> The space between the book shelves seems to have almost doubled. Why?

Accessibility is probably a factor, narrow spaces are hard to navigate with a wheelchair.

I mean, they were never so narrow that a person in a wheelchair wouldn't fit. Or couldn't turn spin around.

I guess the benefit is that now two people in wheelchairs can pass each other, thus avoiding one of them needing to spend a few seconds going backwards, were two people in wheelchairs to travel in opposite directions in the same lane.

Yay. Totally worth halving the inventory for, not.