Case Study: John Hopkins University - Sheridan Libraries Renovation Relocation
Time & Location:
- Sheridan Libraries & Museums, Baltimore, MD
- Multi-phase, January 2021 – Present
Project Overview:
The Sheridan Libraries undertook a major renovation of the Milton S. Eisenhower Library (MSEL), requiring the staged relocation of hundreds of thousands of volumes to the Johns Hopkins Library Service Center (LSC). The scale and complexity were significant:
- Phase 1: Relocate 472,000 volumes in weekly increments of 10,000, processed for shelving at LSC.
- Phase 2: Transfer an additional 455,000 volumes plus 50 oversized flat files, averaging 12,000 volumes per week.
Strategy & Execution:
The challenge was to execute these relocations seamlessly while maintaining collection integrity and minimizing disruption to staff and library operations.
Hoffberger Moving Systems (HMS) designed a phased, long-duration plan tailored to library logistics:
- Phase 1 (2021):
- Weekly packing and transport of 10,000 volumes via 40–60 library carts.
- Systematic labeling, shrink-wrapping, and staging for processing at LSC.
- A rolling cycle of empty cart returns to sustain uninterrupted weekly transfers.
- Phase 2 (2022):
- Weekly packing and relocation of 12,000 volumes using 50–60 carts.
- Special handling of 50 flat files, relocated in one dedicated day, stacked for long-term storage at LSC.
- Dedicated equipment and additional trucks deployed to manage increased volume.
Outcome:
- Nearly 1 million volumes relocated across both phases, with weekly transfers completed on time.
- Zero loss or damage reported across the entire multi-year process.
- Collections systematically staged and shelved, preserving call number order and accessibility.
- Johns Hopkins praised HMS for its precision, consistency, and ability to manage complex library logistics at scale.