Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-16

the same association. The judges of the
competition, after considering the plans of
twentyfour architects, found most accep-
table " the designs submitted by Nessrs.
Alderman and Ross of New York, and
they were appointed architects of the build
ing.
Their accepted design, as re-studed and
modified. meets admirably the requirements
of the program of competition.
The structure proposed is about 22i feet
lcng-east and west-and about 10 feet on
the line of greatest depth-north and south.
1t harmonizes in proportion with the site,
Mt Vernon Square being about 80 feet
long and $50 feet wide.
The library building is designed to be in
the center of the square east and west. but
will stand much nearer to the north than
the south line, in order that d worthy ap
proach may be secured for the long south
front, and that the architectural attrac-
tiVeneSs of the front may be enhanced.
Cuts accompanying this report show the
perspective and front elevations of the
building and give an idea of its exterior
appearance of the style of architecture
adopted, and of the attractive effects Sc
cured by the architects in working out
their design.
The first floor of the building contains the
most important rooms of the library. The
main entrance, located in the center of the
south front, will lead into the reception
hall. where the only attempt at noteworthy
decoration will be made Just inside the
doors stairways on both sides will extend
to the floor above and to that below. Pass
ing these. the library visitor Will come at
once to the delivery counter, which faces the
south entrance The counter is so arranged
as to attract immediate attention and to
avoid delays in the service of those who
enter the building Attendants will Issue
books from the delivery counter as rapidly
as the volumes desired may be secured
from the stacks or shelves, as the case
may be. The ceiling of this main hall is
to be about forty feet above the floor. A
skylight will be arranged scientifically 70
admit maximum of light with a minimum
of heat from the rays of summer suns.
Arranged around the rear of the delivery
counter, which will be semi-circular. are to
be the administration rooms of the library.
Entrances Will be provided on either side
of the delivery counter but they will be for
the of library officials only the public
generally not being allowed In the rooms
where the business affairs of the library
are conducted. The adminiSt ration rooms
will include the private office Of the libra
Ran, rooms where accessions will be re-
ceived and handled and where cataloguers
will be at work. The bookstack forms the
northern wing of the building. II was
found absolutely essential, in order 10 bring
the cost of the building within the amount
available to reduce to minimum the
ground space occupied by the bookstack,
and TO carry it up five tiers to the full
height of the building. The capacity of the
bookstack, 2500 900 volumes Is, however, in
accommodating from $4,000 to 5000 vol
umes, believed to be ample for the purposes
of the library. The stack is so situated
that it can be extended and enlarged with
out interfering in the least with the archi-
tecturai effect of the building.
The delivery counter, situated as it will
be, will give the officials at work behind
II complete inspection facilities and full
view and control of the public reading
room and the corridors.
Reading and Lecture Rooms.
In the east wing, to the right of the main
entrance, Will be located the public reading
room. 1t will occupy a space of 1900
square feet, and will be lighted by broad
windows reaching to the ceiling. The west
wing will be divided into two departments,
one-half being given over to open-shelf ac-
commodations for books and the other half
to the use of the children. The reception
room will be in the western section of the
building. This room will be in close COM
munication with the open-shelf room, and
will be provided with wall shelving. The
open-shelf room will contain 1900 square
feet, and the reception room 1853 square
feet. The chiidrens room is Of the same
dimensions as the open-shelf department.
and will be separated from the latter by a
temporary partition which may be easily
removed. Thus If the growth of poplIlari-
ty Of the open-shelf facilities demands it,
this department can spread itself over the
entire west wing and occupy q total space
of 1856 square feet. In the event Of such
growth, the children's room would be
transferred to the basement wing reserved
for that purpose, or 1t might possibly be
removed to the second floor.
The reading room in the east wing will
be fitted with wall shelves. The value Of
open-sheif provision, rendering books easily
and arrangements have been made for the
occupancy Of every available space for this
purpose.
On the second floor the west wing viii be