Off-Site Storage FAQ

Norlin and several branch libraries on campus are moving some low-use items to PASCAL, an off-site storage facility at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Fitzsimons campus. These books will display in the public catalog with the following message: "PASCAL OFFSITE".

If you would like us to retrieve one or more of these items for you, please place a request in person at any Circulation Desk on campus, or call 303-492-7477, or send an e-mail to norcirc@colorado.edu. Be sure to include your ID number and the call number of the book (plus volume number if the item is a journal).

You may also place your own storage retrieval requests through Chinook -- the public catalog. If you find an item you want and it's in storage, just click on the Recall/Hold button.

Requested material generally arrives in 3 business days or less if the item has not yet been sent off-campus.

Why?

Over the past few years, shelving space inside of the Libraries has become a critical problem. In December of 1995, an outside consultant estimated the Libraries to be at 130% capacity with a space deficit of 38,000 assignable square feet. In addition, a structural load capacity review was completed on Norlin Library in May of 1996. That review revealed overloading of floors throughout Norlin and recommended materials be removed from those locations.

 

Off-site storage is a common way research libraries house lesser used and at risk material while freeing space for new materials in the campus libraries. Off-site storage is preferable to discarding important but little-used collections. It is more cost-effective than massive microfilming projects

How many items are going to storage?

Eventually, we expect that some 800,000 books, journals and other library materials will be housed in the facility.

What is going to storage?

Low-use books journals, and other materials from Norlin and most of the branch libraries on campus.

Will patrons be allowed to browse for items at the storage facility?

Since items are stored at PASCAL by size rather than call number, in 30 foot high towers, browsing the collection is not possible.

What are the checkout rules for storage items?

For books, all the usual rules apply. Bound journals circulate to University of Colorado Faculty, Staff, and Students for 7 days. Non-University patrons may check out journals until the end of the day.