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Warehouse & Distribution

<p>Spacesaver understands some things must be seen to believe. This is why we prioritize visibility when designing our industry-leading museum cabinets. Going a step further in regard to the visible value our solutions bring to the storage and preservation of the collections our clients possess, we engineer and manufacture our systems to last – allowing generations of patrons to view these artifacts in the pristine condition they were intended to be seen.</p>
<p>This unwavering dedication to the conservation and care of historic artifacts from all walks of life, is what drove The Church Studio to choose Spacesaver as the storage provider for its newly renovated, exclusively accessed storage space for all things music. The Archive, the aptly chosen moniker for the room, was created to give a select group of visitors an intimate look at the exclusive collections provided by the building’s owner and the community at large.</p>
<h2>Curating A Complete Catalog</h2>
<p>Knowing they wanted to provide the best experience for their esteemed visitors, the owners and staff at The Church Studio sought out a proven storage provider whose solutions that could provide unparalleled preservation for their collections and support for their purpose. This led them to choose Spacesaver’s 424 Series Flat File Cabinets and 920 Series: Preservation Cabinets.</p>
<h4>Producing A Top-Down View</h4>
<p>Featuring lockable glass tops throughout the system to increase visibility but limit the potential for theft or damage from overhandling, the 424 Series cabinets allow staff to provide patrons a complete picture of the artist or genre being displayed. Additionally, these versatile systems are outfitted with casters, giving staff the ability to move them into the best orientation for the space layout.</p>
<h4>A Record-Settling Release</h4>
<p>As artifacts from the music industry can range in size and structure, The Church Studio needed a storage solution that could provide the perfect blend of versatility and visibility. Spacesaver’s 920 Series: Preservation Cabinet was designed to be configured to meet a wide range of storage needs, from gold albums to gold jumpsuits, ticket stubs to posters from clubs, and more.</p>
<h2>We Know Artist Management</h2>
<p>While valuable, a clear line of sight is only one component of a well-designed preservation storage solution. Spacesaver’s museum cabinets provide uncompromised protection for the items held within, ease of access for those charged with the care of said items, and versatility to adapt to needs created when today’s emerging trends become tomorrow’s history. Let our nationwide team of experts help your collections strike a chord with your patrons.</p>

A Miraculous Musical Vision

Spacesaver understands some things must be seen to believe.

<p>Usually when we say our team of experts fitted a storage system at a given
    location, we are referencing our highly trained and certified installers.
    However, for the inaugural installation of our <a href="/products/art-racks/#modgliderpro">Mod-Glider Pro™ modular art rack system</a>,
    we employed a wide range of talent from headquarters. Why, you ask? Well,
    this installation will be used as a hallmark example of the versatility
    of the system and the ability of our engineers to make them functional
    no matter how large or small your installation may be.</p>
<p>So, without further ado, let’s explore this innovative product and what
    it will do for the <a rel="noopener" href="http://www.walcohistory.org/">Walworth County Historical Society (WCHS)</a>,
    its members, and their efforts to preserve the record of the region.</p>
    
    	<h3>A Bit of History on the Project</h3>

<p>The Walworth County Historical Society, a client of <a rel="noopener" href="https://bradfordsystems.com/">Bradford Systems</a> and
    Spacesaver in the past, was established in 1904 and is located in Elkhorn,
    WI. Dedicated to the preservation of the county’s history, curators store
    and display a great collection of books, pamphlets, uniforms, pictures,
    and other artifacts. Unable to expand in their location, the WCHS purchased
    the former City Hall building from the city in May 2021 and began working
    with a museum consultant to renovate and modernize the building for its
    use in a phased approach.</p>
<p>As part of Phase 1, WCHS ordered a <a href="/products/high-density-mobile-shelving/mobile-shelving-modes-of-operation/#mechanical">Spacesaver mechanical assist mobile system</a> with
    <a
    href="/products/commercial-metal-shelving/4-post-static-shelving/">4-Post shelving and Nantucket accessories</a>for collections and records
        storage. Phase 2 of the facility is currently in progress and includes
        renovating two floors into exhibit spaces with the capability to increase
        collection visibility and accessibility for public visitors.</p>
<p>From initial conversations, it was clear one of their major goals for
    Phase 2 was to develop a modern and engaging display for the public. Knowing
    this, Spacesaver’s team presented our new Mod-Glider Pro™, Modular Art
    Rack as the perfect solution to achieve this desired outcome. After careful
    consideration, an agreement was made in that Spacesaver would donate two
    small <a href="/products/art-racks/#modgliderpro">Mod-Glider Pro™ systems</a> with
    welded wire screens to WCHS in exchange for using the installation as a
    showpiece for prospect tours and marketing content.</p>
    
        	<h3>Getting Down to Setting Up</h3>

    <p>Late in Q3 2022, we were notified the allocated second-floor space at
        WCHS was cleared out and ready for the installation of the two <a href="/products/art-racks/#modgliderpro">Mod-Glider Pro systems</a>.
        So, our team of experts – representing every stage of product development
        from ideation to installation – made the trip to Elkhorn to meet in-person
        with museum staff and gain firsthand experience of the finer details of
        the solution positioning process.</p>
    <p>Due to the advanced age of the building, a main consideration for our
        team was navigating the unlevel nature of the floor and its potential impact
        on the effectiveness of the system. To ensure that each pullout screen
        and its contents remain secure throughout operation, our team adjusted
        the base of the system to adapt to the contour of the floor. Now that a
        solid base was established, the systems began to take shape.</p>
        
            	<h3>Step Back and Take In the View</h3>

    <p>Upon completion of Phase 2, the system will be outfitted in hope to make
        a greater percentage of works visible to the public for WHCS (an ongoing
        trend in museums), provide easier access for tours and private events,
        and an increased ability to rotate collections in and out of display; all
        of which will create a dynamic space for maximum community engagement.</p>
    <p>Museum staff is working hard to finalize the transfer and positioning
        of its Veterans Museum and the Elkhorn Independent Museum. Their current
        projection is to open to the public late this spring and are looking forward
        to utilizing Spacesaver’s solutions to display and protect their growing
        collection of regional history for generations to come.</p>

Experience An Installation Like No Other

Spacesaver brings Mod-Glider Pro to the Walworth County Historical Society.

<p>Each year as the calendar year comes to a close, so does the application
    window for many grants offered in the museum market. In addition to and
    driven by this influx of improvement ideation and (hopefully) awarded funds,
    several national organizations host their annual conferences to provide
    valuable information on their respective view of the industry.</p>
<p>Spacesaver’s team of museum storage experts headed out <a rel="noopener"
    href="https://westmuse.org/">West for the Western Museums Association</a> and
    <a
    rel="noopener" href="https://www.atalm.org/">Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, &amp; Museums (ATALM)</a>–
        to stay up to speed on the latest trends and share our versatile product
        lineup with all in attendance. Let’s take a look at what we encountered!</p>
	<h3>How the West Was Fun(ded)</h3>

<p>Both shows had a heavy focus on providing tips for uncovering funding
    opportunities. Among the attendees we spoke to, several individuals identified
    a focus on sourcing and procuring grants for their respective organizations.
    At ATALM, we learned that while tribal museums tend to be smaller in size,
    they serve as cultural centers for the community and as such, are well-funded
    by neighboring casinos.</p>
<p>One example is the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) awarding
    of an additional $500,000 in funding to ATALM for them to provide a second
    round of grants to Native cultural institutions. The funding, <a rel="noopener"
    href="https://www.atalm.org/node/534">outlined here</a>, is dedicated to
    helping tribal organizations and their partners recover from the COVID-19
    pandemic and provide humanities programming to their communities.</p>
    
    	<h3>Making Sure to Expand by Contract</h3>

<p>A well-constructed contract can be the difference between winning a deal
    and coming in second place. From attendees of all three shows we covered,
    firsthand accounts of this phenomenon were shared, immediately followed
    by a request for more substantial and frequent acknowledgement of these
    options. So, to that point, make sure to <a href="/spacesaver-contracts/">visit our contracts page</a> for
    more information on those available in your area.</p>
    
    	<h3>The Wet, the Dry, the Reason Why</h3>

<p>One educational session our team attended highlighted an unfortunate event
    in which a sprinkler head failed and allowed 900 gallons of water to disperse
    into an exhibit area. The flood then migrating to the collection storage
    area one floor below, where the system’s open shelving did little to mitigate
    the risk of water damage, forcing staff into a position of emergency response
    and treatment of objects.</p>
<p>This lesson learned was a grim reminder to consider the value of proper
    collections protection options Spacesaver can provide for all shapes and
    sizes of collections and spaces. From rain canopies on shelving to fully
    gasketed museum cabinets, <a href="/blog/museum-collection-care-best-practices/">our versatile solutions</a> ensure
    valuable collections stay high and dry.</p>

Heading Out West: Spacesaver’s Q4 Museum Show Journey

Providing highlights from what we saw at some of 2022’s closing ceremonies.

<h3><small>The Challenge</small><br>Optimize Collections Storage Space</h3>
<p>The planning team for a new science and technology museum needed to optimize space and ensure that collections would be protected and accessible. Traditional cabinets often come in standard heights, with empty space above them in tall-ceilinged rooms. With tens of thousands of 3D museum objects to store, wasting space wasn’t an option in this facility.</p>

<h3><small>The Solution</small><br>Nantucket Drawers & Trays</h3>
<p>The planning team found that one of the most efficient solutions was using Spacesaver’s Nantucket Trays and Drawers on <a href="/products/commercial-metal-shelving/4-post-static-shelving/">4-Post shelving</a> and extra-wide trays on <a href="/products/commercial-metal-shelving/raptorrac-wide-span-shelving/">RaptorRAC® Widespan Shelving</a>.</p>
<p>The units were mounted on <a href="/products/high-density-mobile-shelving/">high-density mobile systems</a> to save even more space.</p>

<h3><small>The Result</small><br>Saved Space, Saved Money &amp; Improved Accessibily</h3>
<p>The system not only saved space; staff were relieved to find that the space-saving solution also improved their ability to find, retrieve, and study stored objects. “We can’t believe how easy it is to find pieces now,” said the collections manager. “And the drawer units are so accessible: you can pull them out and the piece is right in front of you.</p>
<p>The new collections storage spaces have an expansive, open feel, with plenty of room to study objects right where they’re stored. “The sheer amount of space in the drawer-and-shelving units is truly impressive,” he said. “I can’t even tell you how much space we’ve saved.”</p>
<p>On top of all the other benefits, the trays and drawers saved money, too. “Converting from our old map cabinets to the drawer units was both a space savings and a major cost savings,” said the collections manager. </p>

Storing 3D Artifacts in a Museum

Nantucket Trays and Drawers save space, save money, and keep museum collections accessible.

<h3><small>Challenge</small><br>Running out of space for county archives records storage</h3>
<p>County government archives store modern and historic documents like atlases, plat records, court documents, marriage records, and many other materials that are often required by state law to be preserved on paper. These archives hold a treasure trove of information and, because they’re public records, they must be made available to staff, researchers, the general public, or to the media upon request. </p>

<h3>4-Post Shelving</h3>
<p>Learn how interchangeable accessories simplify storage.</p>

<p>Storing an ever-expanding collection of printed materials is a challenge. The county government archives facility pictured here had been housed in a Victorian mansion for decades, and archivists were running out of room to store documents from 26 agencies in the county. </p>

<p>When the archives received approval to build out a new facility within an existing building, the planning team called on Spacesaver. They had 35,000 square feet of space designated for records storage and they wanted to:</p>
<ul>
<li>Invest in durable solutions</li>
<li>Protect materials</li>
<li>Keep materials organized and easily accessible</li>
<li>Design space with room to grow</li>
</ul>

<h3><small>Related case study</small><br><a href="/portfolio-posts/preserving-texas-history-with-spacesaver-archives-storage/">Texas State Archives</a></h3>
<p>See photos of a well-designed government archives with creative storage solutions. <br><a href="/portfolio-posts/preserving-texas-history-with-spacesaver-archives-storage/" target="_self">See Story</a>.</p>

<h3><small>The Solution</small><br>Well-designed archives storage</h3>
<p>The Cleveland-based Spacesaver consultant spent weeks assessing the archival materials that needed to be stored and drawing up plans for the space. By counting items, measuring them, and weighing them, he and the staff were able to design efficient, durable storage solutions that would stand the test of time. At the archivists’ request, he designed the new shelving to store items by type, size, and agency.</p>

<p>The new space features <a href="/products/commercial-metal-shelving/4-post-static-shelving/">Spacesaver’s 4-Post shelving</a> and file drawers. To avoid wasting space, the shelving is configured according to the size of stored items, and the shelving can easily be reconfigured over time if needs change.</p>


Government Archives Storage: Complete Solutions for County Archives

Complete Solutions for County Archives

<p>Imagine a museum collections area in perfect order: everything has its place, with no disorganization or overcrowding. Even recently acquired items are seamlessly integrated into storage, right where they belong. There’s even room to grow in the future!</p>
<p>You can start creating that space today — for yourself and for your colleagues decades down the road. </p>

<h3>An Interior that Changes with Your Collections</h3>
<p>The <a href="/products/museum-storage-products/museum-preservation-cabinets/">Spacesaver 920 Series: Preservation Cabinet</a>&nbsp;offers a unique combination of versatility and strength. For instance, you can fill it with trays today, and years from now, after collections have grown or changed, your future colleagues can reconfigure it with drawers, hanging rods, or other accessories.</p>
<p class="popmake-49589 pum-trigger" style="color: rgb(0, 180, 180); font-weight: bold; cursor: pointer;">Want to get the details on our most popular configurations? Download the Guide.</p>

<h3>Store More as Museum Collections Grow</h3>
<p>These modular cabinets can help add storage capacity in the future, too. Set them on the floor or mount them on casters at first, and years later they can be stacked or placed on <a href="/products/high-density-mobile-shelving/">compact mobile systems</a> to save space and create more room for growing collections.</p>

Museum Collection Storage

Versatile museum cabinets optimize space now & in the future.

[mk_page_section bg_image="https://www.spacesaver.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/vented-flat-file-museum-cabinet.jpg" bg_position="center center" bg_repeat="no-repeat" bg_stretch="true" video_loop="false" video_color_mask="#3e4651" video_opacity="0.8" padding_top="60" padding_bottom="60" sidebar="sidebar-1"][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]
<h1 style="text-align: center; color: #00b4b4;">Illuminated Museum Cabinets in Exhibit Design</h1>
<h2 class="whiteText" style="text-align: center;">Versatile, visible storage in an Ohio Museum</h2>
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
<div class="metaContainer">
<div class="metaBoxWrap">[rt_reading_time postfit="Minute Read" postfix_singular="Minute Read"] Minute Read</div>
<div class="metaBoxWrap">In [post_cats]</div>
</div>
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/mk_page_section][mk_page_section padding_top="40" padding_bottom="40" sidebar="sidebar-1"][vc_column width="3/4"][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width="2/3"][vc_column_text]As beautiful as they are functional, <a href="/products/museum-storage-products/museum-storage-cabinets/">Spacesaver Museum Cabinets</a> have been blurring the lines between public and private museum spaces for decades. Now <a href="/products/museum-storage-products/museum-collection-storage-cabinets/">920 Series: Preservation Cabinets</a> are displaying collections in public exhibit spaces. With reconfigurable interiors, glass doors, locking handles for security, and optional illumination, these cabinets can bring versatility and a new level of collections protection to public areas in any museum.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]In traditional museums, only a relatively small number of collections items are on exhibit at any given time. Some museums, though, are helping visitors better understand collections by putting more stored items on public display. Those museums face a challenge: <a href="/visible-storage-for-museum-collections/">visible storage</a> needs to display items while still protecting them from dust, pests, curious museum-goers, damaging UV light, and fluctuations in heat and humidity. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][vc_column_text]<img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-43128" src="https://www.spacesaver.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/illuminated-museum-display-cabinet.png" alt="illuminated museum display cabinet" />[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
<p style="text-align: center; color: #7c2b83; font-weight: bold;">Illuminated 920 Series: Preservation Cabinets are integrated into exhibit space.</p>
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner css=".vc_custom_1602515303860{background-color: #f1f0f0 !important;}"][vc_column_inner width="1/2"][vc_column_text]
<div><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-43126" style="padding: 0; margin: 0;" src="https://www.spacesaver.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/museum-cabinets-flexible-exhibit-storage.jpg" alt="museum cabinets flexible exhibit storage" /></div>
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<p style="text-align: center; font-size: 1.2rem; color: #7c2b83; font-weight: bold;"><em>“The Great Collections Experiment explores new ways of displaying and sharing more of the amazing, priceless and sometimes quirky objects in our vast collection.”</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">- Ohio History Center</p>
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][mk_padding_divider visibility="hidden-sm"][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/2"][vc_column_text]To protect items while they’re on display in exhibit areas, the Ohio History Center purchased illuminated <a href="/products/museum-storage-products/museum-collection-storage-cabinets/">920 Series: Preservation Cabinets</a> to store military arms and uniforms. The cabinets’ interiors can be reconfigured in the future to display different items in the collection, and they can also be bolted together or mounted on <a href="/products/high-density-mobile-shelving/standard-high-density-mobile-storage/">high-density mobile systems</a> to gain storage capacity in the future. The cabinets lock to ensure security in the public exhibit rooms.

Spacesaver provided the LED lighting, which is powered via a typical 120v/12v transformer power source with a switch. Because LED have no UV or heat output, it doesn’t damage collections like daylight or incandescent light does. The client specified the LED light temperature, which is 2700K.

The result is exceptional protection for collections with museum cabinets incorporated into exhibit design.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/2"][vc_column_text]<img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-43127" src="https://www.spacesaver.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/hanging-drawer-musum-cabinet.jpg" alt="handing drawer museum cabinet" />[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4" el_class="sidebarCol"][mk_custom_sidebar sidebar="sidebar-2"][mk_custom_sidebar sidebar="ca-sidebar-40137"][vc_column_text el_class="pstBox"]
<div><a href="/visible-storage-for-museum-collections/"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-43140" style="margin: 0; padding: 0;" src="https://www.spacesaver.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/museum-visible-storage-solutions.jpg" alt="museum visible storage solutions" /></a></div>
<p style="text-align: center;">See more <a href="/visible-storage-for-museum-collections/">visible storage solutions</a>.</p>
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/mk_page_section][mk_page_section bg_color="#3e4651" bg_stretch="true" video_loop="false" padding_top="40" padding_bottom="40" sidebar="sidebar-1"][vc_column width="1/3"][vc_column_text]
<h2 class="whiteText" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 2.4rem; text-transform: uppercase!important;">Connect with the Collections Storage Experts</h2>
<p class="whiteText">When you need museum cabinets and other visible storage solutions that are versatile, secure, and made with pride in the USA, contact us to get connected to your local Spacesaver consultants. They can provide a free space assessment, drawings, and budget estimates to help make the most of your space.</p>
[/vc_column_text][mk_button dimension="flat" size="medium" url="/contact-us" bg_color="#00b4b4" btn_hover_bg="#f16232" btn_hover_txt_color="#ffffff"]Contact Us[/mk_button][/vc_column][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_column_text]
<h3 class="whiteText">Next up in <a href="/blog/category/museum-storage/">Museum Storage</a></h3>
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Museum Cabinets in Exhibit Design

Versatile, visible storage in an Ohio Museum

<p>The biggest challenge in planning a collections area is usually dealing with future uncertainty: How will collections grow over time? Could collecting priorities shift in a few years? Will we ever get more room to expand collections storage?</p>
<p>Staff at the Frazier Museum in Louisville, Kentucky, faced some of those questions as well. </p>


<h3>A Cramped Collections Area</h3>
<p>Housed in a former tobacco warehouse that was built in 1898, the Frazier Museum has shifted focus over the past couple of decades. As a result, its collecting priorities and its collections have changed.</p>
<p>What hasn’t changed are the architectural constraints in the museum’s collections storage area. Large structural columns break up the space. Ductwork drops down from the low ceiling. In the past, inefficient static shelving filled the area. Staff knew something needed to be done to improve the space and add capacity, while still maintaining convenient access to all the objects in the collection.</p>

<h3>Custom Museum Storage Cabinets Optimize Space</h3>
<p>To optimize space throughout the collections area, museum staff worked with the local Spacesaver consultant to design cabinets, art racks, and a high-density mobile system that work around the basement’s space limitations.</p>

<p>Because the museum’s collections will continue to grow and change, the project team selected <a href="/products/museum-storage-products/museum-collection-storage-cabinets/">Spacesaver 920: Series Preservation Cabinet</a>&nbsp;with reconfigurable interiors. The custom museum storage cabinets are currently fitted with drawers, but in the future the drawers could be swapped out for hanging rods, trays, or other accessories.</p>

<p>Cabinets and shelving are mounted on mobile “carriages” and were designed to fit perfectly under protruding ductwork. One of the cabinets is also narrower than the others to allow it to fit in limited space. <a href="https://www.spacesaver.com/products/museum-storage-products/art-racks/">Art racks</a> with custom mounts are attached to the structural columns, turning unused space into storage for framed art. </p>

<h3>Designed for Future Flexibility</h3>
<p>The new collections equipment is a vast improvement over the cramped shelving that previously filled the space. Every object in the collection now has a home, and staff also have room to store shipping and conservation supplies right where they’re needed.</p>
<p>Best of all, the room provides future flexibility. With reconfigurable cabinets and room to add new cabinets and shelving as the collection grows, the museum will be able to pursue its mission for years to come.</p>

Custom Museum Storage Cabinets

Reconfigurable Interiors for a Changing Collection

<p>Spacesaver helps protect collections in museums of all shapes and sizes, even when they’re located in places that were never intended to be used as museums. The USS Yorktown, for example, was an aircraft carrier before being decommissioned by the US Navy fifty years ago. It’s now anchored at Patriot’s Point near Charleston, S.C., where it serves as a maritime museum.</p>
<p>Among the artifacts stored on board is a collection of flags that commemorate the ship and the times during which it sailed. Finding a way to organize and properly store the museum’s historic flags was a challenging task, especially given the oddly shaped spaces that were designated for museum storage onboard the vessel.</p>

<p>Museum staff worked with the nearby Spacesaver consultant to design a storage system for the flags that makes the most of limited space in one of the storage areas. They designed seven <a href="/products/rolled-textile-racks/">cantilever rolled textile racks</a>, which can be precisely configured to accommodate flags of various sizes. Most of the racks feature five levels of textile rolls per side, but the ship’s mechanical systems created obstructions in some areas, creating the need for only four levels on some sides.</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When the time came to install the racks, they were gently lowered, piece by piece, down the ship’s stairs and around tight corners. Factory-certified technicians from the nearby Spacesaver distributorship&nbsp; assembled them on site. </span></p>




Flag Storage on a Shipboard Museum

Rolled textile racks optimize limited space.

<p>Long-term storage of large textiles such as flags, rugs, and quilts presents special challenges for museums. Folding textiles and storing them away for years on end can lead to permanent creasing and cracking along the folds.</p>
<p>To avoid such damage, these items can be stored flat in large drawers or rolled onto tubes.</p>

<h2 style="margin-bottom: 0;">Design Challenge</h2>
<h3 style="margin-top: 0;">Optimize Space in Collections Area</h3>

<p>They knew they wanted <a href="/products/museum-storage-products/museum-storage-cabinets/">Spacesaver cabinets</a> with rolled textile drawers, and they knew they would need exceptionally large drawers and cabinets to accommodate the flags. They also wanted to mount the cabinets on <a href="/products/high-density-mobile-shelving/">Spacesaver high-density mobile systems</a> (often called “compactors”) to optimize space in the collections area. Finally, they wanted to take advantage of the tall ceilings in the collections area by adding storage capacity above the cabinets.</p>


<p>Staff at this national military museum wanted to optimize space in their collections storage area while creating the best possible preservation environment for large flags. To reach their goal, they worked with their Washington D.C.-based Spacesaver consultant to use a variety of Spacesaver products in creative ways.</p>

Case Study: Rolled Textile Drawers for Museum Collections

Saving space and preserving military flags.

<p>Archives and museum collections often store fragile and volatile materials that require flat storage, isolation, and / or special ventilation requirements. For example, early printing processes for diazotypes and blueprints resulted in residual chemicals that are harmful to the prints themselves and to other materials stored in proximity. Recommended preservation storage for these materials often involves separate, protected storage and increased ventilation.</p>


<h3>Flat-File Cabinets with Ventilation</h3>
<p>Spacesaver’s custom engineering and manufacturing capabilities are helping archives staff at a southern California county responsibly store their large collection of historic diazotype maps, plans, and oversized documents. When the design team was working on a new building to house the county’s archives and other offices, archives staff expressed the desire for flat-file cabinets to store and isolate fragile oversized documents without folding or rolling. They also wanted perforations to promote ventilation and increased circulation to prevent further deterioration, but they hadn’t been able to find museum-quality perforated flat-file cabinets on the market.</p>

<p>Perforated flat-file cabinets provide ventilation for historic diazotypes and other documents.</p>

<h3>Collection Preservation through Storage Solutions</h3>
<p>The design consultant on the project suggested working with Spacesaver’s engineering team to create a solution. They modified Spacesaver’s standard <a href="https://www.spacesaver.com/products/museum-storage-products/archival-flat-file-storage/">flat-file cabinet</a> to create a flat-file cabinet with perforations in the front and back of each drawer, as well as a perforated back panel on the back of the cabinet. The design allows the cabinets to retain their structural integrity while promoting ventilation.</p>
<p>These special flat-file cabinets are available to preserve materials that require flat storage and increased ventilation.</p>

	

Perforated Flat-File Cabinets

Storing fragile, chemically unstable materials.

<h4 style="margin-bottom: 0;">MUSEUM Q&amp;A</h4>
<h3 style="margin-top: 0;">How should we store oversized objects in our museum collection?</h3>
<p>Sometimes a museum’s mission to protect and preserve artifacts, artwork, or natural history specimens results in the need to store a variety of exceptionally large or heavy objects. These objects can be cumbersome and difficult to store.</p>
<p>Fortunately, your local Spacesaver museum planning consultant can design compact <a href="/products/high-density-mobile-shelving/">mobile storage systems</a> to optimize space and keep large objects organized and protected, just as they would for a typical museum collection. Spacesaver’s mobile systems eliminate empty aisles to promote the efficient use of space while also maintaining the highest standards of organization, accessibility, and preservation.</p>


	<p>In the past, some people simply suggested storing large museum objects like furniture or farm implements on the floor. Today most experts agree you should never store any museum object directly on the floor, due to the risk of damage from flooding or water seepage, mildew, pests, or other hazards. Shelving or compact storage systems get objects up off the floor and away from potential damage.</p>
<p>When space is a concern, heavy-duty compact storage systems can be used to compactly store even the largest museum objects like furniture, natural history specimens, farm implements, and more.</p>

<h3>Industrial-strength mobile systems optimize space for even the heaviest museum objects</h3>


<h3 >Heavy-duty Preservation</h3>
<p>The Naval Undersea Museum uses an <a href="/products/high-density-mobile-shelving/heavy-duty-mobile-racking/">ActivRAC system</a> to store torpedoes that weigh thousands of pounds. <a href="/portfolio-posts/torpedoes-heavy-duty-storage-solution/">Read the Story</a>.</p>

<script src="https://fast.wistia.com/embed/medias/bngm77kyyy.jsonp" async></script><script src="https://fast.wistia.com/assets/external/E-v1.js" async></script><div class="wistia_responsive_padding" style="padding:57.19% 0 0 0;position:relative;"><div class="wistia_responsive_wrapper" style="height:100%;left:0;position:absolute;top:0;width:100%;"><div class="wistia_embed wistia_async_bngm77kyyy videoFoam=true mute=true" style="height:100%;position:relative;width:100%">&nbsp;</div></div></div>



<h3>Moveable Museum Collections</h3>
<p>This museum uses <a href="/products/high-density-mobile-shelving/heavy-duty-mobile-racking/">Spacesaver’s ActivRAC® Mobilized Storage System</a> and Industrial Cantilever to store horse-drawn buggies, farm implements, and snowmobiles.</p>


<h3>Widespan Museum Shelving</h3>
<p>The Field Museum uses <a href="/products/commercial-metal-shelving/raptorrac-wide-span-shelving/">RaptorRAC® Widespan Shelving</a> to store large natural history specimens. The shelving is mounted on compact mobile storage systems to save space. <a href="/portfolio-posts/museum-storage-compact-shelving/">Read the Story</a>.</p>



<p>In addition to compact mobile systems, Spacesaver offers a range of other
    sturdy museum storage solutions, including widespan shelving and custom
    solutions like the industrial cantilever racking pictured above. As with
    all our museum offerings, these products are coated in non-off-gassing
    powder-coat paint and are engineered for safety and ease of access.</p>
	<h3>Products used in these museums:</h3>

<ul>
    <li><a href="/products/high-density-mobile-shelving/heavy-duty-mobile-racking/">ActivRAC® Mobilized Storage System</a>
    </li>
    <li><a href="/products/commercial-metal-shelving/raptorrac-wide-span-shelving/">Widespan Shelving</a>
    </li>
    <li>Industrial Cantilever</li>
</ul>

Storage for Oversized Museum Collections

Saving space and protecting artifacts and specimens, no matter the size.

<h2>Consolidating Collections and Storing Rolled Textiles</h2>

<p>Our newest case study features a federal agency based in Washington, D.C.,
    that maintains on-site museums in every state. One of its <a href="/portfolio-posts/rolled-textile-storage-federal-agency-collections-facility/">largest regional collections facilities</a>,
    located in suburban Maryland, supports a variety of collections care functions,
    including collections storage for regional museums, artifact preparation
    and restoration, and temporary storage of collections threatened by flooding
    and other natural disasters.</p>

<h3>The system has room for future growth, and additional rails and storage equipment can be added when the existing cabinets and textile racks are full.</h3>

<p style="text-align: center;">Avoid creases and wrinkles on flags, quilts, and other large textiles by storing them on <a href="/products/rolled-textile-racks/">rolled textile racks</a>.</p>

<p style="text-align: center;">The rolled textile racks pictured are fully adjustable and can bear approximately 700 pounds per rack.</p>

<p>In order to develop the most efficient plan for one area of the building
    dedicated to storing rolled textiles and small artifact storage, the manager
    worked with his staff, visited other museum collections care facilities,
    and talked with his local Spacesaver consultant, who had worked on other
    museum projects at the facility and around the D.C. area.</p>
<p>Because the collection consisted of a large number of three-dimensional
    artifacts as well as flags and other textiles, the planning team decided
    to purchase <a href="/products/museum-storage-products/museum-storage-cabinets/">Spacesaver cabinets</a> and
    <a
    href="/products/rolled-textile-racks/">rolled textile racks</a>and install them on <a href="/products/high-density-mobile-shelving/">Spacesaver compacting carriages</a>.
        This creative solution has resulted in a clean, compact preservation environment
        that’s organized, accessible, and reconfigurable.</p>

Storing Rolled Textiles at a Federal Agency's Collections Facility

A federal agency uses cabinets and rolled textile racks to optimize space and provide long-term collections storage.


<p>Libraries, archives, and other institutions often have three-dimensional objects in their special collections that must be documented, organized, and protected, but that can’t be stored on standard library shelving or in flat file cabinets. These objects often need protection from dust and potential breakage but don’t require the sealed environment that a museum cabinet provides.</p>
<p>To provide many of the benefits of a museum cabinet without the expense of sealed doors, Spacesaver has developed a unique solution: our <a href="/products/commercial-metal-shelving/4-post-static-shelving/">4-Post shelving</a> can be fitted with locking doors and with inserts that accept trays.</p>

<h3>Museum-Quality Trays</h3>

<p>Inserts and trays are the same museum-quality accessories that are used
    in our sealed museum cabinets, with all the robust quality you expect from
    Spacesaver. Inserts can be adjusted on 2” increments without special tools,
    allowing you to reconfigure tray spacing as needed. Add more trays as your
    collection grows.</p>
<ul>
    <li>Sturdy</li>
    <li>Reconfigurable</li>
    <li>Easy to Use</li>
</ul>

<p>Need the full protection offered by a sealed museum cabinet? Learn more about our reconfigurable <a href="https://www.spacesaver.com/products/museum-storage-products/museum-collection-storage-cabinets/">Preservation Cabinet</a>.</p>
<h3>Door Options</h3>

<p>These doors are not sealed, but they do protect objects from dust and
    light and their optional locks can secure your collections. Choose from
    our full range of 4-Post Frame-Mounted Doors:</p>
    
    <h3 style="margin-bottom: 0;">Spotlight</h3>

<h2 style="margin-top: 0;">Affordable Museum ‘Cabinets’ for a College Library</h2>

<p>Special collections receive special care at Harper College in Palatine,
    Illinois. When the college obtained funding for a new library, faculty
    and staff worked with their architect and their local Spacesaver consultant
    to design a secure room to store archives and special collections.</p>
<p>Most printed materials were housed on compact mobile shelving, but the
    college also needed to store odd-sized items including plaques, dinnerware,
    and other objects associated with the institution’s history.</p>
    
    <p>Due to budget constraints, and because the objects didn’t need the extensive
    protection offered by museum cabinets, library staff opted to install
    <a
    href="/products/commercial-metal-shelving/4-post-static-shelving/">Spacesaver’s 4-Post shelving</a>fitted with single-wall doors, keyed locks,
        and slide-out museum trays. The trays fully extend, allowing researchers
        to view objects without disturbing them, and the locks provide an additional
        layer of security.</p>
<p>As the collection grows over time, the trays can be raised or lowered
    without special tools, allowing staff to adjust tray spacing to maximize
    space and accommodate objects of different heights. They can also purchase
    additional trays at a later date.</p>
<p>The end result is an affordable museum cabinet alternative that protects
    collections and can be reconfigured over time.</p>


An Affordable Museum Cabinet Alternative

Museum trays and drawers in shelving units

<p>At a time when museum professionals are seeking new and meaningful ways
    to engage visitors, the concept of visible storage has emerged as a practical
    way to promote better access while also protecting collections. Because
    exhibition space is limited, and because many museums keep the majority
    of their holdings in storage, visible storage allows visitors, donors,
    and board members to gain a better understanding of a collection’s breadth
    and depth.</p>
<p>In order to be successful over the long term, visible storage projects
    must balance access and openness with the need to maintain optimal preservation
    environments and provide secure storage for collections. Over the years
    we’ve developed a design process that helps guide stakeholders’ thinking
    as they consider renovations or new construction that incorporates visible
    storage. Here’s how we’ve helped a variety of museums ensure that their
    collections are more accessible in the present, while also being preserved
    for future generations.</p>
	<h2>How to design visible storage for museum collections.</h2>

<p></p>
	<h2>1. Consider the needs of your collection</h2>

<ul>
    <li>Conduct an inventory.</li>
    <li>Describe the preservation requirements of various items in your collection.
        Make special note of particularly rare or delicate items that require extra-special
        attention.</li>
</ul>
<p></p>
	<h2>2. Consider the physical space</h2>

<ul>
    <li>How much square footage is available?</li>
    <li>Within that area, what obstructions are present, like structural columns
        or ductwork?</li>
    <li>How much vertical space is available?</li>
    <li>How do people work in the space? How would people prefer to work in the
        space in the future?</li>
</ul>
<p></p>
	<h2>3. Consider Visibility</h2>

<ul>
    <li>Referring back to your inventory, identify items that are candidates for
        visible storage.</li>
    <li>Think about various ways that these items could be displayed in visible
        storage while still maintaining an optimal preservation environment and
        ensuring security.</li>
    <li>Get design inspiration from other museums’ visible storage projects.
        <a
        href="#visibleCollectionAreas">Scroll down to see our favorites</a>.</li>
</ul>
<p>Need help? Connect with the museum collections storage experts at Spacesaver.
    A <a href="/contact-us/">free consultation</a> is the best way to start exploring
    your options.</p>	<a href="https://www.spacesaver.com/contact-us/">Contact Us</a>
    
    	<h3>Here are 5 ways that institutions have incorporated visible storage into their collections areas</h3>

	<h2>University Art Study Center</h2>

<p>This university had been assembling a diverse art collection since the
    early 1800s, but the collection was largely inaccessible to the campus
    community and the general public. In order to upgrade to modern storage
    standards and incorporate thousands of objects into teaching and study
    programs, the university created an art study center featuring visible
    storage. The architect specified <a href="/products/museum-storage-products/museum-storage-cabinets/">locking museum cabinets with glass doors</a> to
    protect stored objects while also allowing students and visitors to view
    collections.</p>
    
    	<h3>Natural History Museum</h3>

<p>The construction of a new museum provided staff at this institution with
    the opportunity to give visitors a glimpse into the research conducted
    by scientists and visiting scholars in the collections storage areas. They
    devised an innovative solution that integrates the collections area with
    public display space. The area provides researchers with convenient access
    to a small, climate-controlled portion of the storage area on one side
    of glass partitions, and the <a href="/products/high-density-mobile-shelving/">specially constructed Spacesaver carriages</a> provide
    a platform for an exhibit that teaches the public about the importance
    of specimen collection and preservation.</p>
    
    	<h3>Cultural Museum</h3>

<p>Staff at this museum worked with the local Spacesaver consultant to design
    an innovative way to protect the institution’s pottery collection while
    also promoting visibility. The collections are stored on <a href="/products/high-density-mobile-shelving/">Spacesaver compactors</a> that
    are fitted with special end panels that allow display pieces to be viewed
    from the gallery. In addition to making more of the collection visible
    to the public, this arrangement has allowed staff to better control temperature
    and humidity in the collections storage area, and it provides additional
    security and seclusion for culturally sensitive items. The visible storage
    solution allows even the most casual museum visitors to gain a better appreciation
    for the collection’s importance.</p>
	<h3>Art &amp; Science Museum</h3>

<p>A generous donor challenged this museum to design and build a new wing
    dedicated to visible storage. With the objective to display as much of
    their collection as possible, the museum’s staff and architects worked
    with the local Spacesaver consultant to make smart use of the space. The
    design concept called for <a href="/products/museum-storage-products/art-racks">art racks</a> (also
    called art screens), black shelving, and creative lighting to make the
    objects in the collection stand out. Plexiglass maintains security.</p>
    
    	<h3>Contemporary Art Museum</h3>

<p>The curatorial staff at this contemporary art museum wanted a visible
    storage solution to supplement exhibitions with sketches, references, and
    other two-dimensional works that would complement art on more prominent
    display. <a href="/products/museum-storage-products/archival-flat-file-storage/">Flat file cabinets with glass tops</a> provide
    the perfect solution: the cabinets lock to secure contents and keep artwork
    organized, while the UV-coated glass tops protect artwork and allow visitors
    to view what’s stored inside.</p>