The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-02-04
OFFICE BUILDING LIBRARIES.


The modern skv -scrarer or office build
ing must have its own library for tile
special accommodation of It's distinctive
class ot tenants an. patrons, or IL is not
considered up- -to.date in its appointments.
Ii Is not enough in these dsys that pro-
fessional or business man shall be abba
TO eat, drink. smoke. sleep, wake up.and
take bath, get shoe polish. shave,
hair out, or shampoo, buy his papers
and magazines, his hats, shirts, shoes,
necktiss and druggists' sundriss all under
the one roof where be sits In his Office and
deals out large chunks of wisdom 10 his
clients ut so much a chunk. M
No building that Is pa,ronized largely
by any particular class Of professional men
Is considered to be strictly "in it, unless
library Is maintained ostensibly ut least
at the expense of the landlord. But it
isn't the landlord that pays for this lux
ury I'm tie long run; IL is a commercial
transaction on his part, and he will tell
You SO II you get him in O corner and
add, with WING. that IL 10 good stroke
OF business sagacity-that 1t fills his
building with desirable tonants akd it
pays. The tenants themselves are not
blind to the real facts IN the case. I've
are paying for the library they will tel
you, land we don't Kick; 1t is great
convenience but our rent is always a lit
tie higher on account OF it. -
This new species OF sky -scraping gray
iture is perhaps little more extensively
developed In Chicago than in any other
American city. 1t Is feature that has
made its appearance within the last two
or three years; 1t seems likely TO become
quite general in this town within tbs next
decade.
Librarian Hid of the public library,
said a few days ago that he had learned
of remarkable growth cf these special
libraries in the big ofIc buildings about
town. In some Of the elevators one Will
notice little framed signs announcing to
the passenger that tte library of the
building may be found On certain door.
This Is the case in the Ashland block.
where. q very pretentious and valuable law
library is maintained entirely at the ex-
pense of the company owning the build
ing. And it Is not triflipg EXPENSE at
that. John Stiilwell. the librarian in
charge. Ia authority for the statement
that the expense is between $1,000 and
$1,000 year. In the first place, the space
occupied is sufficient for several suites of
offices, and is worth good money: then
there il the salary Of the librarian, tho
capital invested In calf bound torres OF
the law. the constant buying of new
books and the rebinding Of old ones that
are out Of repair. The library Is on the
eighth floor. Immediately above the floor
occupied by the Appellate Court, and Mr.
Stillwell says it contains nearly 300 vol
rmes. The collection includes good line
of text books, reports and statutes Of all
the different statos. Federal Court reports
from 1889 down to date. and many vol
umes OF rglish reports.
Nearly sou lawyers have offices In the
Ashland block. This librarv. under the
same roof, is. OF course, ono Of the great
Inducements that draws them into the
building as tenants. In the busy season
when all the courts ara running fun blai
and clients are numerous, gentlemen Of
legal intent to the number Of loo TO 200
will daily consult works on Jurisprudence
in this place. It saves them tine time and
trouble of a trip TO tho Law Institute In
the County building. Tenants from other
buildings are not welcome, however, and
they are usually given polite invitation
to stop out when they are so audacious
as to atte mpt to use the books.