If you have the same Ikea "Billy" units that I have (H: 202 cm W: 80cm D: 28cm) you can fit over 1,000 steelbooks and/or Amarays in each.
"How so?" you may ask.
You just need to . . .
- Take off the backs . . . or rather don't put them on when assembling.
- Don't use the positioning holes in the frame or the tiny metal shelf supports or the skirting board thingy at the bottom.
- Re-configure the position of each shelf to fit 2 extra shelves per unit giving you a total of 11 (including the top extension bit) from floor level to top. Each shelf screwed through the frame by 4 decent-sized screws. (goes without saying that the weight of over 900 steelbooks is considerable so important to make everything as rigid as possible (particularly when not using the backs or metal diagonal bracing).
- Place a measure of E-form draughtproofing strip horizontally across the middle of each shelf as a central divider thus allowing steelbook storage on BOTH SIDES.
If you don't place the unit(s) in the usual way back-to-the-wall way . . . and instead place them at a RIGHT ANGLE to the wall (as in a library for example) . . . you will find that you can double your steelbook storage and you won't have to buy a new unit every few years.
Just ensure that the side against the wall is fixed securely with brackets or some such for added stability.
In conclusion:
- each "Billy" shelving unit can accomodate 10 shelves - plus 1 more if you have the ceiling height for the height extension unit - leaving just enough headroom above each row of steelbooks to make them accessible.
- each shelf can hold 47 + 47 steelbooks
RESULT IS STEELBOOK STORAGE FOR 1,034 regular sized STEELBOOKS per unit