[PADG:736] Re: Free-standing outdoor bookdrops

[Andrew Hart <ashart@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Tyra,
I don't have any organized specs for evaluating bookdrops but I can 
offer a couple informal observations. We have free-standing outdoor book 
returns from Highsmith. From a preservation perspective, the feature I 
like most is that books fall into a cloth pouch that expands as it fills 
up. Our old bookdrops had metal shelves supported by springs and books 
sometimes slipped under the shelf or got jammed between the edge of the 
shelf and the side of the box. The cloth design seems to have solved 
this problem. I couldn't say whether it has made any difference in 
damage from books landing haphazardly on each other.

Another preservation-related feature I like is that the cloth pouch is 
actually part of a removable cart rather than built into the return 
itself. You can buy additional carts, so staff can just swap an empty 
cart for a full one rather than unloading books onto regular library 
book trucks. This was important for us because one of our returns is not 
sheltered and books often got wet when the drop was emptied on rainy 
days. This was partially a training issue but it's an uphill battle for 
anyone to keep books dry when you have to transfer them to another cart 
or book truck to ferry them inside. With removable carts, you can 
quickly and completely cover them and wait until you're indoors to 
unload. The carts are also more stable than most of our regular 
booktrucks when we roll along our bumpy brick sidewalks. Unfortunately, 
we did have some problems taking advantage of these features when our 
facilities crew installed one of the boxes on a cement foundation 
several inches high. The foundation provided a level and dry surface at 
a convenient drive-through location but the sharp ledge made it 
impossible to safely roll a full book cart out from the return. So, if 
you go for any system that relies on removable carts make sure you have 
a place that can accommodate them and make the function clear to whoever 
does the installation.

Andy
--
Andrew Hart
Preservation Librarian
CB#3910, Davis Library
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC 27514-8890
Tel. 919-962-8047
Fax 919-962-4450
Email: ashart@xxxxxxxxxxxxx


Grant, Tyra wrote:

> Has anyone developed (or can you direct me to) specifications for evaluating free-standing (outdoor) bookdrops for purchase? 
>
> Based on your experience (positive or negative), are there features (or location tips) you'd specify if you were seeking new?  
>
> Are there one or two commercially-available bookdrops that seem preferable?   
>
> Would you be willing to share this information (or any good bookdrop tips or guidelines for that matter) on or offline?
>
> Thanks,
> Tyra Grant
> Head, Preservation Department
> University of Kansas Libraries
> phone: 785, 864-8951
>
>
>