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Full Text
Keywords
Automated storage/retrieval systems (ASRS), Libraries, Barcodes
Abstract
The process of bringing Lied Library's automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS) online consisted of setting up the system and storing materials. Setting up the system required defining specifications, designing a user-interface between the integrated online library system and the ASRS, training in operation, and preparing for maintenance. Storing materials required selecting and processing the items to be stored, loading them into bins, and retrieving them with the system. Library staff spent countless hours in planning, customizing, preparing data, supplementing existing data, testing, and learning the system. The time was well spent as the load process went smoothly with relatively few problems.
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Introduction
Lied Library was designed to incorporate emerging technologies, to accommodate a growing student population, and to house ever expanding library collections. This article describes the process the library undertook in determining how the collections should be stored, taking into consideration the nature of the collections, their formats, and usage. After examination of other facilities, the decision was made that an automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS) would be installed within the library building. Implementing the system required defining specifications, designing a user-interface between the integrated online library system and the ASRS, training in operation and maintenance, selecting and processing materials to be stored, loading, and using the system. During this process, the library served as an intermediary between the automation system vendor and the ASRS vendors, because they had no contractual relationship. The key to the success depended on good coordination and communication among all parties involved. Each of the contributing authors played a major role at different stages of the project, but worked as a team from planning through implementation. The result was the installation of a space efficient, user-friendly system with fast delivery of items to library users.
Planning discussion
During the 1993-1995 biennium, the State of Nevada Public Works Board funded a University and Community College System of Nevada system-wide Libraries Space Feasibility study. This study included UNLV library preliminary programming needs for a new library. Numerous planning discussions...