Library Hold Shelf Planner
Estimate hold inventory and shelf count from daily arrivals, pickup time, item density and a peak reserve.
What would you like to do next?
Translate hold flow into shelf positions
Enter the average number of holds placed on the pickup shelf each day and how long they remain before pickup or removal. The planner estimates steady hold inventory, adds a peak and sorting reserve, then divides by the observed number of hold items per shelf. Required shelves are compared with the current count.
Test the estimate against real pickup behavior
Item sizes, weekend accumulation, delivery schedules, privacy labels, accessible reach and expiration routines can change capacity. Averages may also hide seasonal peaks or a new branch policy. Measure actual shelf density and hold age by period, protect patron privacy and confirm the physical layout before adding or removing shelving.
Frequently asked questions
How is average hold inventory estimated?
Daily items placed are multiplied by the entered pickup or removal days.
Is the reserve added before shelves are counted?
Yes. Reserved positions are included before rounding up to whole shelves.
Does it choose a shelf layout?
No. Privacy, accessibility and sorting workflow need local design.