FITTINGS AND FURNITURE.
To some extent the arrangement of fittings and furniture will be dealt with in the Handbook on Buildings, so that it will only be necessary here to consider their construction, variety, and uses.
BOOK-CASES, SHELVES, &c.
Standard cases or presses, designed for what is called the “stack” system of arrangement, are constructed with shelves on both sides, and are intended to stand by themselves on the floor. They are without doors or glass fronts, and their dimensions must be decided entirely by the requirements of each library and the class of books they are to contain. For ordinary lending libraries a very convenient double case with ten shelves of books to the tier can be made about 9 feet 6 inches wide × 8 feet 6 inches high, including cornice and plinth × 18 inches deep—the depth of the shelves being about 9 inches, their length 3 feet, and their thickness, as finished, not less than ¾″ nor more than 1 inch. Such a case will hold about 1800 volumes in 8vo and 12mo sizes, and the top shelf can be reached by a middle-sized person from a step or stool 12 inches high. Lower cases should be provided if rapidity of service is particularly required and there is plenty of floor space to carry the stock. The top shelf of a case 7 feet high, including cornice and plinth, can be reached from the floor by any one of ordinary height, small boys and girls of course excluded. These cases are made with middle partitions between the backs of the shelves, though some librarians prefer a simple framework of uprights, cornice, and plinth. For the sake of security and the necessary rigidity a central partition ought to be included, and if this is formed of thin ¼″ boarding, double and crossing diagonally, with a strong iron strap between screwed tight into the outer uprights, all tendency to bulging will be obviated, and the cases will be firm and workmanlike. The skeleton or framework cases have to be stayed in all directions by iron rods and squares fixed in the floor, and, when empty, look very unsightly and rickety; besides, books get pushed or tumble over on to the adjoining shelf, and the plea of ventilation, which is practically the only recommendation for this plan of construction, loses much of its weight in a lending library where most of the books are in circulation.
Fig. 1.[1]—Standard Book-case.
Fig. 2.[2]—Standard Book-case without Partition.
The shelves should have rounded edges, and ought not to exceed 3′ or 3′ 6″ in length. If longer ones are used they must be thin, in order to be easily moved, and so these become bent in course of time, especially if heavy books are placed on them. The objection to long shelves which are very thick is simply that they are unhandy and difficult to move and waste valuable space. All shelves should be movable, and if possible interchangeable. No paint or varnish should be applied to any surface with which the books come in contact, but there is nothing to be said against polishing. Indeed, to reduce as far as possible the constant friction to which books are exposed in passing to and from their resting-places, it ought to be remembered that smooth surfaces are advantageous. Few libraries can afford leather-covered shelves like those of the British Museum, but all can have smoothness and rounded edges.
Fig. 3.—Ledged Wall Book-Case.
Reference library cases are constructed similarly to those above described; but as folio and quarto books require storage in this department, it is necessary to make provision for them. This is usually done by making the cases with projecting bases, rising at least 3′ high, and in the enlarged space so obtained fair-sized folios and quartos can be placed. Very large volumes of plates or maps should be laid flat on shelves made to slide over hard wood runners like trays, as they frequently suffer much damage from standing upright. A special, many-shelved press should be constructed for books of this generally valuable class, and each volume should be allowed a tray for itself. If the tray is covered with leather, felt, or baize, so much the better. Wall cases, and cases arranged in bays or alcoves, are generally much more expensive than the plain standards just described, because, as they are intended for architectural effect as well as for storage, they must be ornamental, and possibly made from superior woods. The plan of arranging books round the walls has been almost entirely abandoned in modern lending libraries, but there are still many librarians and architects who prefer the bay arrangement for reference departments. The matter of arrangement is one, however, which depends largely upon the shape and lighting of rooms, means of access, and requirements of each library, and must be settled accordingly.
The question of material is very important, but of course it depends altogether upon the amount which is proposed to be spent on the fittings. It is very desirable that the cases should be made durable and handsome, as it is not pleasant to have bad workmanship and ugly fittings in a centre of “sweetness and light”. For the standards previously mentioned there can be nothing better or cheaper than sound American or Baltic yellow pine, with, in reference cases, oak ledges. This wood is easily worked, wears very well, and can be effectively stained and varnished to look like richer and more expensive woods. Of course if money is no object, oak, mahogany, or walnut can be used; but the cost of such materials usually works out to nearly double that of softer woods. Cases with heavily moulded cornices should be boarded over the top, and not left with huge empty receptacles for dust and cobwebs. This caution is tendered, because joiners very often leave the space made by the cornice vacant and exposed.