Assuring Sustainable Collection Growth with High-Density Mobile Storage

FAIN: PF-266604-19

Arizona Board of Regents (Tucson, AZ 85721-0073)
Sarah Kortemeier (Project Director: January 2019 to October 2022)

The purchase and installation of a high-density mobile storage system in the archives room of the University of Arizona Poetry Center (UAPC).

The University of Arizona Poetry Center (UAPC), one of the most extensive and accessible collections of contemporary poetry in the United States, will purchase and install a mechanical-assist high-density mobile storage system in the organization’s closed-stacks Archives Room. This project is the culmination of a major preservation initiative that began in 2014 with a Preservation Assessment funded by a National Endowment for the Humanities Preservation Assistance Grant for Smaller Institutions. Achieving the goals and recommendations of the assessment is a key priority of UAPC’s 2014–2019 Strategic Plan, which recognizes the library’s collections as a crucial part of UAPC’s identity; the completion of this project will mark the fulfillment of this key priority. The project increases sustainability at UAPC by providing space for 15 to 20 years of sustainable collection growth, placing UAPC in the strongest possible position to preserve its nationally significant humanities collections.

Associated Products

Making Space for Books: Mobile Shelving in the Archives (Exhibition)
Title: Making Space for Books: Mobile Shelving in the Archives
Curator: Sarah Kortemeier
Abstract: In 2019, the Poetry Center received funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities to install high-density mobile shelving in our Archives Room. The new shelving system created shelf space for the next 10-20 years of book purchasing, based on current acquisition rates, placing the Poetry Center in the strongest possible position to preserve our unique collections for the future. This exhibit presents photographs and details from the installation process in a behind-the-scenes look at the ongoing work of the Poetry Center Library. The Poetry Center thanks the University of Arizona Libraries and the National Endowment for the Humanities for support and partnerships that made this project possible. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this web exhibition do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Year: 2020
Primary URL: https://poetrycenter.omeka.net/exhibits/show/mobileshelving
Primary URL Description: Main page for the Poetry Center's "Making Space for Books: Mobile Shelving in the Archives" online exhibition.

Our Winter Closure: Making Space for Books (Blog Post)
Title: Our Winter Closure: Making Space for Books
Author: Sarah Kortemeier
Abstract: Our plans to create more space for books are about to become a reality. With grant support from the National Endowment for the Humanities, along with generous help from the University of Arizona Libraries, we will install a new shelving system in our Archives room this winter. The new shelving system, supplied by Phoenix-based firm Interior Solutions, will give us space to house the next 15-20 years of library acquisitions. To complete this major installation, we will close the library to the public in the break between the fall and spring semesters: the library will be closed to visitors from Dec. 17-Jan. 21.
Date: 11/26/2019
Primary URL: https://poetry.arizona.edu/blog/our-winter-closure-making-space-books
Primary URL Description: Blog post explaining an upcoming library closure.
Blog Title: 1508: A Blog Where Poetry Lives
Website: 1508: A Blog Where Poetry Lives

Making Space for Books: Finishing Up the Job (Blog Post)
Title: Making Space for Books: Finishing Up the Job
Author: Sarah Kortemeier
Abstract: The shelving project finished up right on schedule earlier this spring. Our new shelving system gives us space for the next 10-20 years of book purchases at our current rates of acquisition.
Date: 08/20/2020
Primary URL: https://poetry.arizona.edu/blog/making-space-books-finishing-job
Primary URL Description: A blog post notifying the public that the shelving project is complete.
Blog Title: 1508: A Blog Where Poetry Lives
Website: 1508: A Blog Where Poetry Lives

NEH Grant Will Support Poetry Center Collection (Article)
Title: NEH Grant Will Support Poetry Center Collection
Author: Eric Swedlund
Abstract: The University of Arizona Poetry Center is receiving a $106,299 grant to install a high-density storage system that will enable its acclaimed collection to continue expanding for decades. The National Endowment for the Humanities grant, announced last week as part of the Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections program, will ensure the preservation and accessibility of its 50,000-book collection, one of the most extensive collections of contemporary poetry in the United States.
Year: 2019
Primary URL: https://humanities.arizona.edu/news/neh-grant-will-support-poetry-center-collection
Primary URL Description: Newsletter article about the initial NEH award from the University of Arizona College of Humanities.
Access Model: Open access
Format: Other
Periodical Title: College of Humanities Newsletter
Publisher: The University of Arizona College of Humanities

Spacesaver Mechanical-Assist High-Density Storage (Equipment)
Name: Spacesaver Mechanical-Assist High-Density Storage
Description: Upon receipt of the grant in late 2019, the Poetry Center worked with Phoenix-based firm Interior Solutions to design a Spacesaver mechanical-assist high-density mobile storage system for the Poetry Center's Archives Room. Funding from the NEH was used to purchase this system, which added 1200 linear feet of shelving space to our Archives storage capacity.
Location: The University of Arizona Poetry Center, Tucson, Arizona
Year: 2019

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