THE NEW PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Press, Volume XXVI, Issue 3579, 28 December 1876, Page 2

THE NEW PUBLIC LIBRARY.

The arrangements for opening to tbefrrah&jr the new building recently erected for the re-t ference and circulating departments of th'd Public Library having been completed, it will be available on and after to-day. It would have been so sooner had it not heea that the return by the eubectibwe 0! fhe books has been of such an intermittent character as to seriously impede the works 0! classification and cataloguing, the entrance, to the library is by a recessed doorway with 1 swing doors facing on Cambridge terrace. Passing through these we come to a passage leading to the left to the reading room, which' is cut off from the passage by handsome naffglass swing doors, and to the rjght tothtf circulating and reference,departments. " The whole of the new wing is devoted tc* these two departments. We fust eater tjjfe* circulating library, which is a lofty well pr<K portioned lighted by two large windows and having a vpry cheerful appeal; ance. The fljor is covered with lineolum; which prevents any noiee from footsteps, and. the shelves and bookcases ranged round the room are very handsome pieces of farnitaie." In this room, which is divided from taei reference library by a partition having glasi swing doors in the centre, is divided into twenty-eix bays, containing the variopa divi-» sions of literature neatly labelled, bo that the 4 visitor can see at a glance what he require*. The librarian's desk is placed on the eastern Bide of the room facing the bookcases, and it is intended, we believe, sbortlr to provide* counter for folding papers, delivering boafc% &c. . Passing through the swing doors, we eiter the reference library, which is also a very handsome and well lighted apartment, the, shelves and bookcases being divided in the same way as the circulating library. Now that the late Provincial Council Library has ' been added to the reference one Already possessed by the Public Library, there ia a very extensive show of books. It is intended to place a number of small tables in this room, for the convenience of those requiring to consult the various works of reference; The ventilation is very complete, as in addition to the usual ground ventilation the: cornices of the apartments are Dierced with ornamental stars, which act aa ventilators, 1 communicating with the shafts, which lead to the outside of tbe building. At night the rooms are lit by two very handsome gas «unlights, and the temperature ia regelated by hot water pipes beneath the floor. Half way aloDg the passage previously referred to is a compact little lavatory, with, two basins and the water laid on from ea artesian well outside, which will prove a great boon to the frequenters of the Library, The usual out offices are also provided, and! in the yard in an hydraulic ram, which supplies the water for the heating apparatus Entrance to the reading room Iβ gained by swing glass doors passing into the olft paesoge for the present. It is intended, however, to carry out farther alterations shortly, by which the old circulating and reference libraries will be thrown into the reading room, except a small office. A door near the position of the old one will lead to this office and also to the upper rooms, which are now need for the College classes. , ... ~ „ Altogether the new building is a credif tet the city, and without making any great pretensions to ornamentation, is , yet eubjt stantially and usefully furnished. t