“Wasteful of space, impossible of supervision.”—Champneys.[189]
“The greater distance attendants must go, materially affects the service.
“There is much discomfort to readers who go into an alcove to be out of the way, and who are distracted by the passing to and fro.
“Supervision from the counter is impossible.”—Burgoyne.[190]
And the new-old monstrosity of the early American type elsewhere described[191]—may it never be revived,—the unholy marriage of alcoves and galleries.
Alcoves might be used not only in private or club libraries, but in such rooms as Mr. Foster’s “Standard Library,” or the “Library of the Masters,” Mt. Holyoke College, which may be regarded as cosy club-rooms, in which easy chairs and footrests are not considered out of place.
Galleries survive in the old world, and in old libraries with us, but they have no friends in new libraries. They are better than high wall shelving served by ladders. If less than 2 feet 4 inches wide, and if approached by spiral stairs, they are nuisances to be abolished.