bookends

[Shannon Zachary <szachary@xxxxxxxxx>]

Staff at one of our new library branches recently brought this problem to
my attention. The shelving has bookends made from bent metal wire
suspended from the underside of the shelf above. These bookends only drop
about 6-7" and are wholly inadequate at providing support where a shelf of
books vary in height from 5" - 15": either the short books are not
supported at all or the support to the tops of the tall books is
undermined if there are any short books in the row.

This collection is open stacks and very heavily used, in a library that is
open 24 hours/day. The section for art books (which seem to be published
in more variation of size than the norm) is particularly problematic.
Oversize books for these call numbers are already shelved separately.

Does anyone have solutions to this problem that have worked? Especially
well-designed book ends? Experience shelving by 3 or even more size ranges
in an open stack?

Thanks in advance for your comments.

Shannon Zachary				szachary@xxxxxxxxx
Conservation & Book Repair		734/763-6980 (phone)
University of Michigan Library		734/763-7886 (fax)
837 Greene St. / 3202 Buhr Bldg.
Ann Arbor, MI 48104-1048