The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-28
LATE NEWS OF ALAMEDA,
Architects Claim Ample Room
in the City Hall for the
Library.
The Librarian Also Has Som ething
to, Say in Reply-The End
Not Yet.

ALAMEDA, CAL, Aug. 27.-There is
trouble brewing between Messrs. Percy
and Hamilton, architects of the new City
Hall, and Librarian John w. Harbourne.
When the architects drew up the plans for
the building they provided room for the
Free Public Library. Their plans were
criticized and, wishing to put themselves
square before the public, they filed a
lengthy communication with the City
Clerk, which was read at the meeting of
the City Trustees on Monday night.
The letter states that having natural
pride in their work, and believing that the
arrangements and accommodations for the
library were superior and ample, they
would defend it against unjust criticism
and erroneous statements. A persistent
effort on the part of some persons, through
the press and in other ways, promised to
eliminate in mass-meeting at Armory
Hall, wheresa 'large diagram" was to be
displayed to show how the library could
not be accommodated in the proposed
quarters. A copy of the original arrange
ment of the library as planned by them
was submitted with the communication.
They referred to the main library and
reading room OF the Mechanics Library in
San Francisco as to what was done in
practical library work. That room, while
irregular in shape, had less area than the
large room alone in the Alameda City
Hall, and less height than to the trusses
of that room. They sarcastically call at
ten tion to the heterogeneous class of Ala
media citizens" which hangs about the
Council chamber and say that they will find
ample accommodation in the story above
the library, with a well-deafened floor be-
tween. They conclude as follows:
We do not wish to say anything against the
enterprising people OF Alameda erecting fine
library building, which shall be credit to the
city and satisfy all parties, but we do protest
against misrepresenting and distorting our
work in the new City Hall.
The board discussed the arch itects' COM
munication, and on the motion of Trustee
Fletter it was placed on file, as the board
had found no fault with their work.
Librarian John w. HarbourHe, in con-
versation with The CALL correspondent,
said that had Messrs. Percy and Hamilton
taken the trouble to pay careful visit to
the Alameda Library they would soon
have discovered why a persistent effort
had been made TO show that the accommo-
dations provided in the new City Hall
were inadequate. Mr.. Harbourne con-
tinued:
They say they will allow 35 feet OF the 81
feet space for bookstacks. In our present quar-
tiers, supposing we arrange the bookstacks as
they suggest, and at present they are feet
apart, whereas they should be feet for COM
fort, they will have z stacks on one side and
on the other, ID stacks III all. The stacks be-
ing feet and q inches in length, placing them
feet from the windows or walls, makes
each side project into the room IL feet and 6
inches. 1 have provided for Ia cases, or stacks,
which will leave only feet between the stacks
in the center of the room. Cover the cases
with the deck or floor, aud warrant you won't
feel very comfortable in such a room, feet
high on warm day.
There would be only two feet for ventilation
between the upper and lower stacks. Such an
arrangement is impracticable and no sane man
would urge it. / want to keep the library up
to its present standard and abreast of all mod
ern libraries and should add at least $500
volumes per year, which would mean three
stacks each year.
They may know how to estimate for bricks,
but they certainly know nothing about free
library giving free access to the shelves. They
have been wrongly advised when they refer to