Page:The museum, (Jackson, Marget Talbot, 1917).djvu/78

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56
THE MUSEUM

must be an additional lock on the outside of the door to keep him from going out into the gallery.

The position of the radiators, light switches, thermostats, ventilators and all such appliances must be carefully considered so that they will not interfere with exhibition space. In certain cities the fire regulations require the provision of four-inch water pipes with outlets and hose attachments at frequent intervals in the building. The law states that these must be "in a conspicuous place," and great tact and persistent effort on the part of the Director are often necessary in order to have these so placed as to comply with the regulations and at the same time not to occupy the best wall space in the gallery.

In one museum in this country, where no provision was made in the original plan for the offices of the staff, it was decided to use exhibition galleries for this purpose. Although architect and contractor both knew that this was the intention, no change was made in the order for windows, and the great solid and immovable steel and glass windows were put in place before Director and building committee realized that there must be a chance to change the air in the offices in a building that had no ventilation. To cut off these windows and provide a space that could be opened at the bottom was a great expense,