The greatest disadvantages of the alcove system are felt in large libraries, Where it is necessary to erect five or six galleries for the books. In cold weather, when artificial heat is used sufficient to warm the lower stratum of air and make it comfortable for readers, a continual current of heated air will rise to the top of the building, and slowly roast the unfortunate books shelved there. If open gas-burners are used for lighting, their condition is worse. The products of combustion ascend, and the leather bindings rapidly deteriorate and rot into powder. Some of this decay, however, proceeds from other causes, for many of the leather bindings in college and other libraries, where gas is not in use, have been noticed to be similarly affected.[1] Damage is also caused to books by the dust consequent upon the daily cleaning of the readers' part of the hall. In Fig. 5, where the books are in a separate room, the only dust is that made by the few attendants, and so the wear and tear from this cause is reduced to a minimum.
A full consideration of the principles and faults of the two systems lead to the conclusion that for a library which can afford to allow its readers access to the shelves the alcove system is the best, especially where, as in university libraries, the number of readers is limited. But a large public library should have the bulk of its books shelved on the stack system, in book stores
- ↑ A valuable paper upon this subject, by Mr. C J. Woodward, entitled "Some Experiments as to the Influence of gas on Bindings," will be found in vol. v. of the Library Chronicle.
