The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1903-09-10

bench on the north wall of the en-
try is a copper table bearing the fol
j lowing inscription:
j THIS BUILDING ERECTED
j A.. d. 1902 by
ANDREW CARNEGIE
as a gift to the
PEOPLE OF OSKALOOSA."
j The entrance floor is of tile. The
exterior approach is lighted by two
large lights on pillars and the inter
ior has lamp placed on the newell
post" of the stairway ana another
| light is suspended from the ceiling
. Passing through the entry one en-
ters the delivery ROOM" which oc
cupies the central part of the first
floor. The librarians desk is seem
ingly in the center of the room as the
stack" room wherein are placed the
i three thousand volumes of the gener
al circulation of the library, is. imme
diately back of the desk, through an
i open archway. The stack room
| is accommodated by an addition
/ to the building proper The west
l wall is built on the arc of a circle
and gives a very pleasing effect. II
is double wall to provide against
moisture
The books" borrowed" are re,
ceived AMI returned at this desk
where is also transacted any other
business that may properly pertain
to the management or conduct Of the
library. The desk is complete lit.
tie office in itself. The counters ii
such they may be so termed were de
signed by an experienced librarian
and are complete in every detail and
convenience: The lights of the entire
library building are controlled from
this desk and this arrangement is
most admirably worked out. There is
switch for almost e very light in
the building and department or al.
most any part of a room can be light.
ed or darkened as desired
The general delivery room to
the north of the delivery room. 1t
is well lighted by day or by night
having windows on the east and the
north and electric apparatus on al.
most every table. A smaller and
well appointed room west of the
main reading room provides for priv.
acy desired in study or reference
room.
| A children's room is provided on
the south side of the delivery room
and occupies the same relative posi-
ton in the building that the general
reading room does on the north
West of the children's room and
with ENTRANCE into the stack room
and the chilirens room is the pri
vate office and work room of the Ii
brarian and her assistant.
| The Basement.
The basement excavation extends
under the length and breadth of the
building. Only a part of the room
thus obtained has been finished of
however, as there is now no use fol-
the space. There is large room be
meath the stack room of the first floor
that win be used as the stack room
for certain classes of books and pam
phlets not frequently used and not
desirable in the general library or
account Ct the space occupied. This
room is about the same size as the
stack room on the Est floor. A
-Ealler room to the south with en-
t:snce from the south of the building
is known az the receiving room o:
tie unpacking roo o All of the
hicks comirg to The library are lie
ivered here and uEpacked Any
dirt or litter that is made is not car,
red into the library ,ocms AM the
noise and confusion attendant upon
handling packages is kept apart from
| the rooms where absolute quiet ie
desired. The books after being un.
packed are lifted to tho librarians
work room above by means of a
dumb waiter" that is in the corner
The volumes are marked and classi.
fieJ by the librarian and disposed OF
in the places prepared for them.
A large store room in the center OF
the basement and ease Of the base,
ment stack room has been plastered
and cemented. 1t will be used as
circumstances demand. 1t provides
passageway from the front to the
back of the building. At the front is
a smaller room that receives the
stairway leading to the closets and
toilet rooms for gentlemen. Rooms
for ladies are placed in"the rear of
the basement with stairway leading
from the stack room, first floor. y
A large furnace and fuel apart
ments on the south Of the building
and the entire north side OF the base
ment remain unfinished. The unoc-
cupied space Is there. however, and
to be had as desired. ODD l
Second Story.
The second story OF the building
was a necessity on account of the ar
chitecture and because the building