Access Storage (ASRS/PARC)

Library Storage

Even in a digital age, UBC Library’s physical collections grow and require a long-term strategy for storage, access and preservation. North American research libraries have used high-density storage facilities for many years to address these needs. UBC Library is fortunate to have two such facilities: ASRS and PARC.

In 2005, the Library opened the Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS), its robotic storage facility in the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre. In the following decade, the Library's physical collections continued to grow, and with it our need for space to house them. In 2015 we opened a new storage facility, Library Preservation and Archives (PARC).

Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS)

UBC Library was the first in Canada to use this technology to provide fast, easy and effective storage and retrieval. The system operates in a secure, climate-controlled setting, providing an optimal environment for the preservation of print and other materials. With a capacity of 1.8 million volumes, ASRS STORAGE is located inside the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, with service points in the Music, Art and Architecture (MAA) Library and Rare Books and Special Collections.

Materials previously kept in the closed storage areas of Main Library as well as materials selected by Library bibliographers and advisory committees are housed in the ASRS. These materials include, but are not limited to:

• Older and lesser used social science materials
• Pre-1978 language and literature in Slavic, East European, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, German, and Asian languages
• UBC theses
• Older editions of children’s literature
• Vinyl LPs
• Books in Indic languages not taught at UBC
• Music bound periodicals (a selection)
• Science & engineering bound periodicals
• Selected items from various UBC Libraries

Library Preservation and Archives (PARC)

Library Preservation and Archives, aka Library PARC, is a modular storage facility built to accommodate the future growth of collections at UBC Library. Located at UBC Vancouver’s South Campus (in the Research Precinct), PARC provides 2,280 square metres of high-density collection storage and can house about 1.6 million volumes. The facility also houses the University's Records Management Office, a staff work area and a publicly accessible reading room.

Low-circulation items from the Library’s collections will be relocated to Library PARC, freeing up physical space at branches for other uses, including student and research services, study spaces and informal learning areas, multimedia labs, scholarly exchanges and more.

Selection criteria will vary across disciplines, departments and collections, but typically include:

• Low-use, last-copy monographs, serials, series and unique archival holdings that have projected future low use
• Texts that may reliably be found completely online (especially journals and indexes where electronic surrogate criteria are applicable)
• Runs of rarely used serials
• Physical copies of digitized texts
• Runs of older serials where there is a last-copy commitment, usually available online