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think rather-belong in the province of handi
craft than art, if it was not that all parts
thereof must be in perfect harmony with the
architect's plans of the whole structure. who
alone 1S the absolute sovereign and distributor
of the element most indispensable for such an
institution, viz:
LIGHT.
In the construction of a library, however,
much attention is paid to the best fixtures and
conveniences or the most useful contrivances
for books, pamphlets, maps, lithographs, en-
gravings and whatever else the manifold trea-
sures may be called, which the human in-
tellect has compiled therein or will col-
lect, and to their accessibility, classifica-
tion, distribution, &c.: their consideration
is or secondary and by far inferior importance
to that of a full profusion and equal distri-
bution of light. This element is SO indispensa-
ble for the purposes of a library that nearly
every other consideration--that of protection
against destruction or injury by fire perhaps
excepted, may be postponed till after the
question of its introduction is fully dispos: ed
of, and any architect who would allow other
subjects to absorb his mind and study to its
detriment or neglect, may be sure of failure
and loss of reputation, whether the editice to
be erected by him be of the greatest and un-
precedented dimensions and compass or merely
of inferior prospects, and whether the library
which is to be built. be a public or private one.
THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A NATIONAL LIBRARY.
To accept any interior arrangement, whether
tested by trial and approved by experience, or
still on probation,-as an infallible model for
imitation under all circumstances, would be a
very grave error, because there are no two
libraries of exactly equal requirements, and
each one is erected and fitted up under peculiar
and mostly heterogeneous influences, such as
cost, site, capacity, building material, &C., &3.
But to imitatesinglé features of interior arrange-
ments, which have been found acceptable and
may be adaptable under a contemplated
program, is not only unobjectionable, utabso-
lutely necessary, because it is impossible to
devise for every library a new and distinctly
different system of arrangements, but even
such examples should be modified according to
the necessities of the prevailing circumstances,
yet never without due reference and deference
to the controlling element of all libraries, viz.:
light, day or sunlight, which can neither be
reproduced nor substituted by scientific means.
It is further not to be forgotten, that a system
of fixtures, however commendable for a private
library, may be anything but advantageous for
a circulating or ollege library; nor that one for
a specific purpose, for instance a law library,
will answer for a Parliamentary or Congres-
sional Library, and it is certain, beyond argu-
ment, that no existing system, as it is, will
come up to the demands of our contemplated
National Library, with its numerous ramifica-
tions and enormous annual growth.
It would be useless to discuss the libraries
most prominent in the world in all their merits
or defects, as no such institution, either in the
old or new world, in the past or present, re-
quired such extensive premises and manifold
arrangements as the National Library of the
United States, which in fact is to be more of a
MUSEUM OF LITERATURE, SCIENCE AND ART,
than strictly taken a collection of book It,
with its millions of sources of information will
become ere long not only the rendezvous of the
learned men of the East and West, but actually
the Mecca of the young giant Republic, which
to visit at least once in his life, will be the wish
of every American, and vast numbers from
other nations will join them in the journey to
see the last marvel of the world.
ROOM NEEDED.
In consequence of this, provisions will have
to be made for the hosts of visitors and curi-
osity seekers, as well as for the ease and com-
fort of readers or students,-and besides the
ample halls and apartments needed for inquiry
and search of Congressmen, scientists and lit-
erary men, and the premises of great import-
ance, such as packing, binding, distributing
and other rooms, there will have to be ample
passages for the throng of spectators. These
passages must, with the exception of the circu-
lar reading room, be located in the middle of
the apartments directly under the sky light,
not to draw the intensest light upon the vis-
tors, out to prevent them from detracting any
of the rays of light from the cases and theu
contents.
HOW LIGHTED.
That in this way the greatest flood of light
possible Is obtained by connecting the vertical
wrays of the sky light with the lateral beams
from the windows without permitting the
interposition of any opague object needs no
argument, and has the further advantage that
he architect secures by these passages in the
smiddle, the greatest possible elasticicy of fix
ures or the power of expansion for the book
helves and cases. Experience has established
he so-called
Document source description
This file contains newspaper clippings and programs for various concerts, plays, and lectures.
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Context sent to Scholar
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Page context
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"ocrText": "think rather-belong in the province of handi\ncraft than art, if it was not that all parts\nthereof must be in perfect harmony with the\narchitect's plans of the whole structure. who\nalone 1S the absolute sovereign and distributor\nof the element most indispensable for such an\ninstitution, viz:\nLIGHT.\nIn the construction of a library, however,\nmuch attention is paid to the best fixtures and\nconveniences or the most useful contrivances\nfor books, pamphlets, maps, lithographs, en-\ngravings and whatever else the manifold trea-\nsures may be called, which the human in-\ntellect has compiled therein or will col-\nlect, and to their accessibility, classifica-\ntion, distribution, &c.: their consideration\nis or secondary and by far inferior importance\nto that of a full profusion and equal distri-\nbution of light. This element is SO indispensa-\nble for the purposes of a library that nearly\nevery other consideration--that of protection\nagainst destruction or injury by fire perhaps\nexcepted, may be postponed till after the\nquestion of its introduction is fully dispos: ed\nof, and any architect who would allow other\nsubjects to absorb his mind and study to its\ndetriment or neglect, may be sure of failure\nand loss of reputation, whether the editice to\nbe erected by him be of the greatest and un-\nprecedented dimensions and compass or merely\nof inferior prospects, and whether the library\nwhich is to be built. be a public or private one.\nTHE REQUIREMENTS FOR A NATIONAL LIBRARY.\nTo accept any interior arrangement, whether\ntested by trial and approved by experience, or\nstill on probation,-as an infallible model for\nimitation under all circumstances, would be a\nvery grave error, because there are no two\nlibraries of exactly equal requirements, and\neach one is erected and fitted up under peculiar\nand mostly heterogeneous influences, such as\ncost, site, capacity, building material, &C., &3.\nBut to imitatesinglé features of interior arrange-\nments, which have been found acceptable and\nmay be adaptable under a contemplated\nprogram, is not only unobjectionable, utabso-\nlutely necessary, because it is impossible to\ndevise for every library a new and distinctly\ndifferent system of arrangements, but even\nsuch examples should be modified according to\nthe necessities of the prevailing circumstances,\nyet never without due reference and deference\nto the controlling element of all libraries, viz.:\nlight, day or sunlight, which can neither be\nreproduced nor substituted by scientific means.\nIt is further not to be forgotten, that a system\nof fixtures, however commendable for a private\nlibrary, may be anything but advantageous for\na circulating or ollege library; nor that one for\na specific purpose, for instance a law library,\nwill answer for a Parliamentary or Congres-\nsional Library, and it is certain, beyond argu-\nment, that no existing system, as it is, will\ncome up to the demands of our contemplated\nNational Library, with its numerous ramifica-\ntions and enormous annual growth.\nIt would be useless to discuss the libraries\nmost prominent in the world in all their merits\nor defects, as no such institution, either in the\nold or new world, in the past or present, re-\nquired such extensive premises and manifold\narrangements as the National Library of the\nUnited States, which in fact is to be more of a\nMUSEUM OF LITERATURE, SCIENCE AND ART,\nthan strictly taken a collection of book It,\nwith its millions of sources of information will\nbecome ere long not only the rendezvous of the\nlearned men of the East and West, but actually\nthe Mecca of the young giant Republic, which\nto visit at least once in his life, will be the wish\nof every American, and vast numbers from\nother nations will join them in the journey to\nsee the last marvel of the world.\nROOM NEEDED.\nIn consequence of this, provisions will have\nto be made for the hosts of visitors and curi-\nosity seekers, as well as for the ease and com-\nfort of readers or students,-and besides the\nample halls and apartments needed for inquiry\nand search of Congressmen, scientists and lit-\nerary men, and the premises of great import-\nance, such as packing, binding, distributing\nand other rooms, there will have to be ample\npassages for the throng of spectators. These\npassages must, with the exception of the circu-\nlar reading room, be located in the middle of\nthe apartments directly under the sky light,\nnot to draw the intensest light upon the vis-\ntors, out to prevent them from detracting any\nof the rays of light from the cases and theu\ncontents.\nHOW LIGHTED.\nThat in this way the greatest flood of light\npossible Is obtained by connecting the vertical\nwrays of the sky light with the lateral beams\nfrom the windows without permitting the\ninterposition of any opague object needs no\nargument, and has the further advantage that\nhe architect secures by these passages in the\nsmiddle, the greatest possible elasticicy of fix\nures or the power of expansion for the book\nhelves and cases. Experience has established\nhe so-called"
}