DISPLAY OF PERIODICALS - NISCAIRnopr.niscair.res.in/bitstream/123456789/28337/1/ALIS 15(4...M5 Four types of shelving for current periodicals. [Reproduced with kind permission of McGraw-Hill

DISPLAY OF PERIODICALS

Inspite of great advances made in the systematicanalysis and announcement of the contents of an everincreasing number of periodicals, proper .lisplay ofcurrent issues of periodicals, received in the library,remains to be an effective device to bring the authora;"d his readers nearer. The paper discusses theobjectives of periodicals display and the methods andequipment available and brings out the relative meritsof these equipment and models. Some of the displayrrrodel s are illustrated.

With the advent of documentation, thework relating to the analysis and reporting ofcurrent literature appearing as articles inperiodicals has stolen the show, but in a libra-ry' display of periodicals remains an importantmethod to annorrnc e the arrival of new issues ofperiodicals to the clientele. There are differentways of displaying and storing the periodicalsand in this article different methods of displayof periodicals and the equipment required aredealt with. A few important points about dis-play are as follows:

DISPLAY

II

Current issues aloneI

Display of currentissues plus storage ofbacknumbers

(i)

IComplete volume(all the issues ofthe volume or ofthe year publishedearlier)

(Hi.)

(ii),i

Partial (few latestlatest is sues of thevolume or year)

(iv)

There are three kinds of arrangementsto be considered here:

(i.) Display of current issues only.

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M. S. Saratchandra KumarBritish Council Library, Madras-2

(H) Display of current issues plus storageof some of the backnurnbers of thatvolume or year; and

(Hi) Display of current issues plus storage ofall the ba.cknurnbe r s of that year orvolume.

Now let us consider the different modelsavailable and how far they satisfy the methodsof display mentioned above in the light of:

(i)(ii)(iii)

EconomyService andReaders approach

MODEL-l. DISPLAY ON READING TABLES

Perhaps, the simplest way of displayingthe periodicals is to scatter them on the read-ing tables. But this gives a very clumsyappearance and considerable juggling is neededon the part of a reader to extract the requiredjournal. Moreover for a change of periodical,the reader may have to change his seat for atevery seat one particular issue of a periodicalis placed. So this arrangement may not beconvenient to the reader. "A flat display ontables is impossible to keep tidy and shouldbe adopted as a last resort", says Miss J.Sirnrnoris .

MODEL-2. TABLE WITH CENTRALGALLERY

Probably a later development is thedisplay of periodicals on a gallery fixed atthe centre of a table, the overall measure-ments for which will be 8' wide, 6' deep(vide illus No. M2). It may also be notedthat the Indian Standards Institution has stan-dardised the following specifications for theperiodicals table (vide illus No. M2A). The

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DISPLA Y OF PERIODICALS

M2 Table with a central gallery

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M2A Specifications for display table.[Reproduced with kind permission of ISI, from IS: 1829(Pa'rt 1) - 1961, Specification forlibrary furniture and fittings, pt 1- Timber; available from all offices of the IndianStandards Institution at Rs 4.00 per copy]

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Vol 15 No 4 Dee 1968 Z09

SARATCHANDRA KUMAR

exact specifications quote catalogue No. ISI:1829 (Part 1-1961), page number 9 itemNo.17 are as follows:

17. Periodicals table

17. 1. Dimensions and constructional features

17. 1. 1. The essential dimensions for perio-dicals table shall be as shown in Fig. 13[illus. M.2AJ

17. 1.2. Gallery for periodicals: The galleryfor periodicals shall be as shown in detail inFig. 13. To prevent the periodicals fromtoppling over, a wire or cord may be securedalong the front of each step of the gallery,above mid height.

17. 1. 3. Label holder: On the table top alongthe length of the gallery an inclined lable-holder shall be provided. It shall have agroove with a slightly wedgeshaped acrosssection to take a strip of cardboard above50mlTlwide as shown in Fig.13 [illus M. 2A).

17. 1.4. Kneehole space and foot rest: Thekneehole space and foot rest shall conform tothe r equt r-ernenrs given in ~ and ~.

7. 1.4. Knee hole space: The kneehole spaceshall be 450 mrn deep, 550mm high and 600ITlITlwide.

7. 1. 5. Foot Rest: The foot rest, either inth;"form of a fixed rod or bar or as a sepa-rate pipe at 150mrn height from the floor maybe provided. where necessary.

This rnodel serves a 'dual' purpose, inthe sense that the table can be utilised notonly as a reading table but also for display.This model accommodates fairly large numbetof periodicals, say sixty to seventy.

The aforesaid model can be improved bymaking provision for storage of backnumbersin side-cupboards (vide illus No. M. 2). Butin this ca se the disadvantage is that, thoughthe table is claimed to serve a dual purpose,the reader at the table is disturbed everynow and then by other readers who want topick up the journal required or who want toreplace the journal after perusal. It isobvious that not more than four or five peoplecan sit on either side of the table whereasprovision is made to accommodate sixty toseventy issues. So the readers of the other

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fifty to sixty periodicals prove themselvesto be a source of disturbance to the readersat the table. Moreover the unit is we-ightyand not easily movable.

The periodical table of the FuelK .i ear ch Station of D. S. 1.R. designed byDr. D. T. Thomas which has drawn theattention of the visitors (as is stated in theLibrary Association Record, Vol. 55, Dec.1953, p. 397) may be considered to be a modi-fication of the Model No.2. The modifica·,tion is nothing but substitution of the cent ra lgallery with nine horizontal sheets of plateglass which together form ten glass shelvesextending the length of the rack.

The periodicals lie flat on the glassshelves. Each glass shelf is labelled on bothsides of the rack with the name of the perio-dical it accommodates. The periodicals arearranged roughly in alphabetical order.

But this model does not allow displayof periodicals as they are placed flat anddue to this, considerable juggling is requiredto extract the periodical needed in case theperiodicals are misplaced. Also, comparedto Model No.2, it accornrnodat es lessernumber of periodicals.

MODEL-3. DISPLAY STANDS

Perhaps this is an improvement onModel No.2 (vide illus No. M. 5 Type 4). Tobe specific one of the functions of Model No.2is ignored here. Only the central gallery ofthe periodicals table is given the shape of anindependent display stand. In this model, onlythe top of the periodical is revealed. "Therack easily accommodates from 25 to 35 maga-zines. The rack is easily movable. Back-numbers of magazines may be stored on theroomy shelf in the rear". (Mehra &. Co.. andStandard Library Supplies - Library furniturecatalogues).

But I feel that the space at the rear isnot adequate to accornrriod at e all the back-numbers and so this model demands theprovision for a separate unit or at leastan additional unit for the storage of the back-numbers.

MODEL-4. SHELF WITH PIGEON HOLES

If display is considered to be only ofsecondary impor-tance, periodicals may be

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DISPLAY OF PERIODICALS

stored flat in pigeon holes; these are speciallymade units with shallow shelves fitted betweenuprights. Such a unit 3' wide, whose lowestshelf is 12" from the floor and whose heightis 6' could house 90 to 100 periodicals, whenthey are placed with their lower edge onlyexposed. If the spine is shown, which is per-haps preferable as an aid to quick identifica-tion, a greater length of shelving space isneeded for the same number of periodicals.The journals are stored upright on shelveswith a vertical partition every 9 n or so apart.

Though it results in a great saving ofspace, the periodicals are not so much dis-played to be made accessible to readers. Theissues may be provided with jackets. Thejackets can be nurribe r ed on the spine or thetitle may be printed thereon. Each periodi-cal may be allotted a pigeon hole and an alpha-betical arrangement may be followed. Orelse, periodicals may be classified accordingto the subject and sufficient number of pigeonholes may be allocated for each subj ect.However, the pigeon holes should be labelledfor easy i.dentification.

Great care should be taken to ensurethat readers return periodicals to the correct

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pigeon hole, because the reader is apt toreturn his periodical to the nearest emptyspace rather than to the correct place. Amethod of limiting the likelihood of misfilingis to have protective covers bound in aseries of distinctive colours using a differentcolour for each row of pigeon holes, eachseries of fifty numbers, or for a group ofinitial letters if alphabetical filing is used.

However the difficulty in this kind ofarrangement is that the reader should firstlook into the index prepared for the journalslocation. '

MODEL-5. SUGGESTION OF D. L. SMITHAND E. G. BAXTER

According to Smith and Baxter, "Themost satisfactory method however, is touse ordinary shelves of adequate depth (9"),with any suitable height between shelves,laying periodicals flat - - latest issue on topand previous unbound parts underneath".(Vide illus No. M5. Type 3).

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M5 Four types of shelving for current periodicals.[Reproduced with kind permission of McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, from PlanningAcademic and Research Library Buildings by Keyes D. Metcalf, fig. 8.18, p. 172(Copyright - American Library Association, 1965)J.

Vol 15 No 4 Dec 1968 211

5ARATCHANDRA KUMAR

Philip Colehan while editing a sympo-sium on furniture and furnishings in the'Assistant TJibrarian, ,,( 1963, summarisedthe different ways of display of periodicals,and one of them appears to be an improve-ment on the method of display suggested bySmith and Baxter. The periodicals arefiled flat in book cases of conventional de-sign, but with extra shelves and with one ortwo removable sloping shelves at chestheight in each book case for display of mostrmpor tant titles. Remaining titles arefiled flat.

MODEL-6. SLOPING DISPLAY RACK WITHPROVISION FOR DISPL4Y OFCURRENT ISSUES ONLY

A popular method is to display themagazines in racks with sloping shelveshaving a projecting lip along the edge uponwhich the periodical rests in an uprightposition. In this model the full cover pageof the periodical can be seen and the dis-play is certainly attractive. A unit of 7' 6 n x3' x IS" deep with 5 sloping shelves may acco-modate 15 journals. (vide iIl us , No. M. 6).

M6. Sloping display rack for current issuesonly

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MODEL-7. SLOPING DISPLAY RACK WITHPROVISION TO HOUSE A FEWBACKNUMBERS UNDERNEATHTHE CURRENT NUMBER

A further evolution in designing periodicaldisplay unit is perhaps that of model No.7. Theshelf has alternating sloping and flat shelves.Current numbers are displayed on slopingshelves with corresponding backnumbershoused on flat shelves directly below. Herethe model is almost similar to item No.6,but for the provision made for keeping thelatest backnumbers underneath the currentnumber. (vide illus. No. M7 and M5 type 2).

This is probably to 'save the time of thereader' in picking up the latest ba cknurnbe r s ,So here we presume that the readers wantrna irilv the late st ba cknu mbe r s and the previousissues.

Of the rrrod el s so far considered ModelNo.4 8" 5 do not permit display of periodicals.The other rrio de Is 'for display' demand theprovision of a separate unit for the storage ofbacknumbers. In other words the display unitis meant rna inly for the display of currentjournals and the backnurnbers cannot be <t or ed,Ev.en rrio deI 2, 3 &: 7 though they offer someshelving space for ba cknurnbe r s , the space isinsufficient. For instance, model Nov Zaccommodates f r orn 60 to 70 current journals.but backnumbers for only 25 to 35 journals canbe accommodated in the storage space providedon either side. So also the space provided atthe rear in model No.3 is inadequate to acco-modate the backnumbers of all the currentjournals displayed on the front side. ModelNo.7 is designed to store only a few latestbacknumbers along with the display of thecurrent journal.

Experience and observation proves thatit is more economical and convenient to keepthe current number and all the backnumbersof a journal together. for "earlier numbers ofthe current volume will be found to be as muchin demand as the current copy (D. E. Davin-son) ". Backnumbers. especially in the caseof technical magazines. are as important asthe current issues. Even considering the re-creational magazines, the reader may like togo through the backnumbers when the currentnumber is not available to him or when he isinterested in going through an article publish-ed previously. It is inconvenient to both staffand readers if backnumbers have constantly

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M7 Sloping display 'rack with provision tohouse a few backnumbers

to be sought in a storage room. So we mustconsi.der equi.pment for combing the housingof current is sues with the storage of al l thebacknumbers for the year or volume.

MODEL-B.

The display unit meant for this purposemay be 7'6" x 3' x IS" deep with six corripa r t-,

ments individually enclosed by hinged slopingtop hung fronts with ledges at bottom andwith hooks and eyes. This unit accommodatesabout 15 to 20 journals. The display frontmay be opened and the backnumbers can bestored behind the current journal (vide il lu sNo. M8 8<M5; Type 1).

THE ADVANTAGES OF THIS MODEL(i) There is economy;for the same un it

serves both for the display of current

Vol 15 No 4 Dee 1968

M8 Displa» unit with storage space for!)({(' 'mum bers

13';U(.'3 d>' well as for storage of back-m.m,'>;!'.' in contrast to the other models.

(il) As tl'Cc r eade r can have access to all thei,v "oF a volume or year at a time, thefur.. i.; ,-",ell a spe ct is satisfactory frombOI: ':.:!:,:.~.:::::.pointof view and fromH;'"·.:~?:~._~'PE:~~ch point of view.

T'",., model thus s at i sf ie s the three re-qu is it e s rri errtiorred earlier - economy, service,and read!,,.;; appr-oach.

PROBABLE DIFFICUL TIES

PROBLE},.l;; It is important to ascertainwhether ,t L3 possible to house all the back-number il of a 'journal along with the display ofcurrent periodicals. The reasons being:

213

SARA T CHANDRA KUMAR

(1) We have no control over the thicknessof a pe r iodic al., For any reason the periodicalmay either become bulky or may become thin.

(2) We have no control over the periodi-city of a journal. The periodicity may changefrom time to time if not frequently at leastoccasionally.

If a weekly is considerably thick it is1ikely that we may not be able to house all thebacknumbers immediately behind the currentissue.

SOLUTION-l. A probable solution to get overthe difficulty is to classify the journals intoweeklies and non-weeklies and design displayunits of Model 7 for the weeklies with greaterstorage space. But this kind of classificationhas the disadvantage of breaking the sequenceand unless the reader is aware of periodicityhe has to look for the magazine in two sequen-ces.

SOLUTION -2. Next solution is to design aflexible model.

For example, let us consider that inmodel No.7 provision is so made that the flatshelf is -adjus tabl.e and so also the slopingfront is removable and can be fixed at anyplace for display of the current issue.

DISADV ANTAGZS: (1) The model becomesundoubtedly more expensive and thus less eco-nomical. There is no economy of space too.Imagine a weekly, a monthly, and a quarterlyare placed side by side in a sloping front. Toaccommodate all the backnumbers of the week-Iy, extra space is allotted for storage as the'equipment is flexible. There is no need to saythat the space required for the backnumbers ofmonthlies and quarterlies is less compared tothe weeklies for the simple reason that 51backnumbers are to be stored in the case of aweekly; 11 in the case of monthly and 3 in thecase of a quarterly if backnumbers are to behoused for one year in the unit. So there iswastage of storage space as the same volumeof space is provided for weekly, monthly, andquarterly though the later do not require somuch of space as that of the former. More-over due to irregular shelving the beauty indisplay is marred.

We cannot have flexible method in model8 as in this model the sloping shelf should bein proportion to the height of the storage spacebehind. So a flexible equipment is not practi-cable.

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SOLUTION-3 A simple solution to get overthe difficulty is to cut short the number of.periodicals on display on the sloping frontleaving enough space in between two journalsand arrange the backnumbers in rnore thanone row. But due to such gaps the beauty indisplay may be marred and also the readern'1ay doubt whether any issue is 'missing'.Mo r eov e r when we arc displaying only twoissues instead of three in a sloping front toprovide roor e storage space behind we an,losing display space for onejour naj .

PROBLEM NO . .2

Another problem to be faced by thelibrarians is the over sized periodicals. Thesolution is to arrange the o ve r sized periodi-cals, as it is done in the case of over sizedbooks, in a separate sequence.

CONCLUSION1) It is desirable to display the periodi-

cals.

2) It is more desirable to combine displayof current periodicals with storage ofall the backnumbers.

3) It may not always be pos s ib l e to h ou s eall the backnumbers of a journal alongwith the current one on display. Aflexible equipment is not satisfactoryfrom space and econo=y point of viewand so is not recommended.

4) At one stage or other the storage maybecome partial but it is preferable tohouse as many issues of the back-numbers as possible of a journal (forthe year or volume only) and to thateffect model No.8 is recommendedwhich offers relatively more e con orn yof space and money and accommodatesin a large number of cases almost allthe bac knumb e r s of a journal.

The general c onc e pt io n is that the .'~lc·~)ir<-di.splay units occupy much space and are con-sidered only when the number of periodicals isnot too large. But of the three sloping displayunits Model-b, 7, & 8, it will be noticed thatmodel No.8 cannot be considered a space con-suming unit as even otherwise 1. e. even if theperiodicals are not displayed but only stored,the storage space required would be nothingless than what is available in Model No.8which serve s for both display and storageof journals.

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REFERENCES

[1] Smith D L and Baxter E G: Collegelibrary administration: (In Colleges oftechnology, art, commerce and furthereducation. Oxford University Press,London, 1965, Pp 32-34, 100).

[2] Grenfell D: Periodicals and serials:their treatment in special l'ibraries.Aslib. 1953.

[3] Davinson DE: Periodicals: a manual ofpractice for librarians, London, Grafton,1960. Pp 65-76.

[4] Metcalf K D: Planning academic and re-search library buildings, New York (etc).London, McGraw-Hill, 1965. Pp 106-107,172, F.8,18.

[5] Allen J: The organisation of small libra-ries: a manual for educational Ins ti tuti.onsin tropical countries. London, Oxford,U.P., 1961.

[6] Simmons J: Planning, accommodationand furnishing (In Library practice forcolleges ~f education, London, LibraryAssociation, 1966 ed by Norman Furlong).

[7] Sanderson A E: Periodicals (In Librarypractice for colleges of education, Lon-don, Library Association, 1966, ed byNorman Furlong).

[8} Crookall R E: School libraries in WestAfrica, London, University of London,1961.

Vol 15 No 4 Dec 1968

[9] Scott C A: School libraries: A shortmanual.

[10] Belton J: Furnishing small public libra-ries. Unesco Bulletin for Libraries.1962, 16(6). 273-95.

[11] Philip Colehan ed. : Furniture and fur-nishings. a symposium. A8St. Libra-rian. 1963. 56, 55-73.

[12] Pettitt N E: Display rack foe periodicals.Library Association Record. 1953, 55.397.

[13] Indian Standards Institution, New Delhi:Indian standard specification for libraryfurniture and fittings, Part I: Timber(I S: 18829 (Part I) 1961).

[14] Mehra & Company, Bahadurgarh Road,Delhi: Furniture catalogue 1'59-60. Pp 42..

[15] Standard Library Supplies. BahadurgarhRoad, Delhi: Furniture catalogue 1963-64.Pp 14.

[16] Myrtle Desk Company. High Point, N. C.:Ennore, A I A File 35. B.

[17] Library Bureau, Park Avenue, Herkimer,New York: Library bureau furniture andtechnical equipment LB. 982. (Pp 25.Catalogue No. 7734; Pp 26. CatalogueNo.7737).

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