Martin,

I imagine that the type of use your collection gets is an important
determinant of to how to store it. If quick, varied accessibility is
important, this story may be relevant. The radio station (public
classical/jazz) I used to work for was bursting with LPs and CDs until a
complete rehab of the studios and offices was funded a decade ago. They
ditched most of the vinyl (glad I wasn't there for that massacre), but faced
a choice about what to do with the beer coasters.

One choice was to rip them to server storage and pack all the discs away in
the basement. At the time, that was considered an immature process,
requiring a lot of planning and squabbles about standards, data security,
and adaptation of the catalog system. Plus, how to decide what to rip and
what not? Mainly, the programmers objected because having access to the
booklets and ability to browse by label/catalog# was vital, and they didn't
want to give up that traditional way of using the resource. Replacing the
jewel cases was itself a time-sink with no perfect alternative.

Their solution was to install movable shelving, mounted on tracks in the
floor, allowing only enough open space for two slender people to access two
sections at a time. At the edge of each bank of two-sided shelves is a wheel
that you spin to move the shelf. Very cool, though occasionally a colleague
will be searching for an item out of sight and will get squeezed by somebody
rushing desperately for last-minute fill tunage. An occupational hazard in
the rough and tumble world of classical music broadcasting...

They have five movable shelves between two fixed units IIRC, and it works
great. Must have cost a lot, but it allowed them to avoid all the other
choices and labor. CDs are relatively light weight, unlike LPs or tapes. A
DIY alternative might be to suspend shelves from ceiling tracks, maybe
coupled to floor guides for stability. Maybe something like an auto shop
winch system could be adapted to move the shelves. Anyway, this approach
allowed them to keep pretty much all their CD holdings easy accessible,
although the space is not expandable, so eventually some stuff will get
relegated to the dungeon.

-----Original Message-----
From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Martin Fisher
Sent: Wednesday, November 06, 2013 12:11 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [ARSCLIST] Maximizing CD Storage Space

Hi Guys,

We currently have something on the order of 15,000 CDs are faced with space
problems like the majority on this list.  The issue is maximizing shelf
space while keeping the physical objects easily accessible.  We file CDs by
label and catalogue number.  

Right now we have ours in the standard issue jewel cases, one deep on
shelves vertically with the spine turned out like normal LP storage.  This
lends itself to easy incorporation of new product, with some shifting, but
requires lots of shelf space.  

I've heard some have a preference for standing vertical in boxes placed on
shelves with box ends labeled and facing outward which allows more product
on the shelves.  The big drawbacks are the lack of easy browsing and
incorporation of new product without considerable attention to shifting.  

Your thoughts on these practices and other suggestions are welcome.

The second issue would have to do with the physical packaging of the CD and
related artwork.  At this point, I'd like to get some thoughts on doing away
with ONLY the standard, generic, nondescript single and multiple CD jewel
cases while retaining and storing ALL related artwork in a nonmutilated
state.  Anything else including Box Sets and nonstandard packaging such as
cardboard jacketed and digipack type housing would be kept in its original
form with the addition of an inventory sticker.

Standard jewel cases are fragile, bulky and take up loads of space.  There
are several available alternatives available including the Jewel Sleeve and
Disc Sox.  

Jewel Sleeves are currently made exclusively from polyvinylchloride or
PVC......  

PVC BAD!!

Disc Sox are currently being manufactured using polypropylene......

Polypropylene good??  

Again, any thoughts on these two products or alternatives would be welcome.


Best!  :-)

Martin Fisher
Center for Popular Music