This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1888 Excerpt: ...those chiefly in demand in such a way as to facilitate the service of readers. The accounts for 1691 present two entries relating to the library: "July 12th, for lenthening the Library Room by taking away the Bibliothecarius his chamber, altering the presses where the books stand, making seven new presses intirely new, ...
Read More
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1888 Excerpt: ...those chiefly in demand in such a way as to facilitate the service of readers. The accounts for 1691 present two entries relating to the library: "July 12th, for lenthening the Library Room by taking away the Bibliothecarius his chamber, altering the presses where the books stand, making seven new presses intirely new, making wire casements to the whole presses, 739/. is. 6d." "To William Waddell, painter, for painting all the casements and presses in the Library green, and the wyre and inside reed, 30/." The internal arrangements of the library are not altogether satisfactory; and it is but due to the late Librarian, Mr. Spears, and to myself that I should here mention some of the suggestions embodied in the Report prepared by us (after consideration of arrangements in the British Museum and other libraries) for the Building Committee and the architect on the accommodation required, and that I should state the effect given to them in the actual arrangements for which we were not responsible. Our memorandum stated inter alia that the new library "should be isolated as far as possible, so as to diminish the risk of fire, and constructed throughout with special precautions against that risk." The building is not isolated, but has class-rooms and a dwelling-house annexed to it, and, while concreted floors are provided by way of precaution against fire, an open shaft containing a wooden staircase passes up from the basement to the second floor of the main building. We asked that the building " should be heated with hot water pipes and well ventilated." It was heated at first by hot air flues (carried along, at least on the north side, beneath the basement) which brought in the dust and sooty smoke of Glasgow as well as oc...
Read Less