Page:Library Construction, Architecture, Fittings, and Furniture.djvu/225

Rh rooms on the ground floor, comprising the room, the lending library, the ladies' room, and the boys' room.

The principal news-room (Fig. 92), which has an area of 3047 square feet, may be said to be arranged in two main sections; the first, nearest the entrance, for newspapers, is 50 feet 6 inches by 30 feet 6 inches; the second and more retired, for magazines, is 62 feet by 24. It is amply lighted all round, and affords accommodation for 116 readers at the tables and 100 at the newspaper desks, or a total of 216, allowing 14 square feet to each person.

Adjoining the news-room is the lending library, from which the staff can overlook the former at. all times. The news-room from its size required that it should be of good height, 17 feet, and it being advisable to keep the floor above on one level, advantage has been taken of this to allow room for the providing of a gallery for books all round the lending library when necessary. The accommodation thus obtained is for 22,230 volumes on the floor of the library, and 7290 volumes in the gallery, or a total of 29,520 volumes. Ample waiting space is also provided for the public, with a counter for indicators and show-cases. The lending library is 1800 square feet in area. Direct access to the book-stores above, including the gallery and the workroom below, is secured by a staff staircase in the centre of the bookcases.

The boys' room, which is 25 feet by 18, is well placed near the entrance, and is arranged to afford complete supervision by the staff in the lending