Action Storage Case Study: Aberdeen Library

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At a glance...

Company

Aberdeen Diocesan Library has been housing and archiving antique books, papers and items of historical interest on ecclesiastical subjects since the 1720s.

Challenge

The library was to be moved to a new home in the chapel of a newly refurbished church. This would require the installation of shelving for storing books in the existing library as well as for archiving donations from the public and other churches in the diocese.

Solution

Action Storage drew up plans on a shelving arrangement that would maximise the available space. Its in-house installation team then delivered and installed a combination of Supershelf™ and Technic shelving into the chapel.

Benefits

The shelving was installed by Action Storage on schedule, so the Diocesan Library was able to re-house its existing library and start accepting new book donations on schedule. The library was delighted with the efficiency of the installation as well as the shelving's sturdy construction, minimal maintenance requirements and smart appearance.

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Challenge

Following the sale of its previous premises, the Aberdeen Diocesan Library had been without a home for two years. During this time the library's books had to be stored in a church undercroft, which meant it had no facilities for accepting additional donations from the public or other churches in the area.

The opportunity arose to move the library into the chapel of a newly refurbished church. This would provide the library with room for its existing books and a space for collecting and archiving donations before they were thought suitable to  be stored in a permanent collection at the University of Aberdeen.

To meet these needs, Aberdeen Diocesan Library required storage facilities that would both maximise the available space and could be adjusted to accommodate more books as the library grew.

Solution

After visiting Action Storage's website, and discussing their requirements with its customer service team, the Aberdeen Diocesan Library decided to purchase a selection of Supershelf™ and Technic shelving. This decision was made due to their smart appearance, cost effectiveness and the heavy load capacity, which would be needed for storing 100s of heavy antique books.

To assist the Diocesan Library in making the right selection, Action Storage provided drawings on a shelving arrangement that would maximise the chapel's available space. After the Diocesan Library approved the plans, Action Storage sent its in-house installation team to complete the outfit. The fact that Action Storage has an in-house installation team was of great benefit to the library because it's run by volunteers without experience in managing installation projects. Action Storage's team could ensure the outfit of storage shelving was completed safely and securely.

Benefits

The installation project was completed in a single day and meant the Aberdeen Diocesan Library was able to start re-housing its books and start receiving donations on schedule. "Contact with the Sales Representative was excellent," said Stuart Donald, Keeper of the Aberdeen Diocesan Library & Honorary Archivist, "Although our eventual date of erection was months distant from the order stage, contact with Admin re-assured a positive outcome: the installation particularly was very smooth with a small team of fitters who admirably managed to overcome all obstacles finishing the installation on time."

As well as maximising the use of storage space, the Diocesan Library as delighted with the shelving's appearance and minimal maintenance requirements compared to their previous wooden shelving. They also felt the Supershelf™ and Technic shelving's smart appearance complimented both the chapel's modern refurbishments and its antiquarian collections.

The Supershelf™'s bolt free construction also means they can adjust the shelving in response to changing demand. With 20ft ceilings, the Aberdeen Diocesan Library has a versatile shelving arrangement that can be expanded to grow as the library does.