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EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION
The development of libraries during the latter part of the nineteenth century may be compared with that of cathedrals and abbeys in Norman times, or that of colleges and grammar-schools under the Tudors. In all these cases the age, instinctively discerning its needs, partly by public effort, partly by private munificence, covered the land with edifices for their satisfaction. In so doing it necessarily gave rise to a number of architectural problems. That the libraries of the present day, however smaller in scale, may not be architecturally less honourable to their epoch than the corresponding constructions of the past, must be the earnest aspira- tion of all who regard them as among the charac- teristic monuments of the nineteenth century, and a most important manifestation of its intellectual activity. This ideal is the more difficult of attain- ment, inasmuch as obstacles now exist which were comparatively unfelt in the Middle Ages. The mediaeval pious founder was frequently his own architect; at all events, paying the piper, he called the tune. In any case, there was a thorough com- munity of feeling between him and the builders he employed. The builder was thoroughly broken in to his task, and entirely absorbed in it; since, from the inevitable slowness of mediaeval operations, arising from the deficiency of capital and labour, the erection of an abbey or a college might be the sole occupation of a lifetime. Far different is it now, when the most extensive architectural undertakings seldom require more than three or four years, and the same architect is equally ready to turn out a church, a library, a theatre, or a bank. It is inevitable that in the absence of special knowledge of and special devotion to a particular style of edifice, the sentiment of architectural display should gain the upper hand. Hence a continual conflict between the architect who desires a handsome elevation, and the librarian who aims at practical convenience; frequently determined by a committee endowed with no great feeling for either.
Parodying a famous saying, it may be safely affirmed that this state of things will continue more or less until architects are librarians, or librarians architects. It is, meanwhile, a very useful service to bring the parties together as near as may be, by the simple exhibition of what has been done; showing how difficulties have been met, and objects attained, occasionally even how they have been missed. Mr. Burgoyne has performed this service for both professions in this little volume, destined, in the Editor's judgment, to rank among the most valuable contributions hitherto made to library literature. By copious illustration, indicative of extensive research, he has shown how the problems incident to the accommodation of books, and the adaptation of all parts of a library to the public service, have been actually dealt with in the most civilised parts of the world. Librarians and architects are thus supplied with a number of models to choose from, and abundant hints for further deve10pment from the combination of the best points of existing edifices. With this will be found much valuable counsel respecting the organisation of a library in. so far as the material fabric is concerned, including in this definition furniture and fittings, mechanical aids to efficiency, and protection from fire and other perils.
One important feature of a work like this is that it enables us in a manner to codify the maxims already deduced from experience. It will be found that there are many points upon which librarians are practically unanimous; arrangements common to most of the leading libraries here described, other arrangements which they practically concur in rejecting. Such observations may be developed into a code of rules, extending gradually by experience, until, allowing for the inevitable differences in the special needs of the various libraries, all important points have the sanction of general consent. It is impossible to enumerate such details within the limits of a preface. One cardinal rule may be laid down, always to design with reference to the probable future of the library. If it is destined to perpetual insignificance, no particular provision is necessary; but if to a great expansion, this should be foreseen and provided for from the first. A generous view should be taken of such a library, ample space for additions should be secured, and the plan should be so framed that any future accretion should be a legitimate and harmonious development of the original model. So liberal a procedure, however, is only practi- cable when and where the public library has established itself in the public consciousness as an institution of paramount importance. American libraries are planned on a larger scale than the British, and with more complete appliances, be- cause the library and the librarian are more regarded in America than here. It rests with librarians themselves, and with national instructors generally, to raise the British conception to the American standard, and with the public itself to demonstrate the inadequacy of the existing libraries by copious resort to them. Should this come to pass, the subject of library architecture will gain greatly in importance, and as the nineteenth century has been an age of construction, the twentieth may prove one of reconstruction.
PREFACE
This book has been written in the hope that it will be of service to those librarians, architects, and members of library committees, who have in hand the planning of new libraries, or the adaptation of existing buildings to library purposes.
As this is the first treatise written upon the subject, it cannot fail to have imperfections; but the numerous plans with which it is illustrated must prove of great value to all interested in the subject. Some of them have been specially drawn for this work, and others, more especially those of continental buildings, have been copied from works not often to be found in British reference libraries. The aim of the book has been the strictly practical and useful, and accordingly technicalities have been avoided as far as possible.
My most cordial thanks are due to many librarians and architects for information freely given, and the loan of plans and blocks for the illustrations.
Brixton Oval, S.W.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I PAGE - THE EARLY LIBRARIES—SITES—ALCOVE AND STACK METHODS OF STORING BOOKS—ARRANGEMENT OF THE ROOMS—PLAN, ELEVATION, AND FACADE—DECORATION DANGER OF FIRE, AND THE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS FLOORING
1–25 CHAPTER II - NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL LIGHTING—HEATING AND VENTILATION
26–38 CHAPTER III - METHODS OF SHELVING BOOKS—DR. POOLE'S PLAN FOR A LARGE LIBRARY—STORAGE CAPACITY OF A ROOM—CONSTRUCTION OF BOOKCASES IN WOOD AND METAL— BRITISH MUSEUM SLIDING BOOKCASE SHELVING FOR FOLIOS—VIRGO'S BOOKCASE
39–72 CHAPTER IV - THE ELLIOT, COTGREAVE, DUPLEX, MORGAN, SIMPLEX, CHIVERS, AND BONNER INDICATORS CARD—CATALOGUES—BULLETIN BOARDS—THE TELEPHONE AND TELAUTOGRAPH PHOTOGRAPHY
73–94 CHAPTER V - FURNITURE AND APPLIANCES : TRUCKS, LADDERS, STEPS, BOOK-LIFTS, TABLES, EASELS, BOOK SUPPORTS, NEWSPAPER AND MAGAZINE RACKS, CHAIRS, NEWSPAPER STANDS, DUSTING MACHINES, ETC.
95–127 CHAPTER VI - THE BRITISH MUSEUM
128–140 CHAPTER VII - BRITISH PUBLIC LIBRARIES : ABERDEEN, BELFAST, BIRMINGHAM, BLACKBURN, BOOTLE, BRISTOL, CHELTENHAM, DARLINGTON, DERBY, DUBLIN, EDINBURGH, GLASGOW
141–166 CHAPTER VIII - BRITISH PUBLIC LIBRARIES (continued) : LIVERPOOL, MANCHESTER, NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, PRESTON, ST. HELENS, WIDNES, WIGAN, WORCESTER
167–189 CHAPTER IX - LONDON PUBLIC LIBRARIES: THE GUILDHALL, BATTERSEA, BERMONDSEY, BISHOPSGATE INSTITUTE, CAMBERWELL, CHELSEA, CLAPHAM, CROYDON, EDMONTON, HAMMERSMITH, HAMPSTEAD
190–217 CHAPTER X - LONDON PUBLIC LIBRARIES (continued): LAMBETH,POPLAR, ST. OEOROE’S (HANOVER SQUARE), ST. MARTIN-IN-THE-FIELDS, STREATHAM, WEST HAM, WESTMINSTER
218–238 CHAPTER XI - AMERICAN LIBRARIES: BOSTON, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS (WASHINGTON), THE MERCANTIKE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK
239–266 CHAPTER XII - AMERICAN LIBRARIES (continued): THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY (CHICAGO), BUFFALO, MINNEAPOLIS, CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY, MILWAUKEE, THE PRATT INSTITUTE (BROOKLYN), THE PEABODV INSTITUTE (BALTIMORE)
267–292 CHAPTER XIII - EUROPEAN LIBRARIES: BIBLIOTHÉQUE NATIONALS, PARIS; BIBLIOTHÉQUE ST. GENEVIÉVE, PARIS; STADT-BIBLIOTHEK ZU FRANKFURT; UNIVERSITÄTSBIBLIOTHEK ZU HALLE; UNIVERSITÄTS-BIBLIOTHEK ZU LEIPZIG; KAISERLICHE UNIVERSITÄTS UND LANDES-BIBLIOTHEK IN STRASSBURG; HER-ZOGL-BIBLIOTHEK ZU WOLFENBÜTTEL; THE VALLIANO LIBRARY AT ATHENS
293–313 APPENDIX - LISTS OF ILLUSTRATIONS OF LIBRARIES, WHICH HAVE APPEARED IN THE "AMERICAN ARCHITECT," "ARCHITECT," "BRITISH ARCHITECT," "BUILDER," AND "BUILDING NEWS"
314–326 - INDEX
327–336
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
- National Library of Ireland, Elevation
Frontspeice FIG. PAGE 1. Interior of the Bodleian Library, Oxford2 2. Plan of the old library at Wolfenbüttel3 3. Santa's plan for a library4 4. Plan of a library arranged on the alcove system10 5. Plan of the same area shelved on the stack system11 6. Plan of the Königl.-Bibliothek, at Stuttgart20 7. Dr. Poole's plan for a library46 8. The Tonks' shelf fitting51 9. Shelf fitting in use at the new Record Office52 10. Library Bureau shelf-pin52 11. Chivers' automatic shelf-bracket54 12. Olivers' wedge shelf-bracket54 13. Library Bureau steel book-stack56 14. Halle University Library, section through stack-room58 15. Halle University Library, section through bookcases59 16. Greifswald University Library, section through stack-room61 17. Göttingen University Library, construction of bookcase and gallery62 18. Halle University Library, step and iron floor63 19. Amsterdam University Library, iron floor64 20. British Museum, sliding press66 21. Strasslntrg University Library, shelving for folios68 22. British Museum, folio supports68 23. British Museum, portfolio case for maps69 24. Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris, table-shelf70 25. The Elliot indicator75 26. The Cotgreave indicator77 27. The Cotgreave indicator book79 28. The Simplex indicator83 29. The Chivers indicator84 30. The Chivers indicator, enlarged85 31. Card-catalogue cabinet88 32. Card-catalogue drawer90 33. Lambert's magazine frame, with movable titles91 34. Book-truck from the University Library at Gottingen96 35–37. Cotgreave's automatic steps97–99 38. Library Bureau step100 39–41. Metal book supports101–103 42. The Crocker book brace103 43. The Barrett wire book support104 44. Book-lift in use in the British Museum105 45. Cable book-carrier in use at the Library of Congress106 46. Reader's desk in use at the British Museum108 47. Reader's desk in use at the British Museum, movable portion109 48. Library Bureau magazine rack111 49. Cotgreave's wall rack for magazines112 50. Cotgreave's table-rack for small magazines113 51. Library Bureau table-rack114 52. Bowry's newspaper file, open115 53. Bowry's newspaper file, closed115 54. The Banbury newspaper file116 55. Walker's book-rack and slip-sorter117 56. Ladder from the Royal Library, Brussels118 57. The Victor ladder119 58. Table-easel from the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Public Library120 59. Table-easel from the University Library, Göttingen121 60. Table-easel for copying122 61. Heathcote revolving newspaper-holder123 62. Lambert's newspaper clip124 63. Chivers newspaper-holder125 64. Harvey dusting machine126 65. British Museum, plan of Reading-room and Library135 66. Aberdeen Public Library, plan of lending department143 67. Blackburn Public Library147 68. Bootle Public Library and Museum, plan of ground floor149 69. Edward Pease Library, Darlington, plan152 71. National Library of Ireland, Dublin, plan of ground floor154 72. National Library of Ireland, Dublin, plan of first floor155 73. National Library of Ireland, Dublin, section through building157 74. National Library of Ireland, Dublin, section through bookcase158 75. Edinburgh Public Library, plan of lending department160 76. Edinburgh Public Library, plan of reference department161 77. Mitchell Library, Glasgow, plan of ground floor164 78. Mitchell Library, (ilasgow, plan of first floor165 79. Manchester Central Library, plans172 80. Manchester, Gorton Branch Library, plans173 81. Manchester, Openshaw Branch Library, plans176 82. Newcastle-upon-Tyne Public Library, plan of ground Moor178 83. Newcastle-upon-Tyne Public Library, plan of first floor179 84. Gamble Institute, St. Helens, elevation183 85. Wigan Public Library, plan of ground floor186 86. Victoria Institute, Worcester, plan of library188 87. Guildhall Library, London, interior193 88. Battersea Central Library, plan of ground floor194 89. Battersea Central Library, plan of first floor195 90. Bishopsgate Institute, London, plan of ground floor199 91. Camberwell Central Library, plan200 92. Chelsea Central Library, plan of ground floor202 93. Chelsea Central Library, plan of first floor203 94. Croydon Central Library, plan of the lending department209 95. Edmonton Library, plan of ground floor210 96. Edmonton Library, plan of first floor211 97. Passmore Edwards Public Library, Hammersmith, elevation213 98. Passmore Edwards Public Library, Hammersmith, plan215 99. Hampstead Central Library, plan216 100. Tate Central Library, Brixton, plan of ground floor220 101. Tate Central Library, Brixton, plan of first floor221 102. Tate Branch Library, South Lambeth, plan222 103. North Lambeth Library, plan224 104. West Norwood Library, plan225 105. Poplar Public Library, plan226 106. St. George's, Hanover Square, Public Library, plan of ground229 107. Tate Public Library, Streatham, plan233 108. West Ham Technical Institute234 109. West Ham Technical Institute, plan of library portion236 110. Westminster Public Library, plan237 111. Boston Public Library, Mass., elevation241 112. Boston Public Library, Mass., plan of ground floor245 113. Boston Public Library, Mass., plan of first floor247 114. Boston Public Library, Mass., interior of the Bates Hall249 115. Boston Public Library, Mass., book-waggon251 116. Boston Public Library, Mass., plan of second floor253 117. Library of Congress, Washington, plan259 118. Mercantile Library Association, New York, plan of lending library262 119. Mercantile Library Association, New York, book-stack and delivery counter263 120. Mercantile Library Association, New York, plan of reading-room265 121. Buffalo Public Library, plan of ground floor270 122. Minneapolis Public Library, plan of ground floor272 123. Cornell University Library, plan of main floor276 124. Cornell University Library, plan of third floor278 125. Milwaukee Library and Museum, plan of ground floor281 126. Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, plan of ground floor283 127. Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, plan of first floor286 128. Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, plan of second floor287 129. Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, delivery desk and stack-room289 130. Peabody Institute, Baltimore, plan291 131. National Library, Paris, plan of ground floor294 132. National Library, Paris, plan of reading-room295 133. The State Library, Frankfurt, plan of ground floor300 134. The State Library, Frankfurt, plan of first floor301 135. Halle University Library, plan of ground floor302 136. Leipzig University Library, plan of ground floor304 137. Strassburg Imperial Library, plan of ground floor306 138. Strassburg Imperial Library, plan of first floor307 139. Strassburg Imperial Library, section309 140. Wolfenbüttel new library, plan of ground floor310 141. Valliano Library, Athens, plan of first floor312