Folger Shakespeare Library | Washington, D.C.
Storage As You Like It
Preserving artifacts is the be-all and the end-all of these solutions.
What’s In A Name?: A Legacy
There’s no question that William Shakespeare is a name that is known throughout the world. His works have entertained and inspired their viewers for nearly half a millennium, and – despite Shakespeare having passed away more than 400 years ago – continues to grow through generous donors, collectors, and partners.
A common issue for any facility housing growing collections, The Folger Shakespeare Library – holder of the world’s largest collection of the printed works of William Shakespeare and a primary repository for rare materials from the early modern period of Brittain and Europe – found itself in need of support to safely and securely house its artifacts and create space for decades of growth to come. This included:
- 260,000 printed books (the source of much of the continuing growth), comprised of seven different sizes of books, which would are sorted by size rather than another ordering system
- 60,000 manuscripts
- 90,000 prints, drawings, photographs, and paintings
- 250,000 playbills, recordings, films, and stage costumes
All of which, needed to be accomplished in its existing space as local regulations restricted the Library from expanding its footprint.
A Refreshed Storage Script
Looking to update its capacity to support patrons from the outside in, the Folger Shakespeare Library set out to find a worthy troupe that could bring this vision to life. Upon securing a partner that could renovate its façade, it looked to transform its interior storage to better accommodate current collections and allow for future growth.
Having worked with their local Spacesaver representative on a handful of projects, administrators at the library were confident they could put their trust in these dedicated experts. Knowing this, our team began devising a strategic plan to identify what solutions would be needed to efficiently address this need within the bounds of local regulations and codes.
St. Louis Public Library
St. Louis Public Library
Smooth Run the Systems Where the Solutions Are Deep
Despite being located in an area that is known for its swampy composition Folger Shakespeare Library stores its collections on-site. In addition, and due to structural concerns, the only floor that could support High-Density Mobile Shelving is the ground floor. With the help of their local Spacesaver representative and a mix of versatile storage systems designed to keep items secure from water, dust, and other agents of deterioration, the Library is able to store their collections on-site – preserving the integrity of and access to materials for researchers, staff, and other partners.
In addition to protecting collections from water coming from the ground, our local representatives helped the Library adjust to and protect from water from above – in the form of wet sprinklers required by local ordinances. Rather than removing existing shelving and installing new systems that would account for the 18” of clearance required between the shelving and sprinkler units per the regulations, our team of certified installers adjusted the height of the shelving in place to limit cost and interruption.
No Legacy Is So Rich As Honesty
It is our mission to develop and manufacture a variety of innovative storage products designed to help clients better manage their time, space, and security. In order to find the most efficient and cost-effective method to get these versatile solutions to our customers, we provide a wide array of contract vehicles and funding options. In this case and to keep the project from going to bid, we utilized our Sourcewell contract to purchase storage solutions required for current inventory and future growth.
Sourcewell
A self-supported government organization that conducts competitive solicitations, awarding the most responsive and responsible vendors at the manufacturer level. Members can purchase off the contract through their local dealers, streamlining the procurement process.
Suiting The Action To The Word, The Word To The Action
Included in the solutions provided to the Library are a mix of static and mobile storage, including Lateral Art Racks for storing hanging art, High-Density Mobile Shelving for optimizing footprint, Flat File Cabinets for posters and other printed artifacts, 4-Post Shelving for adjusting to exact needs of relics of all sizes, and cantilever shelving for preserving volumes of volumes.
Library Transformation Brochure
Library Transformation Brochure
To account for the delicate nature of some pieces within the collection, unique engineered-to-order solutions were incorporated within the project. For example, several robust book dividers were manufactured to support the integrity of stored books. This was in effort to preserve the life of the items and ensure they would stay safe in their new homes, while being accessible for research purposes. To further support these efforts, systems are designed for optimal airflow, helping to further preservation and uphold local building codes and adhere to their insurance company’s requirements.
Providing Exceptional Service and Solutions
In Hamlet, Shakespeare shares the line, “This above all: to thine own self be true.” Spacesaver and its dedicated staff and partner have embodied this principle for more than 50 years. One shining example was in the way our solutions were delivered to the Library. While there was an elevator available, it was too tiny to support the larger system pieces. As such, a great deal of the shelving had to be carried down the stairs by installers piece by piece.
Spacesaver's robust engineering teams and custom manufacturing capabilities can help bring your design team's vision to reality. Our fully integrated staff offers a one-stop-shop for our customers, allowing them to receive the solutions they need to properly store and preserve their items for years to come.
