Christine Brennan presents Marjan Baas-Harmsma's paper: The three campus libraries at Bangor University are merging into a single library. Much of the print stock is being relegated to an offsite storage unit to deal with space issues, preserve unique items and safeguard collections of special interest. Instead of using a conventional classification system, Bangor University uses Caia software and solutions, a modern storage solution that promises 100% discoverability and optimisation of available space.

1. Making an impact by optimising space:
How to keep track of print material
in an offsite storage facility (the CAIA project)
Marjan Baas-Harmsma

2. Bangor University Library – 3 campus libraries
• Main Arts Library (Arts and Humanities, Welsh Library)
• Deiniol Library (Science/Health sciences)
• Normal Library (Education/Sports sciences)
• Llandygai - off site storage (aka the dumping ground)
Background of the CAIA project

3. Project goals
• Merge 3 campus libraries into 1 library
• Reduce the size of the collection
• Deselection process (decision chart for journals, GreenGlass for other materials)
• Outcome
Main Library: high use physical material
Offsite storage: lower demand material, unique and valuable items
Improved discoverability

4. Llandygai

5. Llandygai – problems
 Different sized items
on same shelf
 Shelves partially full
 Unknown items –
items that are not in
the library catalogue

7. How does it work?
• CAIA fully integrated with LMS
• Forget about libraries as you know them!
• No classification system, no subject areas
• Journals and books are shelved together

8. CAIA SHELVES
• Each item has a barcode
• Each item is then linked to a shelf
• All shelves have a unique barcode
• Items are located using a geographical address instead of a call number or shelf range
–Aisle
–Ladder
–Shelf

9. LLandygai – CAIA project
• Accession Menu
• Create an address
• Create a New Accession Job
• Scan the items to the address
• Validate the items
• Items are now IN and available to circulate
• All actions that create or change an item’s status
(ex. IN/OUT) require a validation step

10. CAIA project
• Only 1 shelf to search for your
items
• Satisfy your inner librarian by
keeping a journal run
together ;)
• Makes best use of available
space

11. CAIA project
• Items in 'containers’
• Reimagined pamphlet boxes as containers
• Set up Containers Table
• Item barcode linked to Container barcode
• Container barcode linked to Shelf barcode

12. CAIA Project main benefit
50%
discoverability
100%
discoverability

13. CAIA Project

14. Llandygai – CAIA project
• Stats

15. CAIA project
Summary
• Evaluate collections from the 3 Bangor University Libraries for retention and relocation
⁻ high-use materials retained as browsable collections at Main Library
⁻ low-use, unusual, and valuable materials relocated to Llandygai
⁻ reduce size of collections at both Main and Llandygai
• At Llandygai, accession materials into CaiaSoft® by size, not subject
⁻ Interface (API) between ALMA (LMS) and CaiaSoft® facilitates real-time patron requests
⁻ ALMA tells us ‘what’
⁻ CaiaSoft® tells us ‘where’
• Data entry and collection-handling work flows together promote a goal of a 100% ‘find rate’
• Llandygai facility will see increased usage for collection storage and patron services

16. CAIA project
Questions?
CaiaSoft® images and the CaiaSoft® Flame logo are used with permission. © Caia Holdings LLC 2016, 2022
Marjan Baas-Harmsma
Senior Library Collections Assistant
Digital Services
m.baas-harmsma@bangor.ac.uk