Small Library Buildings: A Collection of Plans Contributed by the League of Library Commissions (Classic Reprint) - Tapa blanda

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Excerpt from Small Library Buildings: A Collection of Plans Contributed by the League of Library Commissions

This pamphlet contains the best of the plans sent to the editor by the cooperating Library Commissions. These do not represent the editor's choice, but include the recent buildings in each state which, in the opinion of the Commission officers, best meet the needs of the librarians and the public.

Each Commission was asked to send plans of public libraries costing not over $10,000, $25,000 and $75,000 respectively, and of one small college library. The result is a collection of eight plans of buildings costing $10,000 or less; three between $10,000 and $15,000; three between $20,000 and $25,000; three over $25,000; two of college libraries which are fair representatives of this type; and one small branch library which is a good model for any inexpensive building.

Plans of buildings costing less than $5,000 were not supplied by the Commissions, but will be found in Mr. Eastman's pamphlet and in the reports of Library Commissions noted below. A $5,000 building usually consists of one large, well-lighted room, with basement for storage and work rooms. A building costing $3,000 or less cannot have library rooms in the basement. Small buildings will be the same as the $10,000 buildings in the points of light, shelving, floor covering, etc.

The descriptive notes vary in quality and extent; they contain all that could be secured from trustees, librarians and Commissions, and nothing which is not worth consideration. The notes for plans XIII, XVII, XVIII and XX are quite full, the details of these buildings having been carefully worked out. The notes on the furniture and fittings are especially valuable.

Special attention has been devoted to the plans of small buildings, as the Commissions seek to aid trustees who have not the help of experienced librarians and who cannot afford to put a large sum into the investigation. The plans of larger libraries are included rather as a matter of interest, showing the development and extension of buildings as the demands of library work increase. The interior views are included for the purpose of helping in decisions on furniture and fittings, as well as for the idea of interior arrangement. Most of the buildings are in the Middle States, as the Commissions of the Middle West have cooperated most fully in the preparation of the pamphlet. As the buildings are nearly new or of recent date, it has not been possible to secure figures in regard to the cost of maintenance, which is naturally an important item in planning a building. Statistics on this point may be secured from the librarians of the different libraries. A carefully planned building should be economically heated, lighted and cared for by a small force.

Plans VIII, XIII and XVI are recommended as the most perfect buildings for the money invested, both as to interiors and exteriors.

As will be evident, excellence of architectural design has, in some instances, been ignored, and a few brief comments on such points have been added to the notes. All buildings included are not models. Though some contain serious mistakes, each has good points worth reproducing, as well as the objectionable features which it has been the ungracious task of the editor to point out in the notes following the description of each building. It is possible that these notes enumerate the deviations from an ideal plan existing in the mind of the editor, and that this ideal may not be generally accepted. Any criticism must come from some definite point of view, but an effort has been made to cast aside prejudice and to keep in mind the fact that the model building of today may be considered quite out-of-date tomorrow. An effort has been made to summarize the best points in library architecture as determined by the experience of the past ten years. Officers of the cooperating Commissions are not responsible for th