University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries Magazine | Page 36

36 | LIBRARIES Fall 2015

From the outside, the University of
Wisconsin–Madison Libraries’ Verona
Shelving Facility looks like any other
warehouse. On the inside it houses a highdensity, state-of-the-art shelving space that
is a critical investment in the future of the
Libraries.
“For a top-notch research university to
continue to provide the resources our users
require, having a high-density facility is
imperative,” says Ed Van Gemert, Vice Provost
for Libraries. “Our peers around the Big Ten
and the country have already moved in this
direction. A competitive institution needs the
flexibility to protect and be good stewards of
its print collections, while improving the way
we meet our users’ needs.”
The $2.5 million, 10,000-square-foot facility
broke ground in 2013 and opened officially
in October 2014. Located at the Materials
Distribution Services (MDS) building, adjacent
to the UW–Madison Surplus With A Purpose
(SWAP) building, the facility is viewed as a
game-changer when it comes to UW Library
operations.

Chrissy Hursh and Rob Klecker: Verona Shelving Facility Staff

To view a video about Verona or to read
more visit: http://www.library.wisc.edu/
collections/library-collections/shelvingfacilities/verona-shelving-facility/
Library staff, Friends, Spacesaver, and Verona city officials
celebrate the opening of the Verona Shelving Facility.

Rob Klecker provides a tour.

“The materials we have are requested
across the state, and beyond,” says Doug Way,
Associate University Librarian for Collections
and Research Services. “While technology has
allowed for many of our resources to become
digital, the reality is, there will always be a
need for physical resources. And that means
we need space to acquire important new
materials.”
Verona will enable the University to
continue to invest in print research materials
that have been collected on campus for more
than 165 years. Currently, there are more than
100,000 volumes, or more than two miles
worth of materials, in the facility. As the
Libraries also look to reduce their physical
footprint on campus, Verona will play an
important role in consolidation efforts.
“Verona will have a significant impact on
campus and research at several levels,” says
Heather Weltin, Facilitator for Cooperative
Sharing & Storage at UW–Madison. “It means
the ability to continue collecting materials
we need to stay competitive, while improving
services and learning spaces that are relevant
to a rapidly changing campus community.”
The Verona Shelving Facility also marks
a collaboration for the Libraries that dates
back more than thirty years. To create the
new facility, the Libraries leaned on a longtime partner and Wisconsin-based provider,
Spacesaver Corporation, to help build one of
the Libraries’ most challenging projects yet.

“We have had the opportunity to work
with Spacesaver for decades now, beginning
back when we put high-density shelving in
Kohler Art Library,” says Van Gemert. “Not
only do they provide a tremendous solution
to our growing shelving and storage needs,
but knowing we are collaborating with
a Wisconsin business makes it a special
partnership.”
Verona is expected to take several years
to fill. During that time, the Libraries will
use Verona as a stepping-stone as it prepares
to reinvent itself—transforming to meet
growing space demands and to find the best
way to serve future users.
“This is the beginning of an exciting and
challenging journey,” Weltin says. “We have
our work cut out for us. But I see spaces like
Verona as providing a world of opportunity to
make sure we remain one of the best research
library systems in the country.”

http://www.library.wisc.edu/
news/2014/12/04/staffspotlights-the-gentleman-andlady-of-verona-shelving-facility/

“We have our work cut out for us. But I see spaces
like Verona as providing a world of opportunity to
make sure we remain one of the best research
library systems in the country.”
Heather Weltin
Facilitator for Cooperative Sharing & Storage at UW–Madison

University of Wisconsin–Madison | 37

News & Events

By Natasha Veeser,
Head of Communications
UW-Madison Libraries

Libraries,
Stacking
Wisconsin
the Shelves Business
Partnership
in Our Favor Creates New
Chapter for the
Future of the
Libraries