[PADG:1464] Re: FW: Booklock shelving system

["Lori Foley" <lfoley@xxxxxxxxx>]

----- Original Message -----
From: Andi <andit-@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <padg@xxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, October 11, 2001 10:25 PM
Subject: [PADG:1460] FW: Booklock shelving system


> Has anyone investigated the "Booklock" shelving system?
> (http://www.booklock.org/index.htm)  A salesman came by our library the
> other day and showed me a sample.  I asked him what type of plastic the
> shelves were made of, and he stated it was ABS plastic. ... I know that
this plastic is not
> polyethylene or polyvinyl, which makes me wary of using it.  The salesman
> (of course) assured me that the plastic would not offgas.  Does anyone
have
> any idea about the long-term effects of ABS plastic on library materials
> such as books, audio/visual media, etc.?  Are there any other things I
> should know or try to find out about this system?

You're right to be wary of the plastic used in this shelving system.
Plastics vary greatly in chemical stability. [Polyethylene is stable,
plastic containing vinyl is not.] The Web site you noted
(http://www.matweb.com/abspolymer.htm) states that there are over 850
different grades of ABS plastic. Without knowing what, exactly, the shelves
are made of, you risk introducing chemicals that may react adversely to many
library materials. Similarly, you would be affixing these shelves to your
existing shelves with an unknown adhesive. What would be the consequences if
you ever wanted to revert back to your old shelves?

Also of concern is the mechanical nature of these shelves. How can a system
that clamps books so tightly on an inverted shelf (as shown in the Booklock
Web site) be "gentle on book edges, covers, and dust jackets"? How can an
open track on a shelf--an invitation for dropped pens, crumpled paper, dust
accumulation, and book corner damage--lower maintenance expenses? If books
are carelessly shelved,  the "Flexi-panel" can have a knifing effect on the
textblock.

I recommend the old-fashioned bookend, especially the heavy-duty, non-slip
supports that have a flange to prevent knifing. Caveat emptor.

Lori Foley
Field Service Representative
Northeast Document Conservation Center
100 Brickstone Square
Andover, MA  01810-1494
TEL  978.470.1010
FAX  978.475.6021
lfoley@xxxxxxxxx
http://www.nedcc.org