St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-12-15

| long sets OF serials, publications of
learned societies. illustrated works on
natural science. ETC.. very rarely to be
met with in free city library of its
size. But that is not all. There have
been appropriated for the city collection
$4,000 for the purchase of books for
the coming year. The Spencer fund in
come will amount to at least as much
mere. making $4,000 in all. This
means an addition ofs probably 1900
volumes. At that rate of increase there
is no reason why the present book
rooms, designed to hold $4,000 volumes,
should not be Ontgrown in two years.
The library will consist of $1,000 or co.
900 volumes within two years, but
books of a reference character requir-
ing more room, additions will then
probably have to be made.
INSIDE THE BUILDING.
AS 1t stands at present the building
forms two sides of a quadrangle. The
lot has a frontage on Hennepin avenue
of I32 feet, and on Tenth street 100 feet.
The building occupies lie feet on Hen
nepin by 80 on Tenth. 1t is the inten-
ton to make such additions to the build
ing ere long that it shall form a COM
plete quadrangle, inclosing court.
How these additions are to be made and
what they will contain will be explained
later.
The main entrance to the building is
on the Hennepin avenue side. Going
through the broad doorway the visitor
finds himself in a vast open well,
stretching TO height of four
stories. A grand staircase winds
around it but does not occupy it. The
effect is 10 give sense of airineSs and
lightHess TO what, from the outside,
looks q trifie stiff. The visitors firstde-
sire is to take stroll through the
building. He will probably go to the
basement first and take every floor in
succession. Descending a few steps
and turning To the left, he finds himself
in the newspaper reading room. Here
are kept files of the leading periodicals,
hundreds of them, and they are as free as
air for the use of all-cOmers. This room
can also be reached from the Tenth
street side. Tables are scattered about
the room, and comfortable oak chairs,
upholstered in leather, invite the
weary to rest awhile. Back of
this room, and extending along
Tenth street are the book rooms, where
are kept the literature devoted to pat
ents. newspaper files. medical works
and reference books. The patents come
first and are open to the examination of
any one at will. The news aper files
are extensive and complete. Directly
in front of the main entrance is large
hall-like room which will be used as a
pasSageWay to and from the elevator
On the right of the entrance are work
shops for binding and doing all sorts of
repairing OF the contents Of the build
ing.
Going up the broad staircase from the
front the visitor enters the general de-
livery room. Here everything is model
of convenience. Another feature of the
room is the arrangement of cases where
all new books will be displayed before
being put away on the shelves. so that
library visitors may become familiar
with them. On the left, facing on
Hennepin and Tenth streets is the gen
eral reading room. This room is fur
nished in mahogany, and the walls and
frescoed ceiling are of blue tint that
harmOniZes well with the surroundings,
All furniture is of oak and leather
Back OF il and along Tenth street are,
first the inquiry room and the book loom.
Iron stocks, with cherry shelves bear up
thousands Of volumes which were the
life-wOrk Of hundreds Of men and
women whose names are household
words. Everything in this room is of
the most approved pattern. They are
expensive, but they are the best, and
that was what was selected. A valu-
able feature of the book rooms is the
students alcOyes before every window.
Here IS left space for desk and chairs
where special students and inVeSti-
gators may study and have free access
to the shelves without expert
encing the delay attendant
upon securing what they want
through the ordinary methods.
On the light Of the staircase is the Ia
dies reading room. 1t is, perhaps, the
most beautiful room in the building.
Mahogany wainscOting, nine feet high.
covers the walls. The fireplace arch is
decorated with terra Gotta, and the
walls are Of that shade. On the floor ia