Page:Library Construction, Architecture, Fittings, and Furniture.djvu/323

Rh "Bibliothèque Sainte Geneviève, fondée par les Génovéfains en 1626, devenue propriété Nationale en 1790: transférée de l'ancienne Abbaye dans cet édifice en 1850."

The' Stadtbibliothek at Frankfurt was erected in 1892, from the plans of Messrs. Müller & Wolff. It covers an area of 2200 square metres, and has accommodation for about 500,000 volumes. Like most of the modern German libraries, the administrative portion of the building is in the centre, with book-stores in projecting wings on each side.

A large entrance-hall in the centre of the main building gives access to a waiting room and rooms for officials on either side, with a grand staircase the whole width of the hall facing the entrance. The librarian's office forms the corner room at one end of the building, and the catalogue room is in the corresponding room at the other end. On the first floor over the entrance-hall is the reading-room, with seats for thirty readers, and small rooms for the reception of the numismatic collection, and for bookbinding. Two small book-stores occupy the end rooms of this central part.

The large book-stores in the wings are entirely separated from the central block of the building by thick fireproof walls. The only connection is one doorway on each floor. The book-stores are 50 feet by 38, and have windows on either side. The bookcases are five storeys in height, and are placed at right angles to the outer walls. They are reached by flights of straight stairs in the centre of the rooms, and lit by large side windows, so placed