Wooden ends to the shelving ranges are fine. This is not a preferred option since the staff will often be taken away from the desk to help others. Environmental requirements for special collections are more stringent than for circulating collections. Many institutions turn down their HVAC systems evenings and weekends, wreaking havoc on their collections. Cost studies are under way to determine the effect of leaving the settings constant 24 hours a day.
Staff needs to make the decisions as to whether material can withstand photocopying.
If the library is in an area where flooding is a possibility, a water alarm should also be installed. A security system, such as motion detectors, is also strongly recommended. Such systems must be hard-wired to the police and fire stations or to a central dispatch for quick response.