STACKING PRINCIPLES:
Laws of Library Science (refer Unit 2 of Course BLIS-01) give clear guidelines to the ways of organising stack rooms and the arrangement of books on shelves. Use of documents, rather than preservation being the main concern of libraries leading to the introduction of open access system, increasing attention has been given to library architecture and buildings with specially designed stack room, specifically designed furniture for improving stacking facility and display, etc. All these have contributed to improved facilities for the user of books.
Apart from these facilities, there are also some useful guiding principles that govern stacking of documents in libraries. They are:
- Ensuring maximum capacity with minimum wastage of space;
- Facilities for accommodating books and also other book-like and non-book materials;
- Easy accessibility to books and also other related areas like Library catalogue, Circulation desk, etc;
- Proper ventilation for adequate flow of fresh and dust-free air, along with temperature and humidity control;
- Adequate artificial lighting; and
- Provision for future expansion.
Having noted the principles that govern stacking and display of documents in a library, we shall now discuss a few of the stacking systems which provide various facilities for storing documents.