Page:Library Construction, Architecture, Fittings, and Furniture.djvu/251

Rh arrangement will be seen from the accompanying plan (Fig 105). The central block is 45 feet in height, and contains entrances, committee room, office, room for staff, &c. A residence for the librarian is provided on the first and second floors, cut off from the rest of the building by walls and fireproof divisions, but with an iron door for communication. The buildings on the east of the central block are 20 feet in height.

The public entrance is through a vaulted hall, 11 feet 6 inches wide, from which the office is reached. The lending library, which will shelve 40,000 volumes, is placed as near as possible to the street, so that those coming for books need not disturb the readers. The staff are able from the lending library to overlook the whole of the public portions of the building.

The news-room and reference room are each 22 feet 6 inches in height in their central portions. The lighting in each room is obtained from side windows, aided by others placed in a clerestory well within the side walls. The form of the site permitted perfect lighting of every portion of the building, and the architects have made the most of their opportunity.

The St. George's, Hanover Square, Library has been erected from the plans of Mr. Albert J. Bolton. The main features are the placing of all the principal rooms on the ground floor, the avoidance of unnecessary steps and corridors, easy means of Intercommunication between the news-rooms, reference library, and lending library.