If you’re managing a library, you know the struggle is real. Your collection keeps growing, but your space doesn’t. Students need more collaborative areas, yet you can’t afford to lose precious shelf space for your books and archives. Sound familiar? That’s where roller racking comes in – and it might just be the game-changer your library needs.

What exactly is roller racking?

Think of roller racking as the clever cousin of traditional shelving. Also known as mobile shelving or compact shelving, these systems mount your shelving units on wheeled carriages that run along floor tracks. Instead of having fixed aisles between every shelf (which eat up loads of floor space), you create aisles only when you need them.

Here’s how it works: when you need access to a particular section, you simply turn a handle or press a button, and the shelves glide apart to create a working aisle exactly where you want it. When you’re done, the shelves can close back up, maximising every square metre of your space. See our system in action within Selfridges here.

The space-saving magic

Let’s talk numbers because they’re pretty impressive. Roller racking can typically increase your storage capacity by up to 70% compared to traditional static shelving. Put another way, you can fit the same amount of books in roughly half the floor space. For libraries squeezed for room, that’s absolutely massive.

Take a university library we recently worked with – they were desperately short on space but needed to maintain their extensive collection whilst creating more study areas for students. By installing roller racking in their archive section, they freed up enough space to add 20 new study desks and still increased their book storage by 40%.

Perfect for different types of libraries

University libraries

Public libraries

Community libraries face unique challenges – they need space for events, children’s activities, and computer access, but they can’t compromise on their book collections. Mobile shelving lets you have your cake and eat it too, storing more materials in less space whilst creating flexible areas for community programmes.

School archives and storage

Schools accumulate years of records, teaching materials, and resources that need proper storage but don’t require daily access. Roller racking systems excel here, keeping everything systematically organised whilst using minimal floor space.

Types of roller racking systems

Manual systems are cost-effective and reliable. You turn a simple handle to move the carriages – it takes minimal effort even when shelves are fully loaded. These work brilliantly for most applications and are particularly popular in smaller libraries or archives.

Mechanically assisted systems give you that extra helping hand. With a gentle push, the system takes over and moves the heavy carriages for you. Perfect for larger installations or when staff will be accessing the system frequently throughout the day.

Electrically powered systems are the premium option. Press a button, and the shelves move smoothly into position. These systems often include safety features like automatic stops and can be integrated with library management systems for even greater efficiency.

Beyond just books

Don’t think roller racking is only for books. These systems are incredibly versatile and can store:

• Archival boxes with historical documents and records
• Maps and oversized materials that won’t fit on standard shelves
• Audio-visual collections including CDs, DVDs, and digital media
• Periodicals and newspapers in protective storage
• Rare books and manuscripts requiring special environmental controls

The beauty is that you can customise the shelving and storage solutions within each unit to accommodate different materials, creating a truly bespoke storage solution that fits your unique needs.

Accessibility and organisation benefits

One thing people don’t always consider is how roller racking can actually improve accessibility. Because you’re creating proper working aisles only when needed, those aisles can be wider than traditional library aisles – making navigation easier for users with mobility aids.

The systems also encourage better organisation. When space is at a premium with traditional shelving, items often get squeezed in wherever they’ll fit. With roller racking, you have the luxury of proper classification and spacing, making materials much easier to locate.

Security advantages

Libraries face ongoing challenges with theft and unauthorised access to materials. Roller racking provides an additional layer of security – sections can be locked in the closed position, restricting access to authorised staff only. This is particularly valuable for rare books, archives, or materials that require supervised access.

Rackline’s UK-manufactured solutions

At Rackline, we understand that every library is unique. That’s why we manufacture our roller racking systems right here in the UK, allowing us to create completely bespoke solutions tailored to your specific requirements.

Whether you need a compact system for a school archive or a large-scale installation for a university library, our team works with you to design the perfect solution. We consider everything from your building’s structural requirements to your budget constraints and future expansion plans.

Our systems are built to last, using high-quality materials and engineering that ensures smooth operation year after year. Plus, being UK-based means we can provide ongoing support and maintenance whenever you need it.

Practical considerations

Floor loading: Modern roller racking systems are designed to work with standard floor loadings found in most library buildings. However, it’s worth having a structural survey done for larger installations – we can arrange this as part of our service.

Installation disruption: We understand libraries can’t simply shut down during installation. Our experienced teams work around your schedule, often installing systems in phases or during holidays to minimise disruption to users.

Staff training: Moving from traditional shelving to roller racking is straightforward, but we provide comprehensive training to ensure your staff feel confident using the new systems from day one.

The environmental angle

Roller racking isn’t just about space efficiency, it’s also about resource efficiency. By maximising your existing building’s potential, you’re avoiding the need for extensions or relocations. That’s a significant reduction in construction materials, energy use, and carbon footprint.

Plus, our systems are built for longevity. While cheaper storage solutions might need replacing every few years, a quality roller racking system will serve your library for decades.

Making the investment case

When presenting roller racking to your board or funding body, focus on the multiple benefits:

• Space efficiency: Demonstrable increase in storage capacity or freed floor space
• Flexibility: Ability to reconfigure and adapt as needs change
• Security: Better protection for valuable collections
• Organisation: Improved user experience and staff efficiency
• Longevity: Decades of reliable service with minimal maintenance

Getting started