Abstract
In libraries with closed stacks the circulation process begininng with readers' asking for books and ending with the library staff's issuing the books at the circulation desk, is very important for both readers and library management. For the readers it affects the waiting time for borrowing, and for the library staff it influences the work load of page boys. In compliance with the reader's request for the material arranged in stack, the page boys begin to work, starting from the desk, seeking the location of the required material, identifying it, gathering some books and returning them to the desk. We can say, therefore, the work of page boys in the stack is largely affected by the location of the desk and by the scale and form of stack plan, and the arrangement of shelves etc. In this paper a consideration is given to the above mentioned problems, and general suggestions for the planning of closed stack building and for the method of reducing the waiting time and work load are proposed. The bigger the scale of stack area is, the longer the waiting time and the greater the work load. Various ways of mechanization would have to be considered for large libraries and, therefore, we also have made some suggestions on the application of mechanization in the library.
