New-York tribune., 1901-10-17
LIBRARIES TO BE UNIFORM.
ARCHITECTS CHOSEN TO ACT AS AD-
VlSORY BOARD TO TRUSTEES.
INGs, AND BABB. COOK WILLARD
HAVE ACCEPTED.

George L. Rives, secretary OF the New-York
Public Library. issued statement yesterday
outlining the general policy that is to be pur
sued in regard to the selection Of sites for and
the designing and constructing of the Carnegie
branch libraries. McKim. Mead & White Car
rere & Hastings. and Babb Cook & Willard have
accepted an invitation to serve as an advisory
board in designing and supervising the
struction Of the branches The statement is
as follows
The agreement between the city and the New
York Public Library for the erection of the
Carnegie branch libraries in Manhattan The
Bronx and Richmond was executed on July II
1901. Prior TO that time the Board of Trustees
or the library had taken up the question of how
best to deal with the numerous problems which
VIII arise in regard TO the selection of sites and
the designing and construction of the libraries.
One site in East Seventy-ninth- ST. near Second
ave; has already been secured and approved
by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment.
Application will shortly be made to the city
for the purchase of other sites. With regard to
lhe Planning or buildings 1t has seemed best TO
the trustees that the libraries should be not
only built of a distinctive type. but that there
should be as much uniformity in the design use
OF materials, general character and scale of the
different buildings is consistent with the
merous variations bound to exist in the prac-
ucal requirements at different places and the
dimensions and diversity of sites and their sur
roundings.
1t is the view of the trustees that these differ
ences alone Will be sufficient to deduce all the
varieties which advisable or justifiabe from
an artistic point of view. And, the trustees
are ADVISED. all proceedings of successful work
of this character support the view that there
should he no variety where the problem repeats
itself. excepting in so far as the conditions may
differ. The trustees think that it should be pos
slhle for every one to recognize each of these
ouldlngs Immediately as a branch OF the great
system of circulating libraries which Mr.. Car
negie has planned, and which the city will
maintain
How to secure the sort Of uniformity of type
that is desired has been a matter of serious
consideration with the trustees. The problem is
not unlike that which has had to be dealt with
at the great exposition of Chicago and Buffalo,
where it has been desired TO put up adjacent
buildings exhibiting a uniformity of type but
some individual diversity. 1t has seemed to the
trustees that the best solution of the difficulty
would be found, not in competition but In col
alteration. The trustees would not have been
satisfied to entrust the entire work of erecting
the frty-two branches which they are TO CON
struct to a single architect. On the other hand
il plain that too large a number OF ar
chitects would not be able TO work together in
as efficient manner as q comparatively small
number
Acting on these general principles. the trustees
at their last meeting resolved to invite three
firms Of architects. viz, McKim. Mead & White.
Carrere & Hastings. and Babb, Cook & Willard
TO serve the Library in designing and super
Vising the construction Of the branches in ques-
tion. with the single exception of the Seventy
ninth-st. branch, which, il is expected, will he
constructed from designs furnished by James
Brown Lord. The three firms above named are
to act in collaboration and decide Jointly all
matters Of common import regarding the de-
signs ana construction ana otIlFT GetaltS re-
iating TO the various buildings. The designing
Of each separate building. however. and the
supervision OF its construction are to be en-
trusted by allotment to several firms.
1t is the expectation Of the trustees that the
advisory board will at once take up the problem
of designing these libraries and determine upon
what may be called a general type Of building
and that az fast s the city acquires sites for
branch libra ries these designs for the buildings
will he ready, and the work of construction
pushed as fast possible.
In the opinion Of the board OF trustees, this
rangement promises not only uniformity Of
type and satisfactory artistic designs but the
greatest possible thoroughness and economy In
the work to be done.
have Just received from each Of the three
firms above named expression of their will
ingness to serve members OF the advisory
board.