Page:Library Construction, Architecture, Fittings, and Furniture.djvu/254

230 The reading-room, placed at the back of the building on the left of the main hall, is 32 feet wide, 63 feet in length, and 26 feet high, and lighted principally from the roof. Stands for newspapers are placed in the front part of the room, and tables at the far end for readers of periodicals. A separate reading-room for ladies has been provided; it is in front of the building, and is reached from the main hall on the left hand, immediately on entering.

The librarian's office is in the centre of the building, with the various departments grouped around. The whole of the basement is excavated, and ample storage for books provided therein; as well as caretaker's rooms, heating apparatus, fuel, &c.

On the first floor have been located a natural history collection and board room; the former is arranged in a large and handsome room, well lighted both from the front and back. The second floor forms a residence for the librarian, with a separate entrance and staircase. The whole building is of fireproof construction, the floors formed with rolled iron joists encased in coke breeze concrete. Fire hydrants have been provided on the main staircase, corridors, and entrance-halls. The heating is by a low-pressure system of hot water; and ventilation is obtained by means of fresh air inlet gratings through the outer walls, and carried by troughs placed along the side walls next the ceilings of the basement, to supply the vertical shafts formed in the recesses. The removal of vitiated air is effected by means of a trough along the apex of the roof, and extracted from the same by Boyle's air-pump