The Collection Shift Estimation and Visualization Tool assists library staff with planning and preparing for collection shifts by calculating linear feet required for a given call number range, identifying sections that need to be relocated, and visually displaying the location of materials before, during, and after the move. Building on the work of the StackLife project, this tool uses information in the standard MARC record, such as number of pages in a volume, to estimate the space required on a shelf and visually plot the result on a CAD representation of the building and library stacks.
The benefits of using the tool include reducing the number of hours required to plan a shift and minimizing the imprecision and inaccuracies involved in calculating temporary swing space and shelf space required for affected call number ranges.
Project Team:
Steven Beardsley
Head of Access Services for Professional Schools
Harvard Library
Justin Clark
Web Applications Developer
Berkman Center for Internet & Society
Lee Fenn
Physical Collections and Logistics Librarian
Harvard Library Access Services
Spruill Harder
Head of Access Services for Arts, Design, and Music
Harvard Library
Ainsley Land
Student Assistant
Andover-Harvard Theological Library
Joshua Parker
Head of Access Services for Humanities & Social Sciences
Harvard Library
Andrew Wilson
Access Services Librarian
Eda Kuhn Loeb Music Library