Part 1 — COURSE SIX: LIBRARY AND MUSEUM LEGISLATION, ORGANISATION AND EQUIPMENT.

Text Books Required.

American Library Association—Manual of library economy. Reprints. Chaps. 1-32, A.L.A.; also Grafton, 1s. 6d. each.

Bostwick (A. E.)—The American Public Library. 3rd edition revised and enlarged. Appleton, 1923. 12s. 6d.

Brown (J. D.)—Manual of library economy. Library Supply, 1907 edition; 3rd and memorial edition by W. C. B. Sayers. Grafton, 1919. 30s.

Brown (J. D.) and others. Open-access libraries. Grafton, 1915. 10s. 6d.

Fovargue (H. W.)—Summary of the law relating to public libraries in England and Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Grafton, 1922. 2s. 6d.

Roebuck (G. E.) and Thorne (W. B.)—A primer of library practice. Grafton, 1914. 5s.

Sanderson (C. R.)—“Library Law.” Bumpus, 1925. 6s.

Lesson 1.

Library and Museum Legislation.

The first part of this section must be carefully studied and I advise all students to thoroughly understand Sanderson’s “Library Law.” It is essential to possess a detailed knowledge of the English, Scottish and Irish Acts of Parliament relating to Public Libraries and Museums. The Public Libraries Act, 1919, the Public Libraries (Scotland) Act, 1920, The Public Libraries (Ireland) Act, 1920, The Public Libraries (Northern Ireland) Act, 1924 and the Irish Free State Local Government Act, 1925 must be carefully read, and students should keep to British legislation until able to say exactly what may be done under the Acts and able to give dates and title of the Acts for particular powers. Note particularly Irish legislation (Sanderson, pp. 40-41). In conjunction with Sanderson’s work read the reports issued by the Carnegie United Kingdom Trustees. They include the Annual Reports from 1914 to date. Library provision and policy, by W. G. S. Adams, 1915. Proceedings of the Carnegie Rural Library Conference, 1920. Stirling Conference Report: Extension to Burgh and Parish Library areas, 1923. The Public Library System of Great Britain and Ireland (1921-1923), 1924, and the County Library Conference, 1924.

Having obtained a thorough grounding from the above authorities the Reading List may now be commenced. For criticism on the 1919 Act consult the L.A. Vol. 15, 1920-21, pp. 5-7; 118-124; 135-137. L.A.R. Vol. 21, 1919, pp. 333-338 (Scotland), and L.W. Vol. 22, 1919-1926, pp. 330-333.

For county rural libraries Gray’s County library systems, and Macleod’s County rural libraries covers all the ground necessary to the student.

Reading List.

Baker—Public libraries under the new Act (1919). Fortnightly Review. February, 1921, pp. 321-333.

Boose—Constitution of Colonial public libraries. L. Vol. 6, 1894, pp. 391-401.

Brown—Manual of library economy. 1907 edition. Sects. 1-18. 1919 edition. Sects. 1-18.

Drury—The library and its organization. Classics of American Librarianship. Wilson: New York, 1924, pp. 131-155; 263-339. County Libraries, pp. 343-377.

Encyclopædia Britannica.—Articles: Libraries. Museums.

Fovargue—Summary of law relating to public libraries in England and Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Revised edition, 1922.

Gray—County library systems: their history, organisation and administration. The Coptic Series. Grafton, 1922, pp. 11-125.

Johnston—The Education (Scotland) Act, 1918 and public library development. L.A.R. Vol. 22, 1920, pp. 92-97.

Macleod—County rural libraries: their policy and organisation. Grafton, 1923, 10s. 6d., pp. 31-76; 88-109.

Macleod—County library law. L.A.R. Vol. 24, 1922, pp. 309-321.

Minto—Exemption of libraries from rates and taxes. L. (N.S.). Vol. 3, 1902, pp. 256-260.

Minto—Public libraries and museums. L.A.R. Vol. 5, 1903, pp. 261-269.

Roebuck and Thorne—Primer of library practice. Grafton, 1914, pp. 11-28; 149-182.

Sanderson—Library law: a text book for the professional examinations in library organisation. Bumpus, 1925. 6s., pp 15-67, 125-147.

Sparke—Nationalisation of public libraries. In Librarians’ Guide, 1923, pp. 9-13.

Statutes relating to public libraries and museums, 1798-1898. L.A. Year Book, 1899-1907.

Stearns—How to organise State Library Commissions. L.J. Vol. 24, 1899. Conference Number, Chaps. 16-18, also in Drury’s Library and its organisation; pp. 287-292.

Superannuation. L.A.R. Vol. 21, 1919, pp. 339-342.

Superannuation, by S. Lord. N.A.L.G.O. Offices, 1922, 14 page pamphlet.

Third Interim Report of the Adult Education Committee ... on Libraries and Museums.

Questions:

1. Mention current acts of legislation, other than Library Acts, which have direct bearing on libraries, museums and art galleries.

2. Name the places where there is no fixed limit to the rate that may be levied for library purposes, and show the effect of this absence of limitation.

3. Compare the library legislation of South Africa with that of Australia.

4. What Act authorises the library authority to make bye-laws, and for what purpose?

5. What are the main provisions of the State Library Laws of the United States?

6. Write a brief essay (500 words) on County Rural Library Law.

Lesson 2.

Committee, Finance, Staff.

Possessing a good knowledge of the powers conferred by the Acts the student must now pay special attention to the powers and duties of Library Committees; committee routine, accounts, and the provisions for loans and rates. Take particular care that the permissive and compulsory powers are thoroughly understood. Audit, annual budgets and financial factors affecting the buildings, books, salaries, etc., of the library services should be carefully considered and definite decisions and figures memorised. The qualifications and duties of librarians and assistants, and a knowledge of the facilities available for the training of assistants, both in England and America is also necessary. The statistics of our large public libraries relating to finance, etc., as given in the Librarian’s Guide and the Carnegie United Kingdom Trustee reports should be compared and studied.

Reading List.

Ballinger—Constitution of public library committees. L. Vol. 7, 1895, pp. 1-9.

Bostwick—The American Public Library. 3rd edition, revised and enlarged, 1923, pp. 201-214.

Brown—Manual of library economy. 1907 edition. Sects. 19-103; 483-484. 1919 edition. Sects. 19-98.

Fegan—Some thoughts on professional training. L.A.R. Vol. 13, 1911, pp. 237-242.

Hetherington—Library statistics. L.A.R. Vol. 19, 1917, pp. 1-16; 280-284.

Guppy—The librarian’s equipment. L.A. Vol. 6, 1903, pp. 66-71.

Law—Committee work. L.W. Vol. 12, 1909-10, pp. 127-129.

Lucas—On the delegation of powers to library committees. L.A.R., 1904, pp. 388-393.

McCall.—Library finance. L.A. Vol. 16, 1922, pp. 24-28; 38-40.

Minto—Education and training for librarianship. L.A. Vol. 17, 1924, pp. 236-242.

Neesham—Cash receipts and petty cash. L.W. Vol. 10, 1907-8, pp. 248-251.

Neesham—Committee work. L.W. Vol. 10, 1907-8, pp. 351-353.

Pacy—Borrowing and rating powers under the Public Libraries Acts. L. Vol. 1, 1899, pp. 132-136.

Piper—Technical training in librarianship in England and abroad. L.A.R. Vol. 14, 1912, pp. 332-351.

Prideaux—Professional registration and education. L.A.R. Vol. 8, 1906, pp. 1-6.

Robinson—Public finance. Camb. Univ. Press. 5s.

Roebuck and Thorne—Primer of library practice, pp. 29-45; 139-148.

Ross—Technical training in librarianship in England and abroad. L.A.R. Vol. 12, 1910, pp, 99-117.

Sanderson—Summary of library law. pp. 68-117.

Sayers—Past and present professional training. L.A.R. Vol. 15, 1913, pp. 585-596.

Sayers—Library finance. L.A.R. Vol. 19, 1917, pp. 17-29.

Sparke—Library assistants and the future. L.A. Vol. 14, 1918, pp. 184-8.

Wright—Some principles of rural library economy. L.W. Vol. 23, 1920-21, pp. 537-540.

Questions.

1. What records should a librarian keep so as to be able to show the receipts and expenditure under the chief heads? Give suggested rulings.

2. Discuss the advantages to be gained by having co-opted members on the Libraries Committee.

3. What advantages would be likely to follow if all County Councils carried out the duties of library authorities?

4. Write an imaginary agenda for a public library committee meeting.

5. Compare the British system of training for librarianship with that of the United States.

6. A public library service has an income of £20,000. Tabulate the percentage you would devote under the various heads.

Lesson 3.

Buildings and Fittings.

This lesson is intended to enable the student to obtain a thorough grasp of the theory and principles of library architecture. The class of library required, its scope and size, the amount of money available, the environment, experience of the librarian and the method of administration intended are all factors that require careful consideration when planning a new library building. Great care must also be taken in selecting or accepting a site. Full factors in the planning of the various departments, together with the correct type of fittings and furniture, should be known to all students. I advise students to visit as many libraries as possible that are organised and administered on the most modern method of library science and to compare them. The factors on population in relation to buildings, spacing and cubical contents required for planning, and the miscellaneous percentages pertaining to the organisation of a library service found on pages 165-8 should be practised and memorised. The Builder should be looked through for specifications and competitions and these should be compared with those suggested by Champneys, Soule, Marks and others. The influence of the “open access” method of administration on planning, fittings and furniture must never be overlooked.

Reading List.

Adams—Public libraries: their buildings and equipment. L.A.R. Vol. 7, 1905, pp. 161-177 and 220-236.

Bostwick—The American Public Library. 3rd edition revised and enlarged, 1923, pp. 282-311.

Brown—Manual of library economy. 1907 edition. Sect. 104-169; pp. 481-2; 485-8. 1919 edition. Sect. 107-173.

Brown and others—Open-access libraries. Grafton, 1915, pp. 11-104.

Burgoyne—Library construction, architecture and fittings, and furniture. The Library Series. Allen, 1906. O.P. Passim.

Burgoyne—Some points in library planning. Greenwood’s L.Y.B., 1900-01, pp. 12-20.

Champneys—Public libraries: a treatise on their design, construction and fittings. Batsford, 1907, 12s. 6d., pp. 1-60; 61-151.

Coulson—Situation of branch libraries. L.W. Vol. 12, 1909-10, pp. 201-4.

Greenhough—Ventilation, heating and lighting. L. Vol. 2, 1890, pp. 421-433.

Hadley—Library buildings. Notes and plans. Amer. Lib. Assoc., Chicago. Grafton, 17s. 6d.

Hare—Some suggestions on the planning of public libraries. L.A.R. Vol. 8, 1906, pp. 148-154.

Hart—Heating, lighting and ventilation. Greenwoods Y.B., 1897, p. 38.

Lowe—The public library building plan. 1924.

MacLeod—County rural libraries, pp. 120-130.

Marks—The principles of planning. Chap. Library planning.

Philip—Lighting, heating and ventilation of libraries. L.A.R. Vol. 9, 1907, pp. 225-230.

Sayers—The children’s library. The English Library, pp. 78-116 and Appendix 1.

Soule—How to plan a library building for library work. Boston, 1912.

Stansbury—Library buildings from a librarian’s standpoint. P.L. November, 1906, p. 495.

Tilton—Scientific library planning. L.J. September, 1912, p. 497.

Walter—Interior decoration of libraries. L.A.R. Vol. 10, 1908, pp. 649-659.

Questions.

1. Plan a combined children’s open-access lending library and reading room to accommodate 120 children at a time, with 2 assistants on duty.

2. Tabulate the features or essentials you would look for in selecting a site for a public library.

3. Give a specification of the principal items of furniture required for a library estimated to cost £20,000.

4. Describe three different varieties of adjustable shelving; state which you would like the best and why.

5. Name the principal conditions which should govern an architectural competition for a Central library building to cost £50,000.

6. Write a brief essay on the organisation and equipment of a combined reference library and reading room for business men.

Lesson 4.

Book-buying and Accession Methods.

A knowledge of book purchase and accession methods is necessary in organising and administering a library service. The sources of supply, and the names of the different classes of publishers and booksellers should be known to all students. The steps to be taken in purchasing, say, 10,000 volumes, and what classes of books to buy second-hand should be carefully considered. Get acquainted with the methods of treating donations, and the principles governing the replacement of withdrawals should be known. Constant revision of stock is necessary in all libraries and advantage should be taken of the special opportunity which is presented whenever a new catalogue is contemplated. Note the difference between “reprints” and “new editions.” The recognised rules and principles on what to withdraw or discard should be carefully read.

Reading List.

Aldred—Book selection and rejection. L.A.R. Vol. 3, 1901, pp. 143-156.

Baker—Book selection. L.A.R. Vol. 13, 1911, pp. 17-29.

Baker—Gift horses. L.A.R. Vol 11, 1909, pp. 422-423.

Bostwick—American Public Library. 3rd edition, pp. 148-161.

Brown—Book selection. L.W. Vol. 26, 1923-24, pp. 98-104.

Brown—Manual of library economy. 1907 edition. Sects. 215-235; 489-495. 1919 edition, Sects. 207-229.

Clarke—Scientific text-books, and the disposal of editions out-of-date. L. Vol. 6, 1894, pp. 164-169.

Doubleday—Weeding out. L.A.R. Vol. 6, 1904, pp. 327-335.

Duncan—Standardization in accession methods. L.W. Vol. 9, 1906-07, pp. 83-87.

Formby—Donations. L. Vol. 1, 1889, pp. 197-202.

Hooper—Order and accession department. Preprint of A.L.A. Manual of Lib. Economy. Chap. 17, Passim.

Lord—Notes on book-buying for libraries. L.J. 1907, pp. 3, 56.

Neesham—Accession methods. L.W. Vol. 8, 1906, pp. 317-320.

Palmer—Relationships of publishers, booksellers and librarians. L.J., 1901. Conference Number, p. 31.

Pitt—Practical accession work. L.A.R. Vol. 7, 1905, pp. 68-71.

Roebuck and Thorne—Primer of library practice. pp. 40-50.

Willcock—Recording, replacing and disposal of worn-out books. L.W. Vol. 4. 1901-02, pp. 91-93.

Questions.

1. Name twenty-five “quick-reference” books.

2. Describe how you would keep up-to-date with new editions in the scientific and technical sections.

3. Is a stock register best kept on cards or in book form? Give your views on this matter.

4. What books are periodically discarded in a lending department? What steps would you take in purchasing at one time books to the value of £2,000?

Lesson 5.

Rules and Regulations.

The popularity of a public library used to be conditioned by its rules and regulations, but during recent years utility has taken the place of hard and fast rules. The student should read the rules of early libraries, understand their principles and compare them with present day rules. The legal aspect of all sides of the library service must also be known and what powers are available for enforcement of penalties, etc. The number of hours the different departments are open to the public, holiday opening, duration of vacation for the staffs, age limits to Juvenile and Senior departments, periods of loans, etc., should be known to all assistants who wish to become qualified and efficient in their work.

Reading List.

Barnett—Sunday labour in public libraries. Greenwood’s Year Book, 1897, pp. 102-106.

Brown—Manual of library economy. 1907 edition, Sects. 353-382; 506-509. 1919 edition, Sects. 348-375.

Brown—The small library. The English Library, pp. 139-148.

Brown and others—Open-access libraries, pp. 179-198.

Clark—Care of books. 2nd edition. Camb. Univ. Press, 1902. 24s. Useful for early rules.

Dana—Library primer. pp. 122-139.

Edwards—Memoirs of libraries. 2 vols. Early rules.

Fry—Fines and other penalties. L.W. Vol. 17, 1914-15, pp. 1-8.

Farrow—Rules and regulations for lending libraries. L.W. Vol. 13, 1910-11, pp. 36-41.

Greenwood—Sunday opening of public libraries. In his Year Book, 1894, pp. 458-470.

Johnston—The replacement of “infected” books. L.W. Vol. 4, 1901-02, pp. 6-9.

Local Government Board—Draft rules. L.A.R. Vol. 5, 1903, pp. 28-30.

Mathews—Public library bye-laws and regulations. L.A.R. Vol. 6, 1904, pp. 279-289.

Sanderson—Library law, pp. 117-122.

Sayers—The children’s library, pp. 78-100.

Shaw and others—Sunday opening of libraries. L.A.R. Vol. 7, 1905, pp. 580-584. Vol. 8, 1906, pp. 79-88.

Willcock—Notification of infectious disease and the public library. L.W. Vol. 2, 1899-1900, pp. 89-91.

Questions.

1. What rule or rules would you include in your bye-laws, if you wish to obtain exemption from the payment of rates?

2. Make a comparison of the early rules in libraries with those of to-day.

3. State what steps you would take to obtain the return of a book long overdue, and what power you have for the enforcement of payment of the fines?

4. Discuss the pros and cons of Sunday opening of reading rooms.

5. If you saw a person cutting an advertisement from a newspaper in the reading room, what action would you take?

6. Give the dimensions of tables, chairs and newspaper stands or wall stands for a general reading room.

TEST EXAMINATION.

1. Give a brief account of the Public Libraries Act of 1919. What amendments or additions would you suggest in order to improve the Municipal Library System of England?

2. Outline the legislation of the United States and state how it differs from English legislation.

3. Assume that a library is free from debt and that the income from the rates and other sources amounts to £20,000, state under the usual main headings how you would allocate the expenditure.

4. A library authority wishes to raise a loan of £50,000 for the building of a library. State the Act or Acts it must work under, the period for the repayment of the loan, and the general procedure in connection with obtaining loans.

5. Draw a plan of a library, on one floor, to serve a population of 100,000 showing what departments you consider essential, and giving the area you would allocate to each.

6. State what size you would have the book-cases; what gangway space between each stack, and your method of dealing with oversize books in a large open access library.

7. Name the ten best guides to book selection.

8. State how you would proceed to select the nucleus stock for a library.

9. Draft a set of rules for a lending library.

10. Draft twelve rules for the juvenile lending library.

11. If a person wished to become a borrower, but worked and lived outside the library district, under what conditions could you accept his application?

FACTORS AND NOTES RELATING TO LIBRARY AND MUSEUM LEGISLATION, ORGANISATION AND EQUIPMENT.

Principal Acts of Parliament affecting Public Libraries.

1843—Scientific Societies Exemption Act.

1855—Public Libraries (Ireland) Act.

1861—Malicious Injuries to Property Consolidation and Amendment (England and Ireland) Act.

1875—Public Health Act.

1877—Public Libraries Amendment (Ireland) Act.

1885—Public Libraries (Ireland) Act.

1887—Public Libraries Consolidation (Scotland) Act.

1887—Public Libraries Amendment and Consolidation (Scotland) Act.

1891—Museums and Gymnasiums Act.

1892—Public Libraries Consolidation and Amendment Act.

1893—Public Libraries Amendment Act.

1894—Public Libraries Amendment and Consolidation (Scotland) Act.

1894—Public Libraries Amendment (Ireland) Act.

1894—Local Government Act (England and Wales).

1898—Libraries Offences Act.

1899—Public Libraries Amendment (Scotland) Act.

1899—Local Government Act (Metropolitan Boroughs).

1901—Public Libraries Museums and Gymnasiums Amendment Act.

1902—Public Libraries Amendment (Ireland) Act.

1911—Public Libraries (Ireland) Act.

1918—Education Act.

1919—Public Libraries Act.

1920—Public Libraries (Scotland) Act.

1920—Public Libraries (Ireland) Act.

1920—Blind Persons Act.

1924—Public Libraries Act (Northern Ireland).

1925—Irish Free State Local Government Act.

First Towns in Great Britain and Ireland to Adopt the Public Libraries Act.

1848—Warrington.

1849—Salford.

1850—Brighton, Norwich.

1851—Winchester.

1852—Bolton, Liverpool, Manchester, Oxford.

1853—Airdrie, Cambridge, Ipswich, Sheffield.

1855—Hertford, Maidstone.

1856—Birkenhead, Dundalk, Westminster.

1857—Leamington, Walsall.

1858—Canterbury.

Committees.

Most of the Committees are composed partly of the members of the local Council and partly of co-opted members who are not on the Council, the Council generally being represented by 66%, with the exception of Scotland, where Committees are, by law, half and half. The average constitution of a committee is 16 but some range from 6 to 40.

Loans.

The Ministry of Health determine the period for which sums of money for particular purposes may be borrowed. The periods usually are: —

For sites or lands 65 or 50 years.

For buildings (with fixtures), 30 years.

For books, 10 years.

For furniture (movable only), 10 years.

Estimate of Annual Expenditure for British Municipal Libraries, with and without Loans.

With Loans. Without Loans.

Salaries and Wages 40 45

Books 14 18

New 10 12

Old 2 3

Replacements 2 3

Periodicals and Newspapers 6 6

Binding 4 5

Buildings 12 14

Heating 4 4

Lighting 4 4

Fittings and Repairs 2 3

Cleaning 1 2

Insurance 1 1

Establishment 6 9

Stationery and Printing 2 5

Postages 1 1

Rates 3 3

National Insurance 1 1

Loans 15 —

Miscellaneous 2 2

100 100

Staff.

The number of librarians and assistants employed in British Municipal Libraries is considerably over 4,000. The percentage of males is 55%. Our largest staffs are in Liverpool and Glasgow libraries (over 200 each) followed by Manchester and Birmingham with over 150 and 100 respectively. Bradford, Bristol, Cardiff, Leeds, have each over 50 staff, and Bolton, Brighton, Edinburgh, Newcastle-on-Tyne and Sheffield have staffs ranging from 30 to 50.

Staff Hours.

The average number of hours worked by the staffs in our larger libraries is 42 weekly.

Miscellaneous Percentages pertaining to the Organization of a Library Service.

When a town has adopted the Public Libraries Acts it is possible, by taking the population as a basis, to form an idea of the requirements necessary to meet the demands that will probably be made upon the service.

A careful survey of the statistics of over 500 British Municipal Libraries results in the following figures. The total percentage of inhabitants who will make use of the Lending Department is 8%; the Reference Department, ¼%; and the Reading Room, 1¼%.

As an example of the working of these percentages for a town of 100,000 inhabitants the following results are obtained:—

The Lending Department must cater for 8% (8,000) of the population. We can assume that each borrower will read 28 books per annum. Thus we would have an annual issue of 224,000. If we assume that the Department is open 307 days in the year we would have a daily average of 730. The Library would be open 11 to 12 hours daily giving us an hourly average of from 60 to 66. Experience has proved that more borrowers are present at one time in the evenings and if we allow 40% extra to the hourly average attendance we get the number present of from 84 to 92. By allowing 25 square feet for each reader, the total floor space required would be from 2,100 to 2,300 square feet; or, an area 55 feet by 40 feet would admirably meet these requirements.

Reference Library.

¼% (250) of the population will use the Reference Department daily. Using the above factors we would have an hourly average attendance of 20, and allowing for crowded periods and 25 square feet for each reader we would require an area of 700 square feet; or, a room 28 feet by 25 feet.

Reading Room.

1¼% (1,250) of the population will make use of the Reading Room daily. Using the given factors we would have to provide accommodation for 144 readers present at one time. Allow 18 square feet for each reader, and we require an area of 2,592 square feet; or a room about 60 feet by 44 feet.

Juvenile Department.

About 500 square feet will be ample accommodation for this Department in a town of this size.

Lecture Rooms.

Attendances vary so much here that it is impossible to secure reliable figures. For a popular lecture room in a town of 100,000 inhabitants upwards of 400 would have to be accommodated, and allowing 7 square feet for each person including platform, gangway, etc., we would require an area of 2,800 square feet; or, a room 40 feet by 70 feet.

Furniture and Fittings.

The greater part of the fittings and furniture of public libraries are made of wood. Oak is the kind most used, but walnut and mahogany are very satisfactory for book-cases, tables and card cabinets.

Book Cases.

The chief requirements of book-shelving are accessibility and adjustability. The best material for book-stacks is undoubtedly fumed oak. An oak book-stack 10 feet 10 inches in length, 1 foot 4 inches in breadth and 6 feet 10 inches in height containing shelves 3 feet 6 inches in length, 7 inches in width and 1 inch in depth is an ideal stack for an open-access Lending Library. This stack fitted with Tonks’ fittings, the metal studs being about ¾ inch apart, contains 7 shelves to the tier. For Lending Library purposes we can estimate that nine books will take one foot of shelf space, and each of the shelves will carry thirty books, therefore 7 shelves or one tier will accommodate 210 books, 3 tiers, or one bay will take 630 books and the complete stack will hold 1,260 volumes. If we take 1,250 as an average for each stack we can work out any problem arising if we know the number of books. For Reference Libraries 8 books to the foot is the usual run. The shelves are 9 inches apart and the top shelf 6 feet from the floor and the bottom shelf 1 foot from the floor.

Iron and steel book-stacks, standard size, for “closed” libraries or for books accessible only to the staff are generally 7 feet 6 inches by 3 feet 2 inches, by 15 inches, which may be joined (generally in bays of three) together. Standard reference book-stacks are 7 feet 6 inches, by 3 feet 2 inches, by 18 inches. Special cases must be provided for large books. For detailed particulars of shelving see Brown’s “Manual of library economy,” 1907 edition, Sections 139-150, and 1919 edition, Sections 143-158; Champney’s “Public Libraries,” pp. 30-39; Brown and others—“Open-access Libraries.”

Reading Tables.

Reading-room Tables should be made of oak, and for adults they should be 2 feet 6 inches high, and the breadth, where both sides are used by readers should not be less than 3 feet. Each reader should be allowed 2 feet 6 inches. Tables should never be longer than 7 feet 6 inches. Where there is sufficient space tables 5 feet long and 3 feet in breadth are the best. If a sloping top is required a fillet should be placed at the bottom to prevent papers slipping off. No more than 4 to 6 readers should be accommodated at each table.

Newspaper Reading Slopes.

A projecting brass rail, upon which readers may rest their arms, should always be fixed at the bottom of the slope. About 4 feet run should be allowed for each paper when possible, but 3 feet 6 inches will do if space is limited. The usual height of wall slopes is 3 feet, from the floor to the bottom of the slope, and 5 feet from the floor to the title plate, which should take the form of movable boards fitted into brass brackets and placed at the top of the slope in the centre of the newspaper. The bottom of the slope should be 1 foot 3 inches from the wall. There are several kinds of brass screw clips for fastening the newspapers to the stands, but revolving holders should be used for illustrated papers.

Reading Room Chairs.

Arm-chairs are to be preferred to any others. The height of the seat should be 1 foot 4 inches except for juvenile readers (when the height will range from 12 inches for children 5-9 years of age, with an additional inch for every four years up to 21 years of age).

“Open-access” Enclosure.

The lending library counter in an open-access library should be 3 feet high and 2 feet wide and the minimum area for the enclosure should be 8 feet by 8 feet for the smaller libraries and a minimum of 10 feet by 10 feet for libraries registering a daily issue of over 1,000 volumes. For detailed kinds of barriers, latches, etc., see Brown’s “Manual of library economy,” 1907 edition, Sections 128-129; 1919 edition, Sections 131-136; and Brown and others “Open-access libraries.”

Miscellaneous.

Gangways between double reading tables, with movable chairs should be at least 6 feet. Gangways down the sides of centre of a room should be 7 feet. Space between each book, stack in a closed library should be a minimum of 4 feet and in an open-access library a minimum of 6 feet.

In planning buildings 18 to 24 inches should be allowed for external walls, and 6 to 9 inches for internal walls.