Document Type

Restricted Campus Only

Publication Date

4-28-2026

Abstract

This year-long senior design project focused on improving accessibility and workplace safety for staff and student employees in the Access Services department at Coates Library at Trinity University. The existing fixed shelving behind the service desk requires frequent overhead reaching and awkward lifting, creating ergonomic risks and limiting accessibility for workers of varying heights and physical abilities. At the same time, the library must maintain dense storage within limited space. The goal of this project was to design, construct, and evaluate a modular vertical movable shelving system that improves accessibility while preserving storage capacity and integrating with existing workflows.

The team developed an electronically controlled prototype capable of raising and lowering an entire three-shelf section simultaneously. The system was designed to meet several key requirements, including supporting anticipated book loads, moving shelves to an accessible height, operating safely and reliably, and allowing users to retrieve materials from a comfortable height in under two minutes. Safety was a primary design priority, requiring the integration of limit switches, an emergency stop, and a braking mechanism to prevent injury during operation.

The final prototype consists of a structural wooden support frame, a steel shelving unit guided by linear rails, and an electrically powered hoist actuator that provides controlled vertical motion. The system allows shelves to be repositioned quickly and safely to accommodate users of different heights while maintaining the required storage density. Multiple subsystems were designed, fabricated, and tested before full system integration, including structural load testing, actuator performance testing, and safety and usability evaluations.

Testing demonstrated that the prototype successfully met the major project objectives and working criteria. The system was capable of raising shelves to a range of 30-48 inches, supporting 360 lbs of books, and enabling users to retrieve materials from an accessible position well within 2 minutes. Safety features functioned as intended, and the prototype operated reliably during repeated testing. Overall, the project produced a functional proof-of-concept system that improves ergonomics and accessibility while maintaining storage efficiency.

This report presents the complete design process, prototype construction, subsystem and full-system testing, and evaluation of how effectively the final design meets the project objectives and requirements. The results of this project provide the library with a validated prototype and a foundation for future refinement and potential implementation.

Comments

Michael Enright, Team Adviser

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