Hi Dennis,

When I was working for the Osher Map Library we undertook a transition move
of the collection during the expansion of the map libraries space 2006/8.
The collection was moved back into the newly renovated and expanded space
several years later. As the move was in house and not to a new building or
off site we did not use an outside moving firm but moved the collection
ourselves over several weeks. First we undertook a complete inventory and
then moved the bound items as the interim space had shelving in place. Then
we moved the flat files by removing the drawers with the maps in them, and
then moved each case up to the new space by stack, and then the drawers so
that nothing got out of order. We also did this with the oversize drawers,
but this was however only possible as we had a large freight elevator in
the building.

We did the move ourselves as we were happier moving the collection as
control of thousands of valuable items stayed in our hands.

You would need to check with Ian Fowler the director of OML, on how they
undertook the move back into the new space, but I think that they also did
this without help.


I hope that my thoughts are of some help.

George

-- 

---------------------------
Dr. George S. Carhart, Ph.D
Engineering Archaist
City of Portland Maine
Historian of Cartography
and Early Modern Europe
Antiquarian Map Consultant
Historic Research Consultant

7 Lafayette Street
Portland
ME, 04101
USA
(207) 766-1517