The library cleaned out print journals to create more study space and consolidate collections off-site due to limited space. An analysis identified journals available electronically, some with perpetual access and some not. Journals not available electronically were moved off-site to an archive. The project involved many staff and overcame barriers like limited transportation and outdated materials. It was completed over the summer of 2017 through discarding unnecessary journals and moving collections between floors and to off-site storage.

1. Cleaning out our closets
We were delighted with the end result a large study space created for students on Floor 2
With Library Space at a premium and more and more
journals available electronically we could not justify having
so many areas of the library taken up housing different
journal collections. We decided to move all print journals
available online electronically to our off-site store
A Print Journal Archive was created with important print
journals being added to this so that they could never be
discarded
Overlap analysis of all journal titles carried out to see what
was available electronically perpetually, available
electronically but not perpetually and not available at all
electronically.
Staff – Lack of Staff huge issue. Large team involved
including part-time shelvers, Head of Collections,
Collection Management Librarian, Operations
Librarian and Stewarding team.
Only one small library van which can only move 8 boxes
at a time– 1 box=1 shelf
Dirt and dust – Lots of very old and unused journals
Space – Off site Store only has limited amount of space
and creating space for specific class numbers is very
time consuming
2016
A stock-take was carried out in the Off-site store in 2016 which created space so that journals could be moved there
from Main Library where stock takes had been carried out over the preceding few years.
May 2017
Overlap analysis by Head of Collections on Journals on Floor 1 and Floor 2
June -August 2017
Floor 1 discarding and journals taken from shelves to be moved to Off-site store
Floor 2 discarding and moved to Floor 1
Floor 1 and Off-site Store stock move to make space for journals
Summer spent moving, making space, fixing records and heavy lifting!
Background
Barriers
Timeline
Sonia Freaney