Best Practices

6 Steps for Selecting your Hardwood Shelving

By Brodart

1. Select Single-Faced or Double-Faced Aisle Type

There are two basic types of wood shelving: double-faced or single-faced. Your choice of either or a mixture of both will depend on your library layout requirements. Single-faced: Or wall-type shelving, these units cannot stand alone. They must be anchored to a wall for proper support. (Anchoring hardware is included. Double-faced: Or aisle-type shelving, these stand alone ranges of shelving can be placed anywhere in your library. but you may prefer to set them up as ranges or aisles.

2. Select A Shelving Height:

Brodart hardwood shelving is available in four different heights: 42" and 48" High: These easy to reach shelves are ideal for children's libraries. Available with a wood top or high-pressure laminate top to prevent scratches and wear. Our most popular laminate color choices are available to coordinate with your interior. 60½": Also ideal for children's libraries, 60½" high shelving is also ideal for central stack areas where visibility is a must for your staff. 82": Ideal for general collections and reference collections where space limitations apply and a higher density is required. Select Starter or adder units: Brodart hardwood shelving is available as free-standing units or as ranges. If you want to order one 36" wide shelving section, select a "starter". If a range is desired, select one starter plus the number of adders you require.

3. Select Starter or Adder Units:

Brodart hardwood shelving is available in depths of 10" and 12". The biggest factor in choosing one of the other is the type of book you will be shelving. Wider books will probably require a deeper shelf. Please refer the Shelf Selection Guide below for a shelf depth recommendation for your media.

4. Select 10" or 12" Deep Shelves:

Brodart hardwood shelving is available in depths of 10" and 12". The biggest factor in choosing one of the other is the type of book you will be shelving. Wider books will probably require a deeper shelf. Please refer the Shelf Selection Guide below for a shelf depth recommendation for your media.

5. Select a Wood Finish.

6. Other Shelving Options:

Backs: Select optional backs to prevent your books and media from being pushed out the back. Backs are finished on one side and are available in an economy painted light or dark version or a plywood matching woodgrain.

Partitions: Double-faced hardwood shelving is available with an optional partition to separate each side of the shelving unit. Partitions are finished on both sides and are available in an economy painted light or dark version or a plywood matching woodgrain.

Shelving with Laminate tops: Low 42" and 60½" shelving can be ordered with optional high-pressure laminate tops to prevent scratches and wear from backpacks and displays.

For more information, please contact:

Brodart Library Supplies & Furnishings. www.shopbrodart.com