mm 



I 14 ARRANGEMENTS OF NEW READING-ROOM. 



The tables and enclosures are of wainscot, the chairs of 

 mahogany, the floors being covered with kamptulicon. \ 

 "The main entrance into the new Reading-room is du-ect I 

 from the Great Hall, and there are secondary entrances for j 

 the oflS.cers from the King's Library and the Great Northern j 

 Library rooms, through which all books are conveyed to j 

 the centre of the Reading-room, whence they are distributed, ' 



" The amalgamation of the several catalogues, which are 

 dra^vn up on various plans, into one catalogue prepared on a 

 uniform plan, is proceeding rapidly. Letters A, B, C, D, 

 E, F constitute about one-third of the entire catalogue, and 

 this portion, completed, wdll be placed in the new Reading- 

 room on its opening ; it will be comprised in nearly 500 

 volumes. The completion of this Herculean work is now 

 under the responsible superintendence of Mr. J. "Winter 

 Jones, the successor of Mr. Panizzi in the keepership of the 

 department of printed books, Mr. Panizzi being now the 

 Principal Librarian." 

 i " The architect, Mr. Smirke, has the merit of the pre- 

 ! paration of the original and first designs. The contractors, 

 j Messrs. Baker and Fielder, share no common deserts in their 

 I professional laboui's. Indeed the skill, perseverance, and in- 

 i genious resources of their managing partner, Mr. Fielder, 

 have been beyond all praise. It is gratifying to record that 

 such a vast and lofty building has been completed without 

 loss of a single life or any serious accident." The warming 

 and ventilating arrangements have been carried out by Messrs. 

 Haden of Trowbridge. 



ArRAXGEMEXTS of IsTeW PiEADIXG-EoOM. 

 We will now proceed to describe more at length the » 

 internal fittings and arrangements of the Reading-room, |j 

 which ^vill be better understood by reference to the plan 

 which forms the frontispiece to this paper. A, on the plan, 

 shows the circular enclosure occupied by the Superintendent, 

 the Clerk, and the attendants. The Trustees, having suc- 

 ceeded in providing for the public a Reading-room superior 



