THE PLANS FOR THE NEW LIBRARY

Librarian

At this writing the attachments to the rear of the old Graduate Club are being demolished so that the remaining corner of the library foundations can be constructed. Enormous piles of brick are on the ground, and there are signs that work on a large scale will soon begin. In the August number of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE a general description of the plans was printed, but at that time the plans themselves could not be published. They are now in final shape and, in simplified form, are printed herewith. The general account in the August number still holds good except in minor details, and it seems unnecessary at present to do more than give a brief description of the plans for those who may not have the other article at hand.

In design the building attempts to satisfy certain requirements, among which are the following. In order to fit with the oldest architecture of the College, the building could not be high, and consequently had to spread out. It was decided that those parts of the building used most frequently by the public should be on the ground floor, or accessible by a relatively short flight of stairs. It was thought that several small reading rooms were preferable to one large one. The total seating capacity of the building should be not far from one-half of the student body. The stack should provide room for about twice as many books as the college now owns. Both seating capacity and stacks should be capable of very considerable enlargement. There should be generous provision for conference rooms for advanced students and for quiet study by members of the faculty. The more important staff work rooms should be located close to the center of things.

The basement plans show an entrance at the east and one at the west, from both of which the rooms for reserved book reading are readily accessible. These rooms consist of a large deliver}' hall which can also be used as a reading room, and two more quiet reading rooms. It seemed best to separate this sort of reading and put it in the basement. The users of reserved books do not make much use of the other library facilities at the same time, and create a good deal of disturbance by their rapid exit and entrance between classes. In the northwest wing is a room for storage and use of the college archives and other valuable material. There is also a rest room, locker and kitchenette for the women of the staff. The rest of the basement is either for service or storage and is self explanatory.

On the main floor the southern en- trance under the tower opens directly into the delivery hall, a long room in colonial design. Behind the desk is the stack with elevators, and at its right and left, entrances to the stack and to the chief staff work rooms. In the delivery hall, at the left, there will be space for the display of new books and glass cases for the exhibit of valuable material. At the right of the desk will be the card catalogues. It is expected that very careful use of ornament, paint and hangings will make this an unusually charming entrance hall. At the right of the delivery hall are two reading rooms, one for periodicals, the other for the reference and bibliography collection, with a service

room between. At the left of the delivery hall is another stair hall and an entrance from the west, and in-the southwest wing another reading room intended chiefly as a quiet place for study for those driven, out of dormitories and fraternities by the chronic disturbances. In the northwest wings are the executive offices and a treasure room in which can be kept, displayed, and discussed some of the generally interesting of the library treasures.

There is a mezzanine floor not shown on these plans, repeating the staff work rooms, which although they may not be needed at present for that purpose, gives the necessary room for future growth of the staff. There are also four small rooms in the mezzanine; one which will probably be used for departmental purposes;

another for a small lecture room; a third for storage and a fourth which it is hoped to make into a suggestion of the college library as it was in Wheelock's time when it occupied a room in the residence of Bezaleel Woodward. The College has a list of the books in the library at that date, and possibly still has a few of the actual books. The rest could gradually be bought in about the same edition and appearance as they were at that time, and a very interesting room could be developed, provided money enough could be secured to fit up the room in period style and purchase the books. On the second floor the main feature is the "Tower Room." This large room, broken only by screens containing stairs to the galleries, is to be finished in oak with a decorated ceiling,

and to be equipped with comfortable chairs. The trustees have already made a generous appropriation for the purchase of books to be placed in this room, and the faculty is at work selecting them. The books will be chosen because of their interest and stimulation. It is hoped that students will use this room as a place to come in and read for a while in entire omfort and quiet—smoking will be allowed. The east and west wings are given over entirely to seminar and conference rooms, for the use of departments in connection with the work of the new curriculum. Behind the east and west sections of the "Tower Room" there is space for stack enlargement, and behind that, faculty studies. There are three levels of these studies at this point and more in the attic floor, making altogether about fifty, in addition to semi-enclosed tables on each of the nine levels of the stack.

It is obvious that a large stack addition can be thrown across connecting the present stack with the northwest and northeast wings making two enclosed courts. This addition will bring the book capacity up to two million volumes, and even greater expansion is possible. At the four outer corners of the plan, wings can be added pointing east and west. These will obviously make courts on the east and west sides corresponding to that now existing on the south side, and add to the appearance of the building. These wings on the east would enlarge the reading room space, and on the west might be used for department buildings for those departments or divisions which are most intimately connected with the library; such as languages, art, or social sciences.

The problems of heating, ventilation and plumbing have been given thorough study. For lighting a conduit lay-out has been provided which will take care of any lighting system now forseeable. The details of lighting are now being studied and it is hoped that something in advance of current practice in libraries can be developed. The details of interior decoration are receiving the personal attention of the architect.

It may be useful to repeat certain details. The reading rooms in the basement and ground floor are 36 by 68 feet.

The delivery hall and "Tower Room" are 26 by 150 feet. The extreme dimensions of the building are 240 by 170 feet. It will seat between 750 and 900 and shelve about 400,000 volumes. Mr. George A. Baker's gift for construction is $1,000,000. The architect is J. Frederick Larson of Hanover.