Case Study: University of Maryland - Library Service Center Relocation
Time & Location:
- College Park, MD
- March 2016 – June 2016
Project Overview:
Hoffberger Moving Systems (HMS) was selected to complete a highly detailed and time-sensitive relocation of library assets for the University of Maryland’s new Library Service Center in College Park. The move involved the transfer, scanning, and re-shelving of more than 35,000 library trays containing approximately 500,000 books and folios from the Johns Hopkins Library Service Center in Laurel, MD.
Scope of Work:
- Packed and transported 2,542 shelves of books housed in five different tray sizes, with tray capacities ranging from 10 to 16 trays per shelf
- Each tray was carefully loaded onto book carts and transported to the new Service Center facility
- At the destination, every tray was scanned using existing barcodes, then re-labeled with new barcodes and locations
- Trays were meticulously placed into high bay storage and shelved according to a specific row, section, and shelf system for easy future retrieval
Execution & Strategy:
The project required precise inventory tracking and barcode integration to ensure every item was accounted for throughout the relocation process. Tight coordination between packing, scanning, and final placement was critical, particularly given the volume and variation in tray sizes. Despite the complexity, HMS completed the project ahead of schedule, demonstrating our team’s efficiency, accuracy, and experience with specialized institutional moves.
Outcome:
This project highlighted HMS’s ability to manage large-scale, inventory-sensitive relocations for academic institutions, delivering flawless execution and timeline efficiency. The successful relocation laid the groundwork for future work with university libraries and archival storage facilities.