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

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This second floor is accessible from
the front entry by means of wide
stairway. The rooms thus gained
are not finished but may be complet-
ed at any time in the future at very
small expense for any purpose
| desired
The Finish.
The interior of the building is fin
ished in quartered whiteoak, beauti-
fully paneled and worked to the adj
vantage of the rooms TIE wallis are
tinted and the wainscotting is of
burlap of dark led color. The en-
trance hall is finished in green oak
and together with The dark bGrlap
on the walls makes q very handsome
appearance. Permanent racks ana
book cases are built along the walls
beneath the level OF tie windows.
These $50 furnish drawers for pic
lures papers, etc, not easily carcil
for in racks or upon shelves. The
| floors Of the reading rooms are COW
cred with cork carpet, green shade,
like that in use in the Y. M. G. A.
rooms. The floor Of the delivery and
stack rooms is of short length maple
and with no covering. All Of the
wood work or mil work is flnidlihsne
wood work or mill work is finished
in oil and varnish and rubbed down
to almost dull finish, making It
very handsome.
Furniture and Fixtures.
The furniture and fixtures of the
library are of handsome and sub
stantial sort but the committee MAX
ing the purchases has not been ex-
travagant in any particular. Extra
heavy library tables have been pro-
vided for the general reading room
and the study room. The children's
reading room has tables and chairs
suited to different ages, so that all
may be comfortable and even the lit
TEST tot is provided for. The chairs
are light and the feet are covered
with rubber cushion pads to provide
against noise in moving about.
The light coming from the windows
will be regulated by means of Vene-
tan blinds, giving the rooms very
pretty appearance. The table lights
are covered with green shades. All
of the light fixtures are handsome in
finish, and are durable and substan-
tial Almost all of the lights are
softened by the use Of globes and the
general effect about the entire build
ing is decidedly pleasing,
A couple of inches N the walls of
the delivery room provide a plaza for
statues or busts which may some
time be forthcoming at the hands of
some kindly disposed donor A bull
letin board in the entry han provides
6 place where announcements may
be made or notices posted and SINH
lar places are found in the delivery
room.
A drinking fountain is at one side
of the delivery room. The water
passes through an ice coil placed in
refrigerator in the basement.
Light and Heat.
The building is lighted by electric
ity, the wiring being one Of the best
an d most complete pieces of work
to be found in the city. 1t is also
piped for gas and either light may
be used in places desired. The elec-
trio light will be the most largely
employed, however. The heat used
in the building will be that provided
by the Yaryan hot water system and
furnished by the Oskaloosa Traction
and Light Co. This, it is thought,
will be far more satisfactory than any
other kind Of heat. Large fire places
in the general reading room and the
children's room provide for other
heat as may be desired from time to
time.
Capacity.
The possibilities of the Oskaloosa
Public Library are great. Years and
years Of growth can be Accommodated
with the greatest Of ease. The Ii
brary at present is not Of great size
and the three thousand volumes are
easily cared for and do not make
much of showing in the big build
Ing, UuI SIO"lu Will COuuc III d way
that is not now anticipated. Between
fifteen and twenty thousand volumes
can be cared for in the stack room
before any great change will be nee
essary. Then should the growth of
the library demand it a second story
with glass floor could be placed in
the room and its capacity again in
creased. Added to this, the space
that can be provided for the storing
and stacking of magazines and peri
odicals is practically unlimited The
committee has certainly built wisely
and well.
The books in the stack room" are
placed in specially constructed steel
cases that are movable and adjust
able and are the best case made in
the country today. They are made
to provide free circulation of air
about the volumes and to avoid the
dust as much as possible.
Administration.
The librarian secured by the COM
mittee. to have charge of Che library
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