BUILDING. The location should be very near the business centre. but preferably on a side street just away from the turmoil of the main thoroughfare. In larger towns, branches and delivery stations should bring library facilities within easy walking distance of every home. For most libraries the heavy cost of fireproofing is needless, as most of their books can he readily replaced. and a vault or safe will hold their rarities. Small libraries often wisely occupy rented rooms; time order of importance being first a competent librarian, then the best books, and after these a building.
After the small rum-al building of one square room. the most obvious and successful types arc shaped like capitals 1. L. T, 11. E. according to space required. Time other types are the hol low square, the Creek cross. and E with middle arm omitted. Circular, spiral. and other peculiar buildings have W011 no acceptance. except that some advocate a round end having radial stacks with each shelf in view of the delivery desk. The Pittsburg branches afford excellent examples of this type.
lost small libraries now adopt the 1 or tre foil type. The book-room projects from the rear and has a cheap end wall for easy removal and extension. The main entrance in the middle front is into a central hall for loan desk and the less quiet work. In one arm is the reference or study room, in the other the children's room or periodical room. This general type gives best results for a given cost, and can be most cheaply administered.
The best library buildings are all recent. Of the large libraries, the Newberry of Chicago (1s93), Boston Public (1893), Library of Con and Chicago Public (1897), Providence Public (190(1), Wisconsin Historical Society and Newark Public (1901). Washington (1902), .ire most often quoted; of university libraries, Columbia, Cornell, Illinois, Pennsylvania, • and New York. Trustees may now wisely copy the plan that suits them best and make such changes as local needs demand. The modified plan should be submitted for criticism to some expert student of library buildings. State library commissions always give this aid, mid the New York State Library School at Albany answers many such inquiries by suggestions in print. Trustees should be free to use any suggestions in any competitive plan by paying for them, instead of being compelled to choose some one plan as a whole and employ the successful anonymous com petitor. A useful aid in fixing location of rooms is to cut cards to scale for the :tree of each room, and thus test various arrangements more quickly and plainly than by plans. Brief general rules are: Plan each library spe cially for its work and care for interiors before exteriors; provide amply for future growth; plan for economy in administra tion by arranging rooms, to allow supervision by the smallest possible staff; sacrifice no conven ience for architectural effect; use no decoration that will attract sightsis; to disturb quiet study rooms. A model building might be said to be
built around a standard catalogue card ; for this earth determines the size of trays and drawers. these of eases. and these determine spaces between windows and doors. Certain rooms must he near the card catalogue, because it is much too costly to duplicate even with printed cards; and the one catalogue must be close to reference-room, loan desk, and cataloguers. The plan should aim to give direct access to each department and be so obvious that people will know- where to go. The general effect should be cheerful and hospitable. Experts advise omitting per manent partitions except where necessary for support. and depending on temporary partitions, chiefly of glass, which can he readily moved as growth and changes demand. These give spacious effect and much better light, and allow super vision from another room. while shutting off noise. An attendant may often control two or three rooms as cheaply as one, if rooms open together.
The smallest library starts with one room. The next need is a quiet study-room, free from the noise of issue and return of hooks and current work. The third room needed is usually one for children, which if possible should have an independent entrance, so they will not pass through the doors or corridors used by adults. On the main floor must be delivery and book rooms for quick service, children's room (unless in the basement), and, if space allows, rooms for librarian, cataloguers, and for reference. Above may go class, trustee, lecture, and other rooms used by fewer people or less often, both rooms and books most used being nearest the entrance. Basement and attic should both be made so they can be finished later for public use, for the rapid growth of libraries shows that they will surely be needed. Stairs should be inclosed or put to one side to lessen noise. Spirals cost more, waste room, are dangerous and inconvenient. Risers to stairs should be only 6 or 6 inches for easiest use. For book-rooms, ceilings should is fifteen feet high to allow two decks. Ten or twelve feet will answer for other rooms. The most common error is in building on too small a lot. Ample space is needed for light and quiet, and for inevitable growth.