Virtual Tour
The following pages include photos taken at the Library Book Depository with information below each one. You may at anytime return to the table of contents by clicking on your "Back" button.
TOUR STOP #1
This warehouse-type facility was designed and constructed to provide high-density shelving, an excellent environment for preserving materials, and an inventory and retrieval system for easy and rapid access to materials for library users. The high-density storage modules each measure over 9,000 square feet, and are 175 feet long, 52 feet wide and 36 feet high. Later phases will include the expansion of the storage area with three additional 9,000 square foot storage modules.
This is an exterior view of the Book Depository & University Archives Building. The project architect who designed the office areas and Phase I module was Moody/Nolan Ltd., Inc. of Columbus, Ohio. The project architect for the Phase II module was O. A. Spencer, Inc. of Gahanna, Ohio.
TOUR STOP #2
When materials arrive at the Depository for processing they are immediately unpacked and placed at a sizing station. Incoming materials are then sorted according to height and width, and similarly sized items are placed in one of five sizes of acid-free paperboard trays. Each differently sized tray -referred to as sizes A, B, C D & E- corresponds to the most commonly occurring sizes of books. For each size tray there are two height variations, called high and low. This translates into a total of ten possible tray sizes, such as AL, AH, BL, BH, etc. Once a tray is filled with like-sized items, it is put on a cart where it awaits a bar code label. By storing material by height and width, the maximum amount of storage space available is utilized. A Depository staff member sizes books by their width and height and places them into acid-free book trays.
TOUR STOP #3
Once a cart is filled with trays of similar-sized items it is moved to a processing station, where a barcode label is affixed to the end of each tray and item labels are applied to each item in the tray. 
The Depository uses a system of barcoding where the individual item's barcode is linked to the tray's barcode, and the tray's barcode is linked to the shelf's barcode in the storage area. This system allows Depository staff to track the individual items to their tray. After each item has been barcoded, a staff member scans the barcode number into the book's item record on OSCAR, the libraries' on-line catalog system. During this process the database instantly checks to make sure there is not a duplicate barcode in the system. In addition, a staff member updates OSCAR to show that the item is housed in remote storage. After the tray's contents have been entered into OSCAR, the staff member proceeds to the next tray and repeats this process.
A Depository staff member is shown inputting information into OSCAR, the libraries' on-line catalog
TOUR STOP #4
After the Depository barcode has been entered into the book's item record, items are checked to ensure that they have been processed correctly. Workers verify whether or not an item belongs to a particular tray, ensuring that no wrong labels were applied and no stray items were shelved with materials from another tray. In addition, the worker verifies that the location code has been updated to show that the book is housed at the Depository. Once this task has been completed, the trays are ready to be moved into the warehouse and shelved.
The Depository workroom, where sizing, processing, and quality control procedures take place.
TOUR STOP #5
The Depository storage area is referred to as a "thermos bottle" and is designed to maintain a constant temperature of 63 degrees (plus or minus 3 degrees), with relative humidity a constant 45% (plus or minus 3%). It has its own separate HVAC and dehumidifying system with particulate and gas filters, extra insulation and vapor barriers, no roof penetrations and specially sealed doors. In addition, the storage area features low lighting (about five candle feet) and books are stored in acid-free cardboard trays. A security system protects against both theft and fire and is monitored by Ohio State's Security Services. All of these factors contribute to a safe, secure and protected environment.
Just a portion of the 9,000 square feet of storage at Ohio State's Book Depository.
TOUR STOP #6
The storage module is divided into four aisles of shelving, each containing 39 sections. The shelves are 6 feet deep, comprised of two 36 inch sections back to back. Each aisle is 175 feet long and 32 feet high. The shelving system was manufactured and installed by Morgan Marshall Industries of Chicago Heights, IL. Each module can accommodate approximately 1.2 - 1.7 million volumes, depending on the characteristics of the collection.
A look at the shelving system from one end of the aisle to the opposite end.
TOUR STOP #7
Individually cataloged books are stored in specially treated, non-acid and non-absorbent cardboard trays of various modular sizes. These trays allow books to be shelved by width as well as height. The book trays are 18" long, enabling the use of 36" deep shelves rather than conventional 9" library shelves. Book trays are pulled out at right angles to the shelving access aisle and are shelved double deep, one behind the other.
Trays of books situated on the shelves in the storage area.
TOUR STOP #8
As described earlier, the item barcode is linked to the tray barcode and the tray barcode is linked to the shelf barcode. Using this system, Depository staff can easily track an item right to the tray it is in and retrieve it for circulation.
Item, tray, and shelf barcodes.
TOUR STOP #9
A battery powered order picker provides shelving access up to 30 feet, with complete vertical and horizontal mobility. A custom designed stainless steel platform slides over the forks, and guide rails around the shelving provide for automatic steering of the order picker down each aisle. The order picker is easy to operate and environmentally friendly, giving off no fumes or gasses. Each night the unit is moved out of the storage room to the loading dock area where the battery is re-charged for the next day. The loading dock has its own separate air handling system and carries fumes from the re-charging battery outside.
The order picker's raised platform.
TOUR STOP #10
A hand-held portable scanner is used by staff to shelve both trays and individual items that have circulated. Using this tool as a checkpoint ensures that trays being shelved belong to a particular shelf and that items being re-shelved in trays after circulation belong to a particular tray. Utmost care and attention to accuracy while shelving is required.
A worker is shown shelving materials in the warehouse.
TOUR STOP #11
OSU and OhioLINK library patrons may page material from the Depository as they would from any other OSU Library location. Patrons may request that materials be sent to the Main Library Circulation Desk for pick-up, through campus mail to a campus address, or they may designate that another library be assigned as the pick-up location for the requested item. Materials delivered to the Main Library Circulation Desk are usually received the same day or following day, depending on the time that the request was placed. In the case of campus mail or delivery to a department library, actual delivery time depends on the schedule of the campus courier service.
A staff member preparing items requested by library patrons for circulation.