Case Story: Duisburg-Essen University Library
Ergonomic stacking book carts help during a renovation period
"Lyngsoe Service is our trusted choice not only for new purchases but also for conversions and dismantling and reconstruction projects.”
Jutta Kleinfeld, Head of Digital Library Department/Building Directorate, Duisburg-Essen University Library
About the library
Duisburg-Essen University Library was founded in 2003 as a result of a merger of the universities of Duisburg and Essen, consequently merging the libraries of both predecessor institutions. With its six branch libraries, it is responsible for literature and information supply of approximately 5,800 university members and more than 43,000 students of the UDE. What’s more, it is also used extensively by members of neighboring universities and the citizens of the region. The library has an inventory of approximately 2.5 million volumes. A total of 2.2 million library visits per year, in addition to the library’s heavy use as a place of learning, amount to 580,000 loans per year.
The challenge
The entire ground level of the Duisburg-Essen University Library had to be renovated in several construction stages over a longer period. In 2018, the area where the Lyngsoe sorting system was set up was also affected, so it had to be dismantled. Lyngsoe technicians dismantled the patron inductions including the sorting system with the ergonomic Lyngsoe Ergo Carts™ and then reassembled them at their temporary location.
After the dismantling, there was choice of either storing the return machine or rebuilding it for an interim period at another already renovated location on the ground level. The employees were unanimously in favor of rebuilding it and using the return machine even while the renovation works were ongoing.
The solution
A temporary lightweight construction wall was erected in an already renovated section in the public area of the university library, which was also accessible to library users during the renovation period.
The return machine was dismantled by Lyngsoe technicians and rebuilt at its temporary location, where it was still sorting materials until it was moved again. After the renovation was completed, the machine was dismantled again and then moved and rebuilt at its final location.
During the reconstruction, the orientation of the return units was changed. These were previously arranged at a right angle across a corner to alleviate user queues. Thanks to the well-designed system, however, the expected user queues did not materialize. The arrangement of the return units was therefore reconsidered and changed, so they are now positioned next to each other and clearly visible.
Benefits
Although the Lyngsoe return machine was positioned right in the middle of the construction site during the renovation and exposed to heavy dust pollution, there were no technical downtimes at all.
Lyngsoe supported the planning of the dismantling and construction with a committed team and flexibly adapted it to the construction planning of the University Library.
The technicians deployed on-site worked efficiently and precisely.
The results
During the renovation period, students were able to return their borrowed books in the usual way. Employees did not have to forego the advantages of the ergonomic stacking book carts, even while the disruptive conversion works were going on.
“We have been using Lyngsoe Systems’ Sort Mate sorting system since 2014. All expectations we had of the system have been fully met. The Ergo Carts concept proves itself anew every single day.”
Dr. Andreas Sprick
Head of User Service Department, Duisburg-Essen University Library
