In stacks. By bulbs at the ceiling of each desk, either hanging down, or doubled up.
Colors. As elsewhere noted, light colors in walls, ceilings, shelving and furniture, aid any system of lighting by reflection.
Switches. The location of switches is most important both for effectiveness and for economy.
Systems. I do not propose to discuss here all the systems of lighting or makes of lamps and fixtures, but I wish to record a very deliberate opinion as to the proper trend of experiments in library lighting.
Seeing a book advertised on “Practical Illumination,” by Cravath and Lansingh, I bought and have carefully looked it over. The seven pages it gives to libraries have not helped me at all, but I have found on other pages matter of interest. This, for instance:—
“The object of artificial illumination is to enable us to see things.”
“It is undoubtedly true that the eye is more comfortable when receiving a moderate amount of light from all directions, as it does in daylight, than when getting all its light from a bright page in a dark room.”
“The ceilings and walls, if light in color, have considerable value as reflectors, especially in small rooms.”
[On page 7 is a table of percentages of light reflected from different wall papers.]