Designing shelving for a bookshop or library is different from a home bookcase. Shelves stay completely full from opening to closing, books are taken out and put back dozens of times a day, and a customer walking past should notice a title within seconds. The construction must carry the load, and the layout must bring people to books without tiring them.
Why books are a heavy load
A single book seems light, but paper is dense and the weight on a fully loaded metre of shelf is considerable. Albums, encyclopaedias and large-format editions in particular load shelves heavily. Because the load stays unchanged for long periods, the board slowly bows. Sagging does not happen in a day but over months, and fixing it means emptying the shelf.
There are three main ways to prevent sagging: shortening the span between supports, increasing board thickness, and reinforcing the underside or front edge of the shelf. On long runs, a vertical divider in the middle or a metal profile under the shelf spreads the load. A thicker strip bonded to the front edge adds stiffness and also makes the shelf look solid.
Adjustable heights
Book formats vary widely: pocket paperbacks, standard novels, children's picture books, maps and atlases. With shelves fixed at set heights, either space is wasted or large books end up lying flat. That is why adjustable shelf heights are important in commercial shelving, achieved with rows of holes or metal rails in the side panels.
The quality of the shelf supports matters. Small plastic pegs can deform under heavy book loads and let the shelf slip. Metal supports, with fixing that stops the shelf sliding on them, carry the load more reliably.
Shelf depth needs thought as well. On very deep shelves books end up two rows deep, the back row disappears and customers never find it. On very shallow shelves large-format books stick out and passing bags catch on them. Planning shallower sections for standard books and deeper ones for albums and children's books saves space and keeps books standing neatly. Movable metal bookends stop rows from toppling over.
Visibility and accessibility
Shoppers look mostly at shelves just below eye level. The very top and bottom shelves are often overlooked and sell poorly. There are several ways to improve this:
- Raise the bottom shelf off the floor or tilt its front slightly upwards so covers are visible from above.
- Build a deep, angled display shelf at the bottom to show books face-out.
- Use the top shelf for back stock and keep sales shelves within easy reach.
- In the children's section, build low shelves to suit children's height and display books face-out.
In a library, the key is helping readers find books quickly. A label profile along the front edge of the shelves for section and subject signs makes this much easier.
Safety and aisles
Even on a fully loaded tall bookcase, the centre of gravity shifts when someone pulls a book from the top shelf or leans on it. All tall shelving against walls must be fixed to the wall. Double-sided units standing in the middle of the floor are stabilised with a wide base, floor fixings or by joining them together.
Leave aisles wide enough for two browsers to pass one another and for a pushchair or wheelchair to get through. Remember that a customer crouching at a bottom shelf blocks part of the aisle too.
Durable surfaces and lighting
Books are slid onto and off shelves, constantly rubbing the front edge and top surface. Edge banding must be strong and wear-resistant, and the surface should be a scratch-resistant laminate. Lighting inside or above the shelves makes covers and shelf labels legible; its direction should be planned so the lower shelves do not fall into shadow.
When a bookshop orders shelving from Zaferoglu Mebel, knowing the floor plan and the book formats on sale lets shelf spans, board thickness and compartment heights be calculated for that load.
