BOOK- SHELVES. The rapid growth of libraries is a constant embarrassment. The most compact possible system of storage is still too costly. The lowest estimate for fireproof building is 30 cents per cubic foot, so that a building 30X50 feet and 40 feet high for two stories and high basement would cost $18,000. If half the whole building were given to close stacking of books it would hold in four decks only 60,000 volumes, making the cost of shelf-space 30 cents a volume, or if no reading-room and administrative space is allowed for, 15 cents a volume. But often fireproof construction is unnecessary. Rari ties can be kept in the safe or fireproof vault. Other hooks can be readily replaced if burned. A simple frame building for 5000 vol umes costs from $1000 to $2500. Brick and stone and better construction would cost two or three times this amount. Larger libraries must use a stack, i.e. shelving set as close together as possible and yet allow ready access by narrow aisles. Stacks are of iron or steel uprights with wood or sheet-steel shelves, and from one to ten stories or decks high, each deck carrying the weight of all above it, aisles always being exactly over aisles. Floors should be of thick glass, because it admits some light. Each deck is seven or eight shelves high, with aisles 75 cm. (30 inches) wide. Separate rooms for great subjects are very desirable, hut in use cost more to administer than large central reading-rooms, where a single card catalogue and reference librarian can do the work that would require several on the department plan. In computing capacity of shelving, 33% volumes to the running meter (10 to the running foot) are allowed for public libraries. with shelves crowded. Economy requires ample vacant spaces to insert additions, so that buildings must allow for two or three times the volumes on hand. In book-stacks with average aisles and windows, each square meter of floor surface will hold 200 on each stack-level. The standard shelf is 25.5 cm. high and 20 CM. deep; 75 cm. (30 inches) is the hest length. Some use 90 em. (30 inches). Longrr shelves, unless extra heavy, sag when heavily loaded. Wall-spaces should not be divided into aliquot parts. but into standard shelf-lengths. If the building has not been planned with due regard to these standard sizes, any remaining space should he occupied by a single odd length, which for symmetry may be in the centre. A 10-cm. base, to protect the lower hooks when floors are cleaned, is enough. On at least one side of a double case the first four shelves should be 35 cm. (14 inches) wide, the fourth shelf making
a 15-cm. ledge 94 cm. above the floor. The first two shelves above the base should be movable, so that the three spaces for octavo books may be changed into two for quartos and small folios, or into one for folios and one for octavos. The four or live upper shelves are cheaper and stronger if fixed at octavo height, for most libraries now use relative location in which shelves are seldom moved. The best standard ease is eight shelves (7 feet 8 inches) high and five tiers (13 feet 6' inches) long. and uprights two inches thick. On its two sides the IO tiers of SO shelves hold 2000 volumes in close packing. For a one or two deck stack wood is best and cheaper. Steel is necessary to carry the load of taller stacks. A good plan in growing libraries is to set the first cases with aisles G feet • inches wide, leaving room for narrow tables and con venient access by readers. When necessary this broad aisle allows a new case without ledge to be put in the middle and leaves the standard 75 cm. (30 inches) aisle on each side. Where the public has access to the shelves this wide aisle is very desirable. Doors are now never used on library shelves except for a few rarities. Aisles should be 75 cm. at the bottom between ledges. This will give above the ledge 90 cm. for single or 105 cm. for double-ledge aisles. Tall ladders have given way to galleries 75 to 100 cm. (30 to 40 inches) wide. as quicker and safer. All books should be within the natural reach of a person five feet high. The front edges of shelves and uprights should be rounded to save wear on bindings. A flanged groove on the shelf edge to hold labels saves buying metal label-hold ers. Before stacks or floor cases are put in, all wall-space within reach should always be shelved. A box-faetory can make the cheapest possible temporary shelving at about 20 cents. 30 cents, 40 cents, and 50 cents for standard cases of one, two, three, and four compartments, each 75 X 20 X 25.5 cm. inside. These can be stacked in vari ous combinations; on top of other cases, over doors and windows. and on each other to ally height. Lath tacked on ends will prevent. tip ping. Wben no longer needed these shelves are worth nearly cost for packing-boxes.
When old buildings are adapted for libraries, extra floor supports must be put under book stacks to carry the great weight.. It is wiser. however, to build a wing for a stack with the weight directly on the ground.