Page:Library Construction, Architecture, Fittings, and Furniture.djvu/327

Rh centre of the book-store is placed an iron staircase which runs from the top of the building, and gives easy access to the various floors. A description of the construction of the iron bookcases will be found on pages 57–60, and details of the construction are shown in Figs. 14, 15, and 18.

In the corner of the building a narrow flight of stairs has been built, entirely enclosed by brickwork, except for one iron door on each storey. This is only for use as an emergency exit from the building in case of fire. It is a wise provision, and something of the kind should be provided in all buildings over three storeys in height.

The cost of the building and fittings was £18,750, and the shelf room is estimated to be sufficient for over half a million volumes.

The new building of the University Library at Leipzig is admirably planned for the special work it has to do. Reference to Fig. 136 will show that it occupies a parallelogram, and the entrance is placed in the centre of one of the longest sides. On the right hand side of the large inner hall is a reading-room for periodicals and journals, with a corresponding room on the left, used as a general office for inquiries. The large reading-room is at the back of the hall, and is semicircular in shape; it seats two hundred readers, each having four feet frontage of desk. The books are shelved in stores, which are placed at right angles to the reading-room, and also form the extreme wings of the building. They are well lit by windows placed between each case, and opening on the inner sides