publications, is partially paneled in
oak like the Main Reading
Room, but its decoration is less formal
and imposing.
The designs of the windows, picturing
the seasons of the
year and the signs of the zodiac, are
designed to represent
periodicity.
Adjoining the east wall of the Periodical Room, a
vaulted Exhibition Corridor forming
an arcaded cloister to
the main court connects with the Wall
Street entrance. At
the end of the corridor on either side
of the entrance vestibule
are lecture halls and exhibition rooms.
Through one of
the latter a door leads to the Rare
Book Room, a balconied
hall of great charm in the Jacobean
style. In keeping with
the quality of the collection which
it contains, this room has
been treated with unusual care. A wealth
of ornament in
materials varying from stone to wood,
iron, and lead gives
variety and interest to the interior.
A sense of some intimacy
is created by the warmth in the colour
of stone and plaster.
Recessed alcoves along the north side
of the room give an
opportunity of privacy for the privileged.
At the end of the
hall, large iron gates of handsome
design open into a vaulted
chamber of polygonal plan which contains
the Gutenberg
Bible. Both from the nature of the
collection and the character
of the architecture, the Rare Book
Room is one of the
favorites with visitors.
Behind the Rare Book Room and sheltered from the
noise of the street, the librarians'
offices face upon a south
court. This court, which is intended
eventually to be used by
students as a place for outdoor reading
in the open air, is
treated more informally than the rest
of the library. The
material used is largely brick with
an occasional introduction
of stone in small patterns. Some of
these stones are
carved with printers' and engravers'
marks and the names
of famous printers.
In the corner across the court a door connects with the
main entrance vestibule. From this
vestibule and in easy
communication with the door to the
court is the entrance to
