An aisle in the “adult fiction” section of the Albany Public Library, on April 12, 2022.
Because the downtown branch was closed, I drove to the Albany Public Library’s main building Tuesday to retun the latest Michael Connelly novel and find something else to read. Scanning the stacks for promising titles, I wondered whether anyone ever gets down on his knees to explore the bottom shelves.
When you amble up and down the aisles, it’s the titles at eye level you see first. You might even pull out a volume or two to see if the opening sentence or a blurb on the jacket invites your investment of more time.
Having found nothing that grabs you, you might scan the shelves one or two levels up. And then the one or two levels below.
But what about the shelf at the bottom of the stack? The one right down there on the floor? Is that where they have the gems you want and have not been able to find higher up?
Well, checking this out is going to be a challenge. You can’t see the titles from five and a half feet up. And you can’t step back to get a better angle; the aisle is too narrow for that.
So, are you going to get down on the floor? And then crawl along, scanning the titles as you go?
Not bloody likely. Because then you’d have to get back up. Which used to be no issue 50 years ago, or even 20. But now it’s something to consider. Will it be worth the effort?
Online, you can find all kinds of information on library shelves, even a “white paper” that lists the standard dimensions for different kinds of shelving and the proper width of aisles.
But all the illustrations I saw had books stored on all the shelves including the bottom, an inch or two off the floor. So evidently there are no rules in library science that say books should be shelved at a minimum height.
As luck would have it, the main library, off 14th Avenue, has more than enough intriguing and readable titles on shelves where titles can be easily read.
I came away with enough novels to last me a while. Because it’s a shorter trip, and less traffic, I’ll return them to the downtown branch on one of the days when the sign on the door does not say “closed.” (hh)
You can’t step back far enough to read the titles on the bottom shelf.
“Not bloody likely. Because then you’d have to get back up. Which used to be no issue 50 years ago, or even 20. But now it’s something to consider. Will it be worth the effort?”
Well, true. It gets harder for us all.
Maybe a place to put “Short Stories”?
(GAWD, I’m in trouble now….) ;-)
This is government, not retail inventory management.
It’s a science to attract customers and get them to voluntarily spend their money, so much thought goes into stocking a shelf at a retail store.
Not much science is needed when stocking a library shelf. The folks who walk through the doors of a library are involuntary patrons. Government already has its fingers in their wallet whether they take a book off the shelf or not. There is no reason to consider customer desire.
Patrons vs. customers – the difference is huge.
That was one of the reasons I quit “restocking” books. My knee’s just wouldn’t put up with the up and down. Sure found some good reading while doing it. Hey..TRY restocking it at the library. It’s a worthwhile time!
Hasso, I am surprised. You are a bike rider as am I. I am past 60 and I sit right on the floor. Granted my selection is only a shelf or two, no scooting required. Getting up is slower than it used to be, but still doable.
Keep up the good work.
In case you haven’t been to the grocery store – you find the same thing – items on the bottom shelf, perhaps pushed back a bit, that you can’t see. That and the stand alone displays in the aisles prove to be a challenge to the handicapped and mature population.
I love going to the library and just looking. Fortunately I can still get down and back up okay, the rewards of spending time at the gym. I’m a big Michael Connelly fan, I’ve read all the Harry Bosch novels and have watched all the “Bosch” seasons on Amazon Prime. One service of the library that I enjoy using it putting a book “on hold” and picking up off a shelf right by the door when it’s ready. I have loved to read since I was little and I’m usually working on two or three books at a time. Enjoy audio books and listen when I drive or go for my daily walk.
I am with Richard. When I am at Freddy’s trying to locate the correct pill bottle, I frequently find myself on my hands and knees attempting to read the small labels on those bottle. Usually, I block most of the aisle. It’s one of the reasons I shop early in the AM.
Thank you for your article, Hasso. One of our more popular library displays over the years consisted of books selected exclusively from the bottom shelves. It might be time to bring it back. Us library staff select and shelve these books time and time again and so we empathize!
To me our libraries are a treasure. I, too, have spent time sitting on the floor. You are
right that it has gotten a little harder to get up, but so worth it. Sometimes I find one
of those stools to sit on. I have enjoyed all the Connelly books. My husband and I just
went this week. The librarians are incredibly helpful. I too have gone on the computer to
reserve books written by favored authors. They are easy to pick up. I am never bored
if I have a book. Reading is a great diversion when waiting for some appointment.
Ticket Resolved! Just put the children’s titles on the bottom rows. Baby books on the very bottom because babies aren’t very tall and tend to be pretty wobbly anyway. Above that, the toddler titles followed by the chapter books and then young adult/occult.
This puts the books up to about waist height, and into the prime real estate.
Also, and this is important: Put dictionaries, encyclopedias, maps, and other reference materials on the top shelves, to ensure popular titles aren’t shelved too high and out of reach. (No use taking up prime space for stuff no one wants to look at anyway.)