New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-20
NEW FREE LIBRARY. PRATT INSTITUTE

group It was obliged to face the campus on the
| north rather than the street. and for the same
reason it was obliged to correspond IN shape ana
| size TO the building which was 20 form the OPP
| posite wing
The location is in Ryerson-st. facing the In
stttute the stackroom backing on Hali-si The
| hodv OF the building is 70xl00 feet. the stack
room. 20 contain five stacks being 4ox53 feet
The style OF tho building is free Renaissance
| without the use OF piasters or columns. IN"
material being red brick. with trimmings %
| Belleville brownstone. The stone and mosaic
entrance steps will eventually be connected Win
an Enclosed loggia leading 20 the other buildings
Of the group. As one enters the BUILDING one
hnd~ ones self in a broad entrance hall. win
number OF doors In view The floor Is OF stone
mosaic IN coored patterns. and the columns ana
n,as,ers along the walls are OF Sienna marble
as Is also the casing OF the central stairway
The decoration OF the e'tlre building is In the
hands Of n vell-known New-YOrk art and manu-
featuring Arm. and the prevailing tints OF Inc
wallis and ceilings are 10 be yelow-browns ana
green's which does not sound as fine az II looks
The wood finish Of the first floor IS IN quartered
oak: O. the other two In the best ash The new
fixtures are being supplied chiefly by the Library
Bureau.
On the LEFT OF the entrance Is the librarian :
office small room lix26 feet lighted from
the north communicating with the readng-roor
in front and by private stairway win the
floor above. This Is TO ,e lghied by both gas
and electricity. and Is to communicate by speak
ing tubes and house telephones with every part
OF the building The mechanical means OF com
munica,ion throughout the entire building are
excellent.
Directly facing the entrance is the door u the
children's reading-room and library. a room Ok
| 45 feet. with four south windows
From the entrance-corridor a central corrldor
| branches Off leading to the general reading-room
| In front 24x66 feet for periodicals and news
| papers only and back TO the delivery-room Oh
the same dimensions. There Is still another en-
| trance 10 the delivery room reached by turning
| 10 the right Immediately on entering the building
At the south end Of the room a railing extends
| across the room. inclosing space l6x2i feet
| A ledge over part OF th, railing will be used as
registration desk, and the entire work OF regis
tration filing OF applications, etc. will be done
| In this room 1t will be used also as an eXhibi-
ton room for new books the public being allowed
| to enter and examine the books or for the con-
venience of persons desiring to see what the
| library has on a given subject previous 10 draw
ing any books that topic
| ELECTRICITY TO CARRY BOOKS.
The entrance TO the stackroom Is by TWO gates
at the ends OF the counter clear space OF eight
| feet Is left behind the two ends Of the counter
| while In the centre between the two pillars the
| counter is bowed out in order TO give plenty oi
room behind between the counter and the ele-
vator shaft.
| The elevator is TO be run by electricity III
rec,,v behind n epsy flight OF stairs leads from
one stack 10 another. the entire height OF the eA
| tension.
The floors OF the stackroom are or glass; SET !"
| an iron framework. the pieces about loNla iee'
! The stack has dark oak shelves and bronzed IRON
| uprights and supports For ventilation smh"
spaces are left between the glass ana the stAoNS
TO be protected by wire netting. Openings are also
| placed under the windows. guarded by iron ran
| ings to let light through and the 'front.' Oh the
| floors above the first Is also rallied In.
| The central aises are 3A feet wide. and the
| cross aisles between the stacks "a feet inciud-
| ing the space covered by the netting. The IL
| brary will be able to fill the first floor OF the
stack at once about 10000 volumes. and Will next
use the basement stack Leaving the stackrooh
| and mounting the stairway in the ertrance-haii'
| the visitor finds himself the reference-foor.
| The object In this arrangement was 10 leave on
the first floor, nearest the entrance all vlsitors
| euch children. persons calling to draw DOCKS
| m agazine and newspaper readers. who would De
| likely to make more less noise. and who would
| be constantly going and coming. and to With
draw to a region above this confusion all stu
| dents. who must have quiet for their work. No
] ore but q student therefore. has any reason for