Page:Library Construction, Architecture, Fittings, and Furniture.djvu/293

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BUFFALO LIBRARY
269

hooks in their section than they would if they formed only a part of the large collection.

Dr. Poole's objections to the stack system of shelving are based upon the difficulty of ventilating stacks of four to six storeys, and the bad lighting which is experienced in the middle of the stacks. He also has much to say about the injurious physical effect of the staircases upon the assistants, who have to frequently use them. The problem which Dr. Poole has tried to solve is of the greatest interest to all who have to do with extremely large libraries. His plan would not be workable in libraries of less than, say, 100,000 volumes, for he contemplates that some of his rooms must contain shelving for 50,000 books in order to hold comfortably all the books in some of the classes.

The front of the Newberry Library building is five storeys in height. It is estimated to hold a million volumes, the total shelf capacity of the whole building when completed being four millions. The new building of the Buffalo Library, U.S.A., was opened in 1887. It was built from the plans of Mr. C. L. W. Eidlitz, and has four principal floors, of which the library occupies the ground floor and part of the basement and first floor. The building is Romanesque in style, and is peculiarly effective in colour, tin- materials used being a warm brown sandstone, pressed red brick, and terra-cotta, with red tiles on the roof.

The building is erected on a corner site, somewhat angular in form, and the entrance is planned on the longest side, nearly at the angle (Fig. 121).