THE PUBLIC LIBRARAY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVII, Issue 12783, 14 April 1902, Page 3

THE PUBLIC LIBRARAY.

j THE NEW BUILDING. OPENING OF THE CIRCULATING DEPARTMENT. The additions and alterations to the PubHo Library are now so far forward' that it has been decided to re-open the circulating department this morning. The reference department is also open to the public, but the workmen are still busy in the new reading room and the gallerv that runs around it, A change has come over the scene in the circulating department. It is. entered by the main doorway, which opens into a hall. Glass doors admit the visitor from this to the library, the circulating department being one one side the reference on the other, while a very handsome staircase leads up to the subscribers' reading room, which has been well fitted up and is excellently ventilated and lighted, being supplied with a large t skylight and- twelve incandescent burners. These remarks in regard to lighting also apply to the circulating department downstairs, which ha.s been much enlarged and improved. It contains twelve book-stacks; and over 20,000 volumes, and a notable feature is the new style of bookcase, with wire backs, three of these having been introduced. Formerly the bookcases were uncomfortably close together; they are now five feet apart, and thfcs gives plenty of room between them. The issue office has to be passed before the circulating department is reached. It is roomy, and 1 in front of it there is a semicircular counter. The reference department has also to be reached by passing the issue office, but on the other side. The 13,000 volumes in this department have not been disturbed, practically the only alteration being in connection with the entrance, all direct communication with the circulating department having been cut off. Mr H. Strong, the Librarian, has a comfortable little office on the road to the reference department, and all modern conveniences are supplied in the building, which will be lighted at night by incandescent, burners throughout and will be heated by a boiler. In the issue office there are two buttons, which, on .being pressed, ring electric bells, announcing that closing time has arrived. The public reading department, which will be opened by and bye, is exceptionally well lighted and roomy. When Mr Strong first assumed office about twenty years ago, the reference and circulating departments were all in the same room, that occupied by the latter department now. There were then 15,000 volumes and 644 subscribers. The number of volumes at the present time is about 34,000, in spite of the fact that several thousand have been taken from the shelves, and there are 1819 subscribers. The Christchurch Library has about 300 more subscribers than any other similar institution in the colony.