East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1916-09-23
NEW CIVIC STRUCTURES INCLUDING LIBRARY AND
FEDERAL BUILDING ARE SOURCE OFLOCAL PRIDE

are returning tnlS year VIII not tall
10 note beautiful new building rising
from the north bank of the river as
they look down Main street. They
will undoubtedly inquire, What
building is that?" and they will be
told that 1t is the new home OF the
Umatllla county central library
They can look at It from the outside
with the assurance that they are gaz-
ing ct the most artistic library build
ing in any small city in the west and,
II they accept the general invitation to
all visitors to visit the institution.
they will convince themselves that
the Pendleton building Is the last
word in library architecture, from a
standpoint Of beauty, arrangement
and equipment for accommodating and
serving the people Of this city and
county.
The building was erected by funds
provided by the Carnegie corporation.
supplemented by appropriations from
the city Of Pendleton and Umatilla
county. Site. building and equip
ment cost approximately $4,000, OF
which the Carnegie corporation do
mated $4,000
Incidentally this was the first ap-
preparation ever received from this
corporation for a county library
building. such was the showing made
By the Pendleton library board that
the corporation managers decided to
break their precedent of giving only
TO city libraries. AS result other
states. where the county library sys-
tenn 70 In vogue, have hastened to use
the local building as an argument for
receiving financial a.d from the Car
negie millions.
Description OF Building.
The new central building in this
CITY archltecturally follows the style
Of the buildings OF the period known
a. the Italian Renaissance, relying
upon simple dignity and pleasing
color tones for a pleasing artistic ef-
fSct
One OF its most notable features IL
the design of the entrance. In its
arch and columns 1t Is patterned aft
or the entrance to the PaYVi chapel
Of Santa Croce clolster, Florence.
Italy, which has the reputation OF
having the most beautiful entrance
Of any chapel in Europe, That en-
trance was the best work of Brun-
bllsschi, celebrated Italian architect.
Fhs walls of the new building are
OF hollow tile with a cream pebble.
dash finish. The roof Is Of Spanish
clay tile the color of which Is green
in two shades, giving a mottled ap-
peaTance to the roof. The hollow tile
VI the roof and walls makes the
building cool in summer and warm IN
winter, and Is thus especially suited
TO this climate.
Special attention has been paid to
lighting both by day and night Large
windows afford abundance OF light In
all parts of the building during the
day, and by night the rooms are SO
flooded by electric light that anyone
may reed without eye-straln no mat
ter where he sits. The indirect light
ing system Is used.
Provision was also made to keep
out disturbing noises. The walls are
such that outside noises do not enter
the building and, inside, cork carpet
prevents disturbance from walking.
Heavy concrete floors prevent sounds
from the basement rooms from reach
ing the reading rooms
The building Is heated by u steam
plant and Is cleaned by an electrically
operated vacuum cleaner.
Entrance is made to the main floor
from the southwest corner and the
main floor space spreads out almost in
triangle. Straight In front of the
entrance Is the Ioan desk and behind
II Ia the stack room where steel book
cases. spreading out In a fan shape.
afford room for the many volumes of
books Provision Is made for the fu-
ture growtA of the library so that II
will not bo necessary to provide more
shelf room for eight or ten years.
To the left of the stack room Is the
children's room where are small ta-
bles and chairs to accommodate the
lite folk. In the shelves around the
walls are the books that are their de-
light
To the right OF tn stack room and
paraleling the river Is the main read
ing room and Just back Of 1t Is a read /,
ing porch which commands beau-
tifuI view up the river. A fireplace
il built at the end or both the chill
cren's room and the main reading
room.
To the back on the main floor Isl
the chief librarians office and the
catAloguing room. Above them Is a
uezzanne floor where Is to be loeat- |
cd a museum of Indian, historical and
natural relies and curtositles.
Toward the front or the main floor
is room wherein any committee OF
citizens may meet. and also CLOAK
rooms for men and women.
The principal rooms OF the base
ment floor are an auditorium with q
seating capacity of ESQ and a club
room. The auditorium has a stage
and in every way is designed for
small conventions and public gather
ings. 1t is equipped with q moving
picture attachment
The club room, reature OF which
is a fireplace of beautiful design, is
for the use of literary and civic or
eaniaatlons and for the children'sI