Use of compactor storage system for academic libraries - pros and cons

[Satya P Shetty]

Kindly list your actual experiences while using the compactor storage in an academic library where open access is the norm.

Kindly list the advantages and disadvantages as per your personal individual experiences please.

[Siddhartha Shankar Ray]

Dear Ms.Shetty,

Thanks for your post.

First of all, I must confess, that I could not understand your query in full. Because the terms "Open Access" and "Open source" are two different issues since you have used the former term (Open access) I presume that you have meant "Free Access" to your clients.

While the storage capacity of a computer is concerned, the relevancy & usability of the resources are the main thing. In the days when there were no internet based service and we had only E-mails & CD based system we used to have a CD Tower & a LAN based platform through a server. There was OPAC but no Web OPAC.

Presently, when there is abundance of web based e-materials, giving "free access" to priced materials to clients through Library storage  does not seem very judicious to me when the clients can get access to those online materials themselves. However, if you PURCHASE those priced materials on "piecemeal" basis (like an article/ a chapter of a book upon payment) and keep them on your computer so that you can reuse it as and when required, I think you should better buy an external Hard Disc so that you can keep those materials without sacrificing your Computer storage capacity 7 speed.  In case you have meant "open source" materials, then, the situation is different altogether. You can retain just the links only so that you can access it as & when necessary.

Regarding advantages or disadvantages, it depends and certainly varies according to frequency of usage & nature of usability & clienteles.

Hope I could explain your query.

Sincerely,

Sincerely,

Siddhartha Shankar Ray, Calcutta

[Satya P Shetty]

Sidhartji I did not write use of computers check the topic properly. It is use of Compactors I mean compact storage cupboards for books specially for academic libraries are they good or bad is what I am asking. Open access means ease of access to college students in the college library

[Siddhartha Shankar Ray]

Dear Ms. Shetty,

My God! What a Mess I have made!

I am extremely sorry for this error.

In fact for last two days my computer monitor was not working properly. They just fixed it and I realized the mistake. Regarding the Compactors, as I used them, you have to set them up on rails (At least the earlier ones in Late 90's or early 2000) and as you intend to go for open access you need to be quite careful  & watchful that the sliding locks are not misused by the students otherwise it may cause big accident.

Sincerely`

Siddhartha S. Ray, Kolkata

[Subeesh A C]

Madam

Compact storage systems are good for keeping bound volumes of journals which are normally used very less in our library. If you want to increase readership don't use it, its main aim is to keep the documents safe but by using minimum space. If you are planning to use it, plan properly (by utilizing maximum width and height ) because it is fixed to the ground using rails and it should also facilitate future expansion.

Subeesh A  C

Pune