I'm a few days from getting started on these shelves for my game room.

I am going to start out by building 2 bookshelves (one is pictured below alongside the TV stand) and then build the other components to assemble as a giant wall unit.

My questions are specifically about the shelving and I am hoping you guys can help me out.

Spec-wise, this is 72" tall, 60" wide, and 16" deep, give or take. I will be using 3/4" maple ply, in all likelihood, for the structure and either solid maple or pine for the trim.

1) What would be your recommendation as far as joinery? I do not have a table saw or router right now, and while I may buy the latter, the former is out of the question.

2) Span...60" is a pretty long span for 3/4" ply. Yet, this model doesn't have a center support or really anything preventing sag except the trim on the front edge of the shelf. Assuming this wont be used for an entire shelf of books, could this be sufficient?

3) The backing is beadboard. If I want to use beadboard or beadboard-styled paneling on the back of the shelf, does that prevent me from putting any sort of shelf support on the backing to help prevent sagging? (I was thinking something like the beadboard and then 1/2" ply behind that in which to nail/screw the support lip, but that might be a dumb solution, plus the beadboard would be sandwiched between the lip and the ply)

4) Would you build the shelf with the side pieces longer so they sit directly on the subfloor, or would you build the shelf as seen here in brown, and then construct a simple box base out of 2x4s on which to rest/mount the shelf (and then cover the front with base molding....stained, not painted as they did here)

Help please!!