Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-02-10
American Library Association.
THE MRETrNG T0-psy

THE MEETING TO-DAY.
The second business session OF the fourth
general meeting of the American Library Asso-
citation was held this morning, at 10 O'Clock,
hall on 10Th street; the president, Prof Justin
Winsor. 10 The chair, Melvil Dewey Sc ;retary,
and llll membership present. The secretary
read several notices governing the action OF
the members during their visit TO this city, He
Invited the members to reception at the resi-
dence OF Governor and Mrs. Claflin, No. 1913 X
street, this afternoon. The first paper read was
by Prof. VIM. +. Poole, librarian Chicago pub
lie library, on
THE CONSTRUCTION OF LIBRARY BUILDINGS
After enumerating the different public library
buildings IL the United States, aud giving de-
Scrlptlon OF their construction, noting their de.
1ectS capacity, &C, he proceeded to speak OF
the superior advantages OF the Peabody Library
building at Baltimore. The heating, lighting
and Vent1lat1ng arrangements OF the several
pubic libraries were fully described and criti-
c,sed. AS a general principle ne discouraged
the arrangement OF books On the upper floors
OF buildings where the air was most impure
Books should be Shelved in the coolest part of
the building, where the air Is not overheated
by aslight, which tends to the escape OF I'M
healthy gases. He exhibited, by drawings on
the blackboard. his ideas OF shelving books
constr ;t1On OF shelves, &c. Twenty-Five VOL
unes was the average capacity for each square
foot OF space in the arrangement he favored
-Four general ciasStcati0nS OF books was the
most desirable. one for each floor or story: a
nDTarlanS room, ana an elevator running un
through the enlire building, so that students
can De landed almost nOisleSSly 20 the division
where their studies call them. In all case3
libraries should b. constructed with e-proof
compartments. The architecture Of libraries
with reference t. enlargement when necessary
was treated on at lengUh and some Of the plans
IN vogue condemned, on account OF the inpO
stoll1ty OF enlargement without large cost and a
general uptulnlng OF the whole establishment
The cost or the most valuable library buildings
throughout the country was given, showing. as
ne commended. too much outlay for too little &C
commadation., He then proceeded to give his
own views and plans for an improved library on
lot of ground two hundred feet square. The
general features were: A fire proof building: no
cllInDlng or stairs: no over heating. to DESTROY
buildings. The lot should have reference to
for a dimlnutative service. There SHOULD
be nine rooms on each floor and
four stories high, making thirty-six rooms
altOg"ther,wfth the classification OF books with
reference to subjects. He would discard alcovys
and galleries. Each room would have light
on two sides and be furnished with tables
chairs and sofas. AS protection from fire
each room should be cut off from Others by
flre-walls and t1reproof doors. every floor made
frepro0f and all decorations OF freprOof mate
ridls. In the rear OF the central building should
be an elevator, landing students wherever they
desired TO go, and a stairway to be used In
case OF any temporary accident to he elevator
storage capacity, location, cost and other i'm
ponanl matters were fully discussed. The
cost OF such building rs he described 400 feet
square, would be, completed. S64O, 600. He then
gave description Of the construction of the
library al Cambridge. Mass.
FAD EFFECT OF HEAT ON BOOKS
MIR. A. X. Sponord, librarian OF Congress,
made some interesting statements, particularly
with reference TO the destruct1veness of heat
on books stored In the upper rooms or galleries
or libraries. He described the condition OF the
BOOKS In the fourth gallery OF the Congressional
library and said II the books were animate and
Intelligent beings they would cry aloud from
their Sufferings Their shIiyelled and parched
appearance showed plainly enough the destruc-
tlNeness OF heat, and Yet there is no heat from
gas burners nor coal gas; these are excluded
from The precincts or that library. discus
sion followed upon the action OF neat upon the
different bindings or books, the opinion being
pretty general that Russia leather bindings are
the very worst kind and should be discarded
altogether as the most susceptible to damage
from heat. The red dust, so common to libra
RES, is simply The combustion from gaSSeS pro-
duced by The heat and shows the necessity OF
gettlng rid or heat influence In the progress
| OF library architecture and construction.
THE CONGRESSIONAL LIBRARY.
MT. Spenord made verbal statement on the
| cuit1es In the way Of the various committees
| and joint committees on this library building
ana the causes which led TO the postponemenI
from time 10 time Of this subject. He had
been In favor OF the Judiciary square for the
new library building, and showed the many
advantages OF this location; and the committee
hao reported upon 1t favorably. The center
q that square, which contains nineteen acres,
is the particular spot for the building, which
may be enlarged should it ever become neces-
sary The plans accepted by the committee az
the best, were by Mr.. Smithmeyer at cost OF
about S. 0O0, 900.
Mr.. Poole offered resolution that commit
zee OF three be appointed to prepare resolu-
ton expressing the sense OF this association as
regards the needs OF new building for the ma
t1Onal library, TO be reported at later session:
adopted, ano the chair appointed Messrs.
Mr.. Smithmeyer, the architect for the new
Congressfona! library building, then read de-
scription OF his plans and gave his views as to
the requirements for the new national library
building.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Smithmeyer's paper
DR.. II. X. Waite made statement on libra
r1es In the 10th Census" after which a recess
was taken till O'Clock.
MINERAL WATERS. - Congress Water The
ourest and safest OF all cathartic waters None
genuine sold on draught. Avoid all coarse irr1-