But the most important question in regard to an architect is, does he belong to the school which exaggerates Venustas in all building, or the better school which accepts Utilitas as the key to library problems?
I heard President Faunce of Brown at a building committee meeting ask of the architect whom they were “sizing up,” this question: “Do you believe in planning the exterior or the interior first?” The answer came, prompt and decided, “I want the interior fully planned first; in no other way can I evolve appropriate architecture.” A year later, at another meeting, President Faunce asked the architect, “How are you satisfied with your library, now that you see it built?” “Very well,” was the answer. “I ought to be, because I have never had a problem so thoroughly presented.”
A similar question ought to be asked every architect before finally engaging him. If he wants to plan the exterior first, he belongs to the class of architects who ought to plan tombs, not libraries. Reject him, however famous or influential or persistent he or his friends may be.
Base of choice. It is wise, in the first place, to disregard pressure. The best architects will rarely try to use it, or allow it to be used for them. A dignified letter, with reference to work they have done, will be all they would allow. Distrust activity in application.
“Announcement brings letters of solicitation from architects or their friends, and all sorts of intrigues. In private work, it is usual to appoint the architect outright.”[137]
If you have a satisfactory expert as a librarian or adviser, any architect who has done good work will do, even if he has had no direct experience with libraries.
“The number of libraries an architect has built makes little difference.”—Marvin.[138]
Prominence, though, is not necessary. A good authority already quoted, says: “The best of architects, standing at the head of their profession, have failed in practical library designing, some of them to a ridiculous degree.”[139] We all could point out such men.
Get an energetic, young architect for a small library; the large firm must turn over details to a subordinate.