You might want to contact [log in to unmask] (Pat Holmgren, Director
   of the New York Botanical Garden Herbarium), or [log in to unmask] (John
   Reed, the Director of the NYBG Library) for information on the
   compactors we've used.  I can tell you that we use crank type, and
   that electrical poses some safety concerns.  The crank type work very
   well, and are easy to use for all, as far as we've heard.  We're in
   the process of specifying shelving units for a new building, so these
   folks are very up on the latest and greatest.  Also a man named
   Richard Parsons (?? If you need his contact info, I can dig it up.) in
   New York City is the local authority on collections storage.  He is an
   architect who has worked with many of the museums in the City in
   developing new storage facilities.  One issue we've had to deal with
   in the tremendously increased floor load of compacted collections.  Be
   aware that they require much higher load capacity that static
   shelving...

   Eric Siegel
   [log in to unmask]