[DCRM-L] Criteria for identifying books needing flat shelving

[Elizabeth Henderson]

Hello,

"Recommendations for the storage and exhibition of archival documents" 
(BS 5454:2000), which includes library material, states that all volumes 
400 mm and above should be stored flat.

Elizabeth

Kate Moriarty wrote:
> Hello, All,
> 
> 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.
> 
> Thanks for your help,
> 
> Kate
> 
> -- 
> Kate S. Moriarty, MSW, MLS  |  Rare Book Catalog Librarian  |  Pius XII 
> Memorial Library  |  
> Saint Louis University  |  3650 Lindell Blvd . |  St. Louis, MO 63108  | 
>  (314) 977-3098 (tel)  |  (314) 977-3108 (fax)  |  moriarks at slu.edu 
> <mailto:moriarks at slu.edu>  |  http://libraries.slu.edu/

-- 
Elizabeth Henderson
Rare Books Librarian
Department of Special Collections
University Library
University of St Andrews
North Street
St Andrews
Fife
KY16 9TR

Tel: 01334 462325
Fax: 01334 462282
email: eah10 at st-andrews.ac.uk

The University of St Andrews is a charity registered in Scotland : No 
SC013532