Page:Library Construction, Architecture, Fittings, and Furniture.djvu/306

282 walls being solid as they reach the edge of the site. The ground here slopes sharply down, and consequently makes an advantageous arrangement of the floors of the book-stack possible. Two floors are below the level of the delivery room, and are still above ground, with abundance of light. For the present only four floors of the book-stack have been constructed—two below the delivery room, one on its level, and one above. The piers and foundations, &c., are planned for a further possibility of ten floors, and will then only reach the height of the main building. As no part of the stack wing is visible from the street, its exterior appearance has been of no importance, and it has been possible to build it for internal convenience without consideration of the outside effect. Each floor of the stack will shelve about 40,000 volumes, and is a separate storey, with individual heating and ventilating arrangements. The aisles are three feet in width, and the gangways four. A staircase and book-lift to each have been provided directly behind the counter of the delivery room. Following the corridor eastward we reach the reference reading-room on its north, and librarian's office and other rooms for administration on its south.

The reference room is a noble room of fine proportions; it is 80 feet in length by 54 in breadth, and 32 feet in height in the centre. Opening out of the western site is an annexe, in which are shelved bound sets of periodicals, &c. From here a bridge spans the open court, and gives easy communication to the main stack-room. The sharp