Automatic Storage and Stack Arrangement at Valparaiso University

Donna Resetar Associate Dean of Library Services

Valparaiso University

• Private, Lutheran • Comprehensive • Primarily undergraduate • About 4,000 students • Primarily residential • About 300,000 vol.

• In northwest Indiana

Moellering Library Stacks •Crowded •Dark •Periodicals shelved with monographs

In Moellering Library, collections were arranged by where they fit.

Christopher Center for Library and Information Resources

Automatic Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS)

ASRS: What is it?

• On-site storage system • Rows and columns of 2 x 4 ft. bins (various heights) in series of aisles • Materials stored in randomly selected bins as long as height matches • Bins retrieved by robotic crane in each aisle

Christopher Center ASRS

• 2 aisles = 4 rows bins • 26 columns • 18 bins/column • 1,872 bins • 2 cranes • 4 workstations • Est. capacity 300,000 vols.

Click on the Request Button

Type in your name, click Submit button

Successful Request!

ILS Server ASRS Server •ASRS server links barcode with bin number •ILS sends barcode to ASRS •ASRS server confirms receipt •ASRS server sends bin number to crane •Crane delivers bin •Worker scans barcode to break link between barcode & bin number Robotic Crane ASRS Workstation

Circulation Desk staff can hear bins being delivered

Staff hallway back to ASRS

ASRS Workstation

Materials from ASRS checked out at main Circulation Desk

What we put in our ASRS

• Bound periodicals 2003 and prior • Half of government documents collection (Serial Set, census publications) • Older reference sets and some print indexes (NUC pre 1956; Who’s who) • Archival artifacts and restricted papers

Browsing is important!

Impact of ASRS • Smaller building footprint • Simplified stack layout • Stacks open and inviting • Logical collection organization • More space for people & technology

New library could meet height limitation with smaller footprint

Early plan without ASRS

Existing Plan with ASRS

First Floor Logical arrangement and stack flow, especially for periodicals

Second Floor ASRS Microforms Reference Collection Maps

Third Floor •Circulating monographs A-L •Call numbers jump aisles •Collection flows from front to back

Fourth Floor

•

Circulating monographs M-Z

Continuous sorting and reshelving

For more information

• http://www.valpo.edu/library • http://www.valpo.edu/library/ circ/ASRS_Video.mpg

• http://www.valpo.edu/facilities/ christophercenter/