Public Library Shelving
We help Libraries Engage and Inspire
As public libraries change to meet the needs of their communities, we help staff find space for new uses while still accommodating book collections and other materials. Spacesaver’s USA-made display shelving, compact shelving, and other public library shelving solutions have helped libraries serve their patrons for decades, and we can help you, too!
Built-in Flexibility
Reconfigure spaces on demand
Movable library shelving promotes flex spaces.
Carts can be customized to coordinate with your library’s interior design.
Compactable kiosks open for browsing and close to make space for special events.
“We know that spine-out storage is convenient for parents and librarians, but it’s not ideal for kids. They need to see the book covers to determine their own selections.”
– Dee Coover, DeKalb Public Library
Inviting Spaces
Encourage exploration with browsing bins and child-sized displays
Browsing bins help kids make their own selections.
Child-height book bins encourage browsing.
Browsing bins keep media collections organized and accessible.
Library Storage Solutions
Illuminating Inquiry
Energy-efficient lighting, right where it’s needed
Illuminated library shelving creates a welcoming ambiance.
Illuminated shelving saves energy.
Compact Collections
Reduce stacks’ footprint to free up space for modern uses
Using high-density mobile shelving enabled the historic St. Louis Central Library to consolidate its collection from a seven-tiered central system onto just three interior mezzanine-like floors, plus the basement level of the library. Not only is the new space safer, but it’s also brighter and easier to navigate. The design truly maximizes the interior floor space of the building’s original footprint.
Together, architects and librarians had almost doubled the square footage open to the public without expanding the original walls an inch.
– Marta Murvosh, Growing Room: St. Louis Public Library’s Grand Central Renovation, Library by Design Magazine
Creating a Safer Environment
Keep patrons and staff safe with smart solutions from Spacesaver.
HVAC Integration
Antimicrobial Coating
Contact-Free System Operation
Isolate Personal Belongings
Want to learn more? Chat with a storage specialist!
Community Archives
Protect and preserve local treasures
Custom end panels feature historic photos from the community.
Cabinets on casters invite patrons to investigate regional maps.
Archives in a library help preserve a community’s past.
Bold Statements
Custom shelving as a design element
Free Library of Philadelphia
The primary goal of the Philadelphia Free Library’s recent renovation was to help bridge the city’s “digital divide,” the growing gap between residents who have convenient, affordable internet access and those who don’t. Relocating books from a restricted stacks area and creating new spaces with wifi access, meeting areas, and other resources would create more opportunities for the city’s residents.
Moving books to compact shelving in the basement and to an off-site facility opened up space for “The Common,” a large community gathering space, as well as a teen area and a business and career center. These areas feature powerful wifi access and were designed with connectivity and collaboration in mind.
Anchoring the new area are two soaring custom Spacesaver “bookshelves” designed to pay homage to the stacks that had previously occupied the space. The result is an inspiring space that invites all city residents to learn, collaborate, and explore new opportunities.
The renovation of the Madison Public Library’s downtown location presented staff and designers with the opportunity to brighten and expand a reading area for children. A major feature in this vibrant space is a 16-foot tall installation that consists of out-of-circulation books displayed on engineered-to-order Spacesaver shelving.
The designer wanted to visually connect the lower-level children’s area with large windows on the ground floor. The installation had to be safe and attractive, and it also needed to accommodate books of various widths while preventing the books’ removal.
The Spacesaver solution consists of interlocking frames that are spliced together at alternating heights, reinforcing the system’s strength and stability. The end result is an unusual installation that’s safe, customizable, and visually appealing.
Discover More Library Storage Solutions
50 Years of Public Library Shelving Solutions
Whether your community is considering building a new library or renovating your existing facility, contact us early in the design process for expert insights and assistance. We can explain your options, provide drawings, and ultimately create solutions to engage and inspire your patrons for decades to come.
