Mobile shelving malfunction today (2/12)- Now Fixed!

** UPDATE : February 12, 2014, @ 2:00 P.M. **

Our shelving units have been serviced and are now functioning properly. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused!

** End Update **

We are experiencing technical difficulties with our mobile shelving units in the Archives today. If you intend to use the manuscript collections, please contact us ahead of time at (937) 775-2092 or archives@www.libraries.wright.edu to check whether we are able to physically access the materials you wish to use. We sincerely apologize for this inconvenience.

The following is a non-exhaustive list of materials that are NOT affected by this problem and are still fully available for research: Wright Brothers Collection (MS-1); books in our local history, genealogy, and aviation collections; most local government records; oversize materials; microfilm; Dayton Daily News Archive. However, we still encourage you to call ahead, just to be sure that the materials you wish to use are accessible.

Our malfunctioning mobile shelving units. Notice the three red lights. Only the red lights on either side of the open aisle should be red. The third red light (and the fact that the shelves won’t move) indicates a problem. Feb. 12, 2014

What is mobile/movable/high-density shelving?

It is a storage system wherein the shelving units are installed on rails in order to maximize available storage space. Space that would normally be taken up by aisle ways in traditional shelving systems can be used for additional shelving space. An aisle way can be opened up in between any two shelving units by turning a crank (in manual systems) or the push of a button (in electronic systems, such as ours). You may find this YouTube video helpful in understanding how mobile shelving works and how it saves space.

This type of storage system is common in archives and libraries because it allows us to make the most of the storage space we have. Unfortunately, like all electronic devices, electronic shelving such as ours does have its occasional hiccups.