LIBRARIES. 1 —IV.
mediaeval and MODERN times.— (Continued.)
THE National Library at Paris satisfies these two conditions; though the office is not exactly in the centre of the hall, it is, on the other hand, near the mngasins and the hooks reach it directly, before going to the reader ; the librarians are in constant communication with the employes engaged in the systematic classification of the hooks on the shelves (Figures 16 and 17). No pains have been spared to secure the speedy delivery of the books; to the reader the bulletins
the plans and sections given in Figures 18 and 19 show the ingenious disposition of these floors. Although superimposed to the number of five, they admit sufficient light on the books, and they also have the advantage of shedding the dust. To facilitate the lighting, the floors are not brought close to the presses, but a space intervenes which is covered with a netting to catch books accidentally dropped (Figure 20).
The uprights of the presses are about three feet apart, they are pierced vertically with small holes in which brass pins are inserted to hold the shelves in place (Figure 21). These pins form the simplest and handiest supports, for they make it possible to regulate the distance between the
shelves to suit the exact height of the volumes
(Figure 22).
In front of the cases runs an iron railing with small portable racks attached, in which the books are deposited before their redistribution on the shelves. In some English libraries, the framework of the presses is lined with metal sheeting to protect the pinholes from the wear of the pins. Presses made wholly of iron are used in some
Figs. 16 and 17. National Library ; Perspective View of the Presses.
Fig. 19. Elevation of the Presses.
handed in at the office are almost immediately conveyed to the various magasins by means of a quite simple, system of pneumatic tubes; as soon as the books have been taken from the shelves they are carried to the office, either by the aid of an elevator, which is in constant operation, or by the employes themselves. Improvements will doubtless, however, be made in this whole system; hydraulic dumb-waiters for books, elevators for the use of librarians, electricity for the transmission of orders, in a word, all possible means of economizing time, will be adopted.
Libraries should be so disposed that the books can be systematically arranged in all safety. In the British Museum and at the National Library they are kept in wooden presses, divided into stories by iron floors six or seven feet apart. This arrangement puts all the volumes within reach of the employe ;
1 From the French of Emile Camut, in Planat’s Encyclop&die de VArchitecture et de la Construction. Continued from No. 826, page 50.
libraries, the shelves being covered with sheepskin to prevent the books from coming in contact with the metal.
Protection against fire is of paramount importance in the construction and furnishing of libraries. No possible means of extinguishing fire should be neglected. But all storage of water for the purpose should be made under conditions of solidity and security, for water is no less the terror of a librarian than the flames; a leakage may certainly cause as much havoc as a partial fire. In the British Museum there are fire extinguishers everywhere and within reach of everybody.
In the National Library, M. Pascal has carried the fire-service to a high state of perfection; the water-pipes run through special conduits lined with lead, and are disposed in such fashion that the water from any leak whatever, flows off rapidly; and it is the same with all the water posts. Outside of the building there are connections for the fire-engine hose and storages of water on the roofs to protect them in case of
mediaeval and MODERN times.— (Continued.)
THE National Library at Paris satisfies these two conditions; though the office is not exactly in the centre of the hall, it is, on the other hand, near the mngasins and the hooks reach it directly, before going to the reader ; the librarians are in constant communication with the employes engaged in the systematic classification of the hooks on the shelves (Figures 16 and 17). No pains have been spared to secure the speedy delivery of the books; to the reader the bulletins
the plans and sections given in Figures 18 and 19 show the ingenious disposition of these floors. Although superimposed to the number of five, they admit sufficient light on the books, and they also have the advantage of shedding the dust. To facilitate the lighting, the floors are not brought close to the presses, but a space intervenes which is covered with a netting to catch books accidentally dropped (Figure 20).
The uprights of the presses are about three feet apart, they are pierced vertically with small holes in which brass pins are inserted to hold the shelves in place (Figure 21). These pins form the simplest and handiest supports, for they make it possible to regulate the distance between the
shelves to suit the exact height of the volumes
(Figure 22).
In front of the cases runs an iron railing with small portable racks attached, in which the books are deposited before their redistribution on the shelves. In some English libraries, the framework of the presses is lined with metal sheeting to protect the pinholes from the wear of the pins. Presses made wholly of iron are used in some
Figs. 16 and 17. National Library ; Perspective View of the Presses.
Fig. 19. Elevation of the Presses.
handed in at the office are almost immediately conveyed to the various magasins by means of a quite simple, system of pneumatic tubes; as soon as the books have been taken from the shelves they are carried to the office, either by the aid of an elevator, which is in constant operation, or by the employes themselves. Improvements will doubtless, however, be made in this whole system; hydraulic dumb-waiters for books, elevators for the use of librarians, electricity for the transmission of orders, in a word, all possible means of economizing time, will be adopted.
Libraries should be so disposed that the books can be systematically arranged in all safety. In the British Museum and at the National Library they are kept in wooden presses, divided into stories by iron floors six or seven feet apart. This arrangement puts all the volumes within reach of the employe ;
1 From the French of Emile Camut, in Planat’s Encyclop&die de VArchitecture et de la Construction. Continued from No. 826, page 50.
libraries, the shelves being covered with sheepskin to prevent the books from coming in contact with the metal.
Protection against fire is of paramount importance in the construction and furnishing of libraries. No possible means of extinguishing fire should be neglected. But all storage of water for the purpose should be made under conditions of solidity and security, for water is no less the terror of a librarian than the flames; a leakage may certainly cause as much havoc as a partial fire. In the British Museum there are fire extinguishers everywhere and within reach of everybody.
In the National Library, M. Pascal has carried the fire-service to a high state of perfection; the water-pipes run through special conduits lined with lead, and are disposed in such fashion that the water from any leak whatever, flows off rapidly; and it is the same with all the water posts. Outside of the building there are connections for the fire-engine hose and storages of water on the roofs to protect them in case of