Storage Solved by Spacesaver

Spacesaver Debuts Stainless Steel Mobile Shelving

Meghan Aldrich — Tue, 29 Apr 2014 15:07:00 GMT

Spacesaver Industrial's line of ActivRAC high-density mobile systems just got better with the addition of the stainless steel model, ActivRAC 7M-SS.

To read more about this new product launch visit our new home for the Spacesaver Blog.

Spacesaver Blog is Moving

Julie Weber — Thu, 24 Apr 2014 18:01:00 GMT

Hello Storage Enthusiasts! The Spacesaver Blog is MOVING!

We are happy to announce that we are moving our blog to the new spacesaver.com website.

Please visit us by clicking on this link below:

If you have subscribed to receive notifications from this blog, you must re-subscribe on the new blog.

Happy Reading!

Two Teams Compete in March Madness, Already Win with Spacesaver

Meghan Aldrich — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 19:02:00 GMT

It’s that time of the year when schools all over the nation compete in hopes of becoming the NCAA “March Madness” Men’s Basketball Tournament Champions. Although "March Madness" comes but once a year, we spend the whole year designing more efficient storage spaces for all of your athletic equipment. TO LEARN MORE CLICK HERE.

Look at Storage a Whole New Way at Spacesaver.com

Meghan Aldrich — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 18:07:00 GMT

Spacesaver Corporation has officially launched a new website, which showcases many innovative storage solutions that Spacesaver is known for and asks you to “Look at storage a whole new way.” With a new design, the website features unique project information that proves how “space matters." Throughout the site visitors are encouraged to watch videos of innovative projects and testimonials from past customers, view striking images and download full case studies that reveal the in-depth details that went in to desinging and constructing various projects.

Spacesaver anticipates that in creating a new website they will convey the message that “Whatever the situation, we will meet your challenge with a solution; it might be a product, strategy or combination of both.” Whether it’s storing fossils in museums, evidence in police stations, beer for distribution companies or healthcare supplies for hospitals, Spacesaver can design a storage solution to fit your needs.

Take a tour of Spacesaver Corporation’s new website at www.spacesaver.com

Super Bowl XLVIII Champs Choose Spacesaver Storage Systems

Meghan Aldrich — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 16:03:00 GMT

Spacesaver stores athletic equipment for all levels of champions, whether for K-12 teams, collegiate sports or even professional Super Bowl champs. The Seattle Seahawks have just won Super Bowl for the first time in the team’s history. TO READ MORE CLICK HERE.

History of Storage: The Evolution of the Shelf

Meghan Aldrich — Thu, 30 Jan 2014 16:03:00 GMT

The shelf has been around since the dawn of time. Well, we’re not sure if that’s true, but we do know that shelving has come a long way from where it started. And who better than to share how far shelves have come than the top innovator in shelving and storage systems? So, here’s Spacesaver’s History of Storage: The Evolution of the Shelf.

Spacesaver earns DLA Land and Maritime Award, Fourth Year in a Row

Meghan Aldrich — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 16:03:00 GMT

November 2013, for the fourth year in a row, Spacesaver was honored at the DLA Land and Maritime award ceremony as one of the government’s best suppliers in 2012.

TO LEARN MORE CLICK HERE.

10 Things You Didn’t Know Spacesaver Could Store

Meghan Aldrich — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 16:03:00 GMT

When you think about storage systems, the first thing that comes to mind is probably office storage. Piles of papers, important files, pens and pencils are stored in systems that save your office space and create a better work environment. But not everyone works in an office. What about the other work environments out there with items and materials that must be stored and accessed? Spacesaver can customize a storage system to fit even the most unique materials and to fit any space constraint. Here’s the list of ten things you didn’t know Spacesaver could store. TO READ MORE CLICK HERE.

Spacesaver Employee, JHS Contribute to National Christmas Tree

Meghan Aldrich — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 19:35:00 GMT

On Friday, December 13, 2013 in Jefferson, Wis. Governor Scott Walker recognized the students of Jefferson High School and Spacesaver employee, Ann Garity, for their contributions of ornament art that is to be displayed on the National Christmas tree in Washington D.C.

To learn more click here.

XTend Mobile Shelving Supports Western Michigan University

Julie Weber — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 17:45:00 GMT

Western Michigan University's Archives and Regional History Collections are made up of books, journals, archives, monographs and bound periodicals dating back to the 1700s. These special collections had been stored in three campus buildings, including an old gymnasium space previously used as a swimming pool, since 1990.

View this video testimonial to learn how Spacesaver's XTend Mobile High Bay Storage System was used to bring all these materials under one roof.

The installation of XTend Mobile High-Bay shelving within the new “purpose-built” legacy center has allowed the University to keep the materials in an ideal environment, which is more efficient for the faculty, students and researchers. Staff will be able to access research materials quickly and get them to the patrons in a much more reasonable amount of time.

To learn more about this Legacy project, download our 4-page case study.

Trauma Cabinets with Bin Shelving – Always On Call

Julie Weber — Tue, 19 Nov 2013 15:53:00 GMT

Blog courtesy of Christy Bishop, Business Development Professional with Patterson Pope.

In a hospital setting, quick access to stock items is often critical. Items in this hospital trauma unit were originally stocked in a drawer bin system mounted to the wall. But emergency department personnel found the existing storage method a challenge. After careful consideration, they created an explicit list of goals for a better system.

1 – Efficiency
Stock Items tucked away in drawers hindered visibility, which meant nurses spent more time hunting for supplies. Fixed bin sizes sometimes made organization challenging and inefficient. The new shelving has clear glass doors that enhance visibility. And an open bin system provides a home for each item, making them easy to inventory, use, and restock.

2 – Security
When materials management restocks supplies, a break-away tag is affixed to a hasp on the door. If the tag is secure, nurses can quickly confirm that supplies have not been removed. Their stock is refreshed and they are fully prepared for the next emergency.

3 – Growth
The old drawer bin system proved to be a waste of vertical space. With a more open rail system, the user can take advantage of vertical space and increase capacity within the same footprint. Rails that hold the bins are adjustable on 1-1/2” increments. They are easily added, removed, and adjusted as needs change.

4 – Budget
A strict dollar amount was tied to the storage component of the project. The shelving request began with a long list of requirements. But after filtering through design options and prioritizing their goals, the team created a solution that was within their budget.

The Trauma Cabinets solution has proven to be a good use of space, while providing fast and secure access to medical supplies.

Want to learn more about the Bin Shelving System used in these cabinets? Click here to dowload the EZ Rail Info Sheet.

Flexible Museum Storage Alleviates Space Constraints

Julie Weber — Tue, 22 Oct 2013 15:05:00 GMT

After an extensive renovation, the Delaware Art Museum decided to purchase an entirely new storage system to house their collections, which contained both works of art and library holdings. At that time they reviewed three or four suppliers of museum quality shelving and storage solutions and ultimately selected Spacesaver product.

Soon after they reopened, it became clear that even more space for collections was needed right away, due to additional donations.

Watch this testimonial to learn how Spacesaver storage allowed them to grow their collection without growing the size of their facility... yet again.

Want more information? Download the full case study by clicking here!

Spacesaver Evidence Storage Solutions at IACP

Julie Weber — Thu, 17 Oct 2013 15:34:00 GMT

It's that time of year again... time to attend the annual International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Conference and Law Enforcement Education and Technology Exposition.

Spacesaver has been showcasing our proven storage solutions for the public safety sector at this show for over fifteen years.

We consider ourselves experts in evidence storage solutions, but don't just take it from us. Watch this customer testimonial to learn how smart short-term and long-term evidence storage solutions impacted the Skokie Police Department.

This year we will highlight our expertise when it comes to the safe and secure long-term storage of biological evidence. Stop by booth 2949 to learn more and to grab a copy of our latest white paper on the topic.

Not attending the show? Download a complementary copy of our new white paper: Storinig Biological Evidence for the Long Haul.

Spacesaver Celebrates Banned Books Week: Rock Your Right to Read

Julie Weber — Wed, 25 Sep 2013 15:17:00 GMT

Did you know that this week is banned books week? This is the week to celebrate your right to… Read. Whatever. You. Want!

Hundreds of libraries and bookstores around the country will highlight this continuing problem of censorship by prominently displaying challenged books and sharinig challenged titles all over the web.

Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores and libraries. More than 11,300 books have been challenged since 1982 and according to the American Library Association (ALA), there were 464 challenges reported to the Office of Intellectual Freedom in 2012, and many more go unreported!

For more information on Banned Books Week, click here.

At Spacesaver, we specialize in books... book storage to be exact. We provide solutions that can house all your books, help you grow your collections and even preserve rare and historical books.

Here are a few examples of Spacesaver storage solutions that have helped perserve and store books of all kinds:

McClelland Irish Library:

The $5 million dollar McClelland Irish Library took 18 months to complete and opened in October of 2012 in downtown Phoenix, Arizona. The 15,000 square foot, three-story building resembles a traditional 12th Century Norman castle from the Emerald Isle and is the only library of its kind in the Western United States, dedicated to Irish literature masterpieces. This library is home to more than 5,000 works from Irish authors and artists, an ongoing exhibit of a rare, full-color reproduction of the Book of Kells. In addition, the three-story building houses numerous genealogical research tools to discover more about Irish ancestry and offers classes devoted to Irish music and dance.

Spacesaver worked hard to ensure the project carefully blended modern elements and functionality with historical features, while providing approprite storage for each unique set of materials.

State Library of Pennsylvania, Rare Books Collection:

Spacesaver worked closely with the Library to provide powered high-density mobile storage systems suited to the irreplaceable paper-based collections at the state-of-the-art facility.

Each unit links with the building’s control system and is engineered to greatly minimize vibration and eliminate unnecessary movement. Shelving, uprights, and end-panels are perforated to facilitate optimal environmental control – and aid in fire-protection. If the building’s fire system is activated, the system’s aisles automatically open to aid in the circulation of a clean agent mist designed to snuff out the earliest stages of a fire. Overhead lights emit only extremely low and safe light, and automatically shut on and off to limit light exposure.

Safeguards range from inert paint finishes to infrared lights beams to battery backup systems and anti-tip devices. When all said and done, the State Library of Pennsylvania’s Rare Collections Library serves as a beacon for the preservation of paper and book collections.

Want to know more? Download this library storage solutions lookbook.

Two File Storage Problems and Spacesaver’s Recommended Solutions

Julie Weber — Tue, 17 Sep 2013 15:00:00 GMT

Despite living in the digital age, paper files may still be around for the long haul. Companies, especially law firms, banks, credit unions, insurance companies (and the list goes on) are filled to the brim with file after file of confidential information. Security concerns, storage space in the office, and organizational issues will make anyone feel engulfed by the paperwork that piles up over the years. The question is, what are we supposed to do with all of these documents?

Security - Files often contain confidential information, so it is paramount for to have a secure filing structure in place. Important documents are not something to be relaxed about, so make sure you lock them up properly. There are several options to consider:

Standard lock and key.
Touch pad control: This is an electronic key pad that can be installed on a rotary unit or a mobile system. ptions of five, six or seven-digit PIN codes available. This will allow flexibility as the customer’s needs or personnel change.
Audit Trail: Spacesaver’s Touchpad Control with Display and Audit Trail allows increased functionality, including status display, PIN-code security and a clear record of access assists in maintaining personnel accountability by providing a clear record (audit trail) of access with the use of its own easy-to-use PC interface software.

Storage Space - Static shelving units and lateral filing cabinets are clunky, impossible to move, and eat up space at an alarming amount. Inefficiency in storage is expensive, as most businesses only have so much leasing space to work with. To combat this clutter, Spacesaver stresses the importance of moving to high-density storage. High density can mean many things, but simply put, it is storing more in less space. This can be accomplished through both the use of rotary storage units and high-density mobile storage.

	To illustrate how this works let’s start by looking at this 18’ X 36’ file room filled with 42” wide, 5 high lateral files.
	With rotary cabinets you can store the same 6,930 lineal filing inches in 53% less space than you can with the original lateral files layout, or, as shown here, you can add additional rotary units and increase your storage capacity by 82%. AND going with rotary shelving in this example is less expensive. Average cost per filing inch for the lateral files is between $5 and $6 dollars. For the rotary solution… only $3-$4 per filing inch.
	Regardless of the mode of operation (manual, mechanical assist or powered), you can store the same 6,930 lateral filing inches in just 32% of the space, or as shown here, you can increase your storage capacity by 316% percent for $2 - $3 per filing inch.

To learn more about high density storage solutions from Spacesaver download this free brochure.

Torpedo Storage on Target - Museum Storage Solved

Julie Weber — Tue, 03 Sep 2013 15:10:00 GMT

Need to store something big? Something heavy? Something like... a torpedo? No problem! We have a solution.

Watch this video testimonial from Jennifer Heinzelman, the Collections Manager / Registrar with the US Navy - Naval Undersea Museum, and learn how ActivRAC16P and Mechanical Assist High-Density Mobile Storage was used at the Naval Undersea Museum to store everything from sonic bouys to torpedoes.

The storage solutions provided for the Naval Undersea Museum truly contributed to the preservation of these priceless artifacts and have helped expand the spaces available for storing artifacts. The Naval Undersea Museum is currently planning another ActivRAC system to store sea mines, submersibles, and submarine consoles, among other large and hard to store items.

Want to to know more about this unique storage installation? Download the full case study by clicking here.

Get Back to School with a Brand New Equipment Storage Solution

Julie Weber — Tue, 20 Aug 2013 15:00:00 GMT

Now is the time of year when students start gearing up for the start of school. Sports teams begin practice sessions, and parents anxiously await the first game day.

This fall, the students at Bay View Academy, an independent Catholic all-girls school in Riverside, Rhode Island, will head back to equipment storage provided by Spacesaver.

Bay View Academy, established in 1874, currently has 740 young women in grades Pre-K to twelfth and prides itself on the success of its students and student athletes. With 82% of the student body participating in at least one sport, the need for adequate equipment storage space was growing continuously.

In 2012, the students of Bay View Academy rallied together and participated in the Spacesaver Rock UR Storage contest, ultimately winning a $30,000 storage makeover.

"We are so pleased to have come in first in voting to receive this wonderful gift. Our athletic leadership team of young women really drove the project. We have fantastic school spirit at Bay View from our Sprouts - Pre-K to our seniors. Bay View is proud of our athletes, teams and strong athletic record. This storage system will help our growing athletic program and make our athletic director very happy,” said Bay View Academy Upper School Principal, Colleen Gribbin.

So instead of digging through piles of equipment stored in plastic tubs on a four foot deep pallet or even boxes stacked inside the athletic director’s shower (see picture below), the school can say hello to a fully organized and maximized storage system.

Equipment, uniforms and other gear are now housed in a Wheelhouse mobile storage system with mechanical assist (hand crank) operation.

Each compartment is designed to protect and organize equipment. Jerseys and other uniforms can now be neatly hung on garment rails. Balls for a variety of sports are housed behind acrylic with open access for ease of storage and visibility.


Before		After

Wish your students were heading back to a new equipment room in their school this September?

Download this athletic Storage Lookbook to what Spacesaver can do for your Athletic Equipment Storage Room!

Five Steps to Integrate Mobile Racking into your Warehouse

Julie Weber — Tue, 13 Aug 2013 15:00:00 GMT

Step 1: Define Current Capacity

• Current pallet position capacity

• Current pallet position percentage to warehouse capacity

• Additional pallet positions required now

• Additional pallet positions required the three years

• Total amount of SKU’s broken down by volume

Step 2: Discover Productivity Drivers

• How many material handlers per shift?

• How many loading docs?

• What is the average distance traveled to load a trailer?

• What is the average time to load trailer?

• How many trailers turn per shift?

• What type of material handling equipment is used?

Step 3: Understand Site Variables

• Do you have off-site storage? If yes, how many pallet positions?

• Do you own or lease your current warehouse?

• Do you stage loads? If yes, what percentage?

Step 4: Zone Development

Work with a storage specialist to create a zoned warehouse plan. Depending on the size of your warehouse there could be up to ten zones to work with. Each zone will have a ratio of static to mobile racking developed based on total SKU/Pallet positions in a grouping, and turn ratios.

This initial plan should offer a 20% capacity buffer in zone one, which will use your warehouse’s existing racking. All the fast moving SKUs will be moved into this zone and will be located in close proximity to the loading doc to reduce travel and increase productivity.

Step 5: Integration and Installation

Now it's time to install your mobile racking systems in each zone according to the zone development plan.

To learn more about how integrating mobile racking into your warehouse can optimize productivity download this complimentary white paper.

Spotlight on a Toronto-based Law Firm's Smart Storage Solutions

Julie Weber — Tue, 06 Aug 2013 15:04:00 GMT

We all know that the traditional corporate office environment is long gone. Over the last fifteen years most companies have moved to more open concepts with less square footage. This is for a variety of reasons, some being more tangible (think - affecting your bottom line) and some more intangible (think - younger generations, technology and the need for easier collaboration).

Whatever the reasons, the new office environment is often smaller and more open, making it challenging to accommodate the filing and storage needs of all necessary departments without taking up additional square footage needed for other things like… desks.

So, what’s a space planner to do? Well, this Tornoto-based law firm used a number of different strategies to create an open, airy and sophisticated law firm while still maximizing the amount of storage capacity onsite.

The space incporporates both centralized and de-centralized filing areas. Some of the centralized areas include the law library (pictured above), housed in a high-density system with custom dual entry wood veneer end panels.

Three Spacesaver mechanical-assist mobile systems were also installed in the Accounting, Records and Minute Book departments. By using high-density mobile shelving in these areas, the open office could be more open, without individual cabinets for each person.

In the de-centralized areas the firm used custom cabinets that have six shelves, all designed to be the height appropriate for housing files, binders and boxes equally, without any need to raise or lower the shelves.

These cabinets were used because one individual case file could be made up of large banker boxes, binders and file folders and they needed to be housed together.

Download the full case study to learn how Spacesaver created an open office environment with point-of-use storage.

A New StockBox RFID Materials Management Success Story

Julie Weber — Tue, 30 Jul 2013 15:00:00 GMT

We are live at AHRMM 2013, the annual conference and exhibition for Healthcare Resource and Material Management professionals, and this year we are sharing a new story.

Wyoming Medical Center recently installed 14 Stockboxes™ throughout their facility. What makes this story unique is that they were already using an automated inventory management system when they started to look at StockBox and FrameWRX®, unlike many of our customers who are looking to move from manually counting inventory to using a system that is more automated.

Wyoming Medical Center (WMC) was actually already using automated dispensing cabinets to manage the medication and supplies in their clean supply rooms. These cabinets are very secure, and fairly accurate, but in order to access supplies within, the staff must login, find and select a patient in the system, then select the required item, while also pushing a button for inventory deduction. Each time the cabinet is accessed, the inventory consumed is tracked back to each patient, and subsequently accounted for on the patient’s bill.

In addition, since only one nurse at a time is able to access the automated dispensing cabinet, it is common for nurses to have to wait in line to obtain needed supplies.

WMC realized they could improve patient care and enhance safety by speeding up the supply retrieval process for the nursing staff.

An added bonus: by eliminating the significant rental costs associated with the automated dispensing cabinets they would also save big bucks right away!!

The WMC made the decision to remove the cabinets for the low cost supplies (automated dispensing machines would still be used to track and bill medications). This meant the WMC had to find an alternative storage and materials management solution as a replacement, but because the process had been automated for some time the materials management staff needed to find a NEW automated solution that would be easier to use, less costly, and integrate with their current system.

Enter: StockBox and FrameWRX from Spacesaver.

There have been several positive outcomes for the Wyoming Medical Center as a result of moving to FrameWRX and StockBox for storing and managing their clean supplies.

Time Savings: One of the real benefits of FrameWRX and StockBox over the automated dispensing cabinets is that nurses no longer have to wait in line to obtain needed supplies.

Cost Savings: Even with an annual software cost for the StockBox, there is a huge annual cost savings associated with moving from the rented cabinets to the FrameWRX/StockBox solution. However, the real return is on the nursing labor. In the end, the nurses are spending less time accessing needed supplies, and more time caring for their patients.

Reduced Stock-Outs/Inventory Optimization: In the month prior to the FrameWRX and StockBox install in the ER department, the Materials Management team recorded eight calls from Nursing to Materials requesting needed supplies. A month later – after the install – they recorded only one call from Nursing to Materials for missing supplies.

StockBox automation also provides data tracking vs. a manual kanban system, enabling facilities to then use the data to optimize their inventory. They can see which items are rarely (if ever) turning, and which are turning fast, and reduce or increase kanban quantities accordingly.

To learn more about the discovery process that WMC went through while searching for a new solution and how they made the transition, download the full case study here.

Seven Advantages of Kanban over Par for Hospital Material Management

Julie Weber — Wed, 24 Jul 2013 19:00:00 GMT

Spacesaver will be exhibiting at the 2013 Annual Association of Healthcare Resource & Materials Management Conference (AHRMM), July 29th through 30th, at the San Diego Convention Center.

Attendees who stop by booth #424 can watch floor demonstrations on how to convert manual inventory processes into a simple automated process, using the FrameWRX® storage bin system and StockBox™ RFID-enabled inventory system in combination with kanban methods.

7 Advantages of Kanban vs. Par-Level

1. No daily counting is needed. Wait for a bin to be emptied and always replenish the same quantity. Not having to count can save hundreds or thousands of hours per year in most hospitals.
2. It reduces the number of resupply trips. Since we do not refill a Kanban bin daily, but instead wait for it to be empty, the number of replenishment trips can be reduced significantly. The number of replenishment cycles can be cut by 50% or more
3. Replenishment quantities are fixed. The refilling process is greatly simplified by eliminating the need for counting required by the par system. If we know ahead of time what the refill quantity will be, the item can be stocked in that quantity.
4. It is easier to manage and improve. By tracking the time between replenishment, the stocking quantities can more easily be refined and adjusted over time. This continuous improvement is more difficult to accomplish if all quantities are refilled daily, in varying quantities.

5. Kanban reduces inventory. Experience proves that, with the same target coverage of supplies, a Kanban system will run with up to 50% less inventory than a par system.

6. It is easier to maintain replenishment discipline. Since they do not have to count all inventory locations, or eye-ball the empty bins, supplies handlers find it easier to identify and refill the empty bins, thereby substantially reducing the opportunities for shortages.

7. Kanban promotes good inventory management practices, while the par level does not. In fact, counting everything is essentially impossible and very labor intensive, and most par-level users simply "eye-ball" the bins without counting. Organization and housekeeping, "5S" in lean terms, is much easier to maintain.

For all of these reasons, Kanban is the method of choice for hospital material management, for much of the material that is procured and managed. The gains in productivity, reduced shortages and reduced inventory represent a multi-billion dollar opportunity for the industry.

*Source: Supplies Management in the OR by Gerard Leone and Richard D. Rah

High Density Shelving for the Jewish Museum of Maryland

Julie Weber — Tue, 16 Jul 2013 15:00:00 GMT

“Oh, Johnny! I just love shelf paper”

Blog courtesy of Jobi Zink, Senior Collections Manager at the Jewish Museum of Maryland.

It seems a little silly to gush about our shelves the way Lil Sheridan does in “Johnny Dangerously’” (a highly underappreciated movie starring Michael Keaton, 1984. I highly recommend adding it to your Netflix queue) but we are really delighted!

As you probably know from our blog posts this summer, we hit our maximum storage capacity in the archives in July when we brought in three large collections (National Council of Jewish Women, American Jewish Congress and Yeshivat Rambam). When Hurricane Irene threatened to strike Baltimore we pulled the Yeshivat Rambam collection off the floor and put them on plastic tables, but we still did not have a permanent home for this material.

Don’t worry, you Nervous Nelly collections manager-types! The Collections Committee had serious conversations about whether the JMM was being irresponsible in accepting this much archival material when we knew that we didn’t have the capacity to house it. After weighing pros and cons, the Committee agreed that it would be worse to allow the archives to be tossed and lost forever, particularly when building expansion was being discussed.

Further, there was enough space in storage room 2 to install an additional range of high density mobile storage. Our good friend (and former JMM archivist) Erin Titter, from Storage Logic, drew up plans for a new range of high density shelves for the basement and static shelves for the loading dock.

Funding from the France-Merrick Foundation for the Campus Master Plan and from Willard Hackerman for high density shelving could not have come at a better time. The tables were buckling from the weight of the boxes! (Sadly, I don’t have a picture. I guess I was afraid the table would collapse with me under it.)

Believe it or not, getting new shelves in the basement required us to thoroughly clear out the loading dock. We’d accumulated about ten years-worth of stuff—exhibition components, tools, program accessories, publications and packing materials—that needed to be weeded, sorted, stored, tossed or recycled.That’s a lot of stuff to work our way through, fortunately many hands make light work, thanks to the Winterns.

We ordered a dumpster to handle a lot of the oversized materials.

There were multiple trips to the city dump to recycle outdated publications. And then, against Avi’s protests, the perimeter of the board room was filled with boxes (labeled on all sides) of the materials we were keeping.

	When the installation crew came on January 30^th, you wouldn’t believe how clear the loading dock was! I won’t bore you with a step by step explanation of how the shelves were installed since we photo documented everything:
	First we installed shelves in the loading dock to hold our publications. No more skids of half open boxes for us!
	Laying down and leveling the tracks for the mobile storage.Coming Soon to This Blog Post [Grout] A short video of grouting the tracks into the floor. That stuff dries fast so the guys have less than 15 minutes from the time they mix it to the time it dries.
	Drilling the ramp down.
	A ramp with a gentle slope.
	Gluing the ramp for the tiles.
	Swirly glue—so tempting to stick your fingers in.
	Frame work is going up.
	And now for adding the shelves.
	Here’s what the installed set looks like.
	Jennifer places the first of the Yeshivat Rambam boxes on the shelf.
	It didn’t take long to fill up the first carriage! *Watch this time-lapse video of loading up the shelves.

Thanks again to Willard Hackerman for funding our collections storage project. We are truly grateful for your generosity.

++++

Does this look like a storage solution your museum could use? Download this Lookbook to learn more about Spacesaver's portfolio of museum storage solutions.

Independence Day at Spacesaver

Julie Weber — Tue, 02 Jul 2013 15:00:00 GMT

Fourth of July brings fireworks, celebratory parades, barbeques and hot weather here in Wisconsin. The 4^th really is a day to celebrate the anniversary of our nation’s declaration of independence, however, over the last two centuries it has also become a time to remember those who protect that independence.

So, while your sipping a cold beverage and lighting off sparklers, take a moment to reflect on what independence and freedom means to you. Maybe take a moment to give back to those who serve, or have served in your community.

Need some ideas? You can donate time, money or even do something fun like run a race to help our armed forces and veterans.

Here are some options:

Check out The Wounded Warrior Project: Their mission is To raise awareness and enlist the public's aid for the needs of injured service members, to help injured service members aid and assist each other and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet the needs of injured service members. http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/

Register to run the Tough Mudder: Tough Mudder events are 10-12 mile obstacle courses designed by British Special Forces. More than $5 million has been raised for the Wounded Warrior Project through the race. To sign up in your area click here:http://toughmudder.com/events

Find your local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) or American Legion Post and donate! To locate your local Post click on one of the links: VFW or American Legion

Additional Ideas:

Armed Services YMCA

Fisher House Foundation

Homes for our Troops

Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund

Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund

Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society

National Military Family Organization

Operation Homefront

Dryhootch a nonprofit 501c3 organization formed by combat Veterans to help Veterans returning home, mostly located in the Midwest (Wisconsin, Illinois and Missouri).

St. Louis Central Public Library: A Library Repurposing Showcase!

Julie Weber — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 15:00:00 GMT

When a library as famous and well visited as the St. Louis Central Library (St Louis, MO) undergoes a massive renovation, great care and consideration must go into the planning process. The iconic building was constructed in 1912 based on the Italian Renaissance style and was frequently visited by people from all over the world. But the historic majesty of the structure could not make up for the lack of modern amenities necessary for a library to thrive in the 21st century.

There were several challenges that needed to be addressed as the planning began. There was an absence of technology integration in the building, as well as a lack of communal spaces for patrons to use for study and collaboration. Areas that have become essential to a library’s success as a community resource, like computer labs, ten spaces and even meeting rooms, were missing from St. Louis Central.

With so many challenges to overcome, the St. Louis Central Library integrated many different shelving solutions into their renovation project in order to open up space for repurposing and create a sleek, modern appearance in the historic building.

Static Spacesaver cantilever shelving was used throughout the public access areas of the library for easy browsing by patrons. Cantilever shelving is the most common system used in libraries, due to the on-site reconfigurability, but several custom features were also integrated into the final design of the various shelving units throughout the main library.

LED lighting was installed onto the Spacesaver cantilever-shelving units throughout many areas of the library, including the fine arts, science and technology and rare books rooms. This required a special base for the cantilever units onto which the vertical lighting fixtures could be affixed. These fixtures not only look like a part of the shelving (painted in the same finish) but are used to light the aisles, in lieu of adding any additional room lighting that might detract from the historic chandeliers and ornate ceilings. The LED lighting is also extremely energy efficient, and lower in cost to operate than traditional florescent bulbs.

Custom glass end panels were used in the areas with LED lighting integrated into the shelving. The glass panels are subsequently illuminated – making the stacks look almost like works of art themselves, and create a design feature unique to the St. Louis Central Library.

Special red, acrylic end panels were used on the cantilever-shelving units in the showcase space on the main level of the library called “the center for the reader.”

Glass end panels were also installed on the cantilever shelving used in the media room. Because these cantilever shelves were designed with pullout drawers to store disks and other media like DVDs, no lighting was integrated.

In the children’s area, cantilever shelving was outfitted with a custom base, wrapped in solid surface and then placed on heavy-duty casters so that the area is completely reconfigurable on the fly by the library staff.

The use of Spacesaver mechanical assist high-density mobile shelving enabled the library to consolidate the collection from their seven-tiered central system onto just three interior mezzanine-like floors, plus the basement level of the library. Not only does the new stack space meet fire and seismic codes, it is brighter and easier to navigate.

The high-density mobile storage used throughout the library also helped open up existing spaces for new functions. There is now a teen room, which incorporates study areas, lounge seating, and even a small theater-like TV viewing area. The library also added a café, a book club meeting room, and a studio for movie, music and video game access.

Visit our library storage experts at the ALA 2013 Conference in Chicago this week in booth 1253, and learn even more about this great project!

Download the St. Louis Public Library Case Study here to learn more!

Download the St. Louis Public Library Project Lookbook here to see more areas of this beautiful library!

STORAGE SOLUTIONS IN THE LIBRARY OF THE FUTURE

Julie Weber — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:00:00 GMT

Guest contribution from John McLaughlin, Library Storage Specialist with Patterson Pope.

Compelling design and aesthetics, thoughtful customer service, world class amenities, state-of-the-art facilities...Sounds like an advertisement for a spa or a luxury hotel, right?

Collaboration, community, creativity, pride, ownership, synergy. Surely a description of the culture at successful businesses and organizations, right?

Put all this together and what do you have? The library of future. Like the old TV commercial “this isn’t your father’s Buick,” the library of the future is "not your father’s library" - just the building where you went to get books.

The library repurposing movement is well underway, and has impacted small community libraries, regional library systems, and higher education libraries alike.

Library repurposing trends require storage of all media collections to be housed in smaller footprints in order to recapture square footage for common areas and collaborative spaces.

Effective space planning, and the selective use of high density storage equipment, can provide as much as double the media storage capacity as traditional storage shelving, or provide the same amount of storage capacity in approximately half the original footprint.

(Watch the video to learn how Rutgers University used high-density mobile to recapture square footage)

Off-site storage of lesser used collections using fixed shelving, high density mobile systems, or high bay mobile storage is becoming increasingly popular as a way to store growing collections while creating more room for common areas in the main library.

Newly developed shelving colors, as well as new end panel and canopy materials and colors are now available to create more stylized and aesthetically pleasing storage shelving to tie into the architectural and design elements of the exterior and interiors of today’s library.

In the future space will be at an even greater premium, as the amount of “stuff" that needs to be stored grows, and the space in which we have to store it shrinks. Well-designed storage is an important component in the design of the library of the future.

To learn more about library repurposing, download this info sheet!

Or visit Spacesaver at ALA 2013 in booth 1253!