 volumes according to format and currently have three areas: 1) 12mos and smaller, 2) 4tos and 8vos, and 3) folios. We're going to have to create a fourth area for volumes that are large enough to require flat shelving. Is there a measurement cut-off point that people use to identify books requiring flat shelves? A height at which books really should not be shelved vertically? We're considering going with flat shelving for anything that is 44 cm. or larger. Of course, if a book is shorter than that but in bad condition we'll also consider flat shelving. <br>
<br>Thanks for your help,<br><br>Kate<br clear="all">
<br>-- <br>Kate S. Moriarty, MSW, MLS | Rare Book Catalog Librarian | Pius XII Memorial Library | <br>Saint Louis University | 3650 Lindell Blvd . | St. Louis, MO 63108 | (314) 977-3098 (tel) | (314) 977-3108 (fax) | <a href="mailto:moriarks@slu.edu" target="_blank">moriarks@slu.edu</a> | <a href="http://libraries.slu.edu/" target="_blank">http://libraries.slu.edu/</a><br>