From Obsolete to State-of-the-Art

Updating electronics systems at a university library.

July 23rd, 2020 - less than a minute read

New Century Electronic System Update

This large midwestern university installed Spacesaver powered mobile systems in its main library about 25 years ago, and after years of reliable operation the system’s electronics were nearing the end of their useful life. The electronics manufacturer no longer made or supported the parts, and just like any building system, such as HVAC or plumbing, electronic systems need to be updated every 25 or 30 years to ensure continued functionality and user safety.

“The client stated they definitely picked the right product 25 years ago,” said the Spacesaver consultant who guided them through the update process. “They cited the system’s longevity, the local support, and the strong relationship they had built with us over the years.”

retrofit-powered high-density mobile system electrical system

The local Spacesaver consultant informed the university’s planning team about the approaching obsolescence of the electronics parts in 2015. The team recognized the value of the electronics systems and, after several years of deliberation, decided that proactively updating them would be better than risking the safety of students, faculty, and visiting researchers or inconveniencing them with downtime in the future.

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The Spacesaver electronics systems update minimized disruption and helps ensure user safety and convenience. The new system can also be operated via mobile app to reduce high-touch surfaces in the library.

Updating a Spacesaver System

They scheduled the update for the summer of 2020. Due to the COVID pandemic, the Spacesaver technicians installing the updated electronics systems had to obtain special clearance to work on campus. Two technicians were tasked with completing the entire job and they had to follow protocols including mask-wearing and social distancing.

Only a small number of books needed to be moved to provide access to the electronics panels.

Over the summer, the library’s aging electronics were updated to a new state-of the-art system with a user-friendly interface. The new interface is more intuitive for students who are familiar with LCD touchscreen “swipe” technology, and the new system can also be controlled via an app on users’ mobile devices to help prevent disease transmission on high-touch surfaces. The update caused minimal disruption since only a small number of books needed to be moved to allow the technicians to access the electronics panels.