Untitled - eCommons@Cornell - Cornell University

THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY.
315
and the Flower Veterinary Library. The total number of bound
volumes in the University Library is now two hundred and twenty-five
thousand and twenty-two, distributed as follows :
General Library 192,920
Seminary Libraries 3, 340
Law School Library
27,562
Flower Veterinary Library
1,200
225,022
The General Library of the University and the Seminary Libraries
are all grouped under one roof in the Library Building, while the Law
School Library has separate quarters in Boardman Hall and the
Flower Veterinary Library in the State Veterinary College.
The University Library Building, the gift of the late Hon.
Henry W. Sage, stands at the southwest corner of the quadrangle
formed by the principal University buildings. It is built of light gray
Ohio sandstone, and its construction is fireproof throughout. It is
heated by steam from the central heating station, is provided with a
thorough system of artificial ventilation, and fully equipped with
incandescent electric lights. The extreme dimensions of the building
are one hundred and seventy by one hundred and fifty-three feet, and
it has a storage capacity of four hundred and seventy-five thousand
volumes. The general outlines of the ground plan are somewhat in
the form of a cross, the bookstacks occupying the southern and west
ern arms, the reading room and periodical room, the eastern, the
White Historical library, the rooms seminary and the offices of admin
istration, the northern. The abundantly lighted and handsomely
furnished reading room contains ample accommodations for two hun
dred and twenty readers,
and the open book-cases around its walls
provide shelf-room for a selected reference carefully library of eight
thousand volumes. In the basement, beneath the reading room, is a
lecture room, with seating capacity for nine hundred and eighty
auditors. In the tower are placed the great bell of the University,
the gift of Mrs. Mary White, the chime of bells, the gift of Mrs.
Jennie McGraw-Fiske, and the University clock.
The General Library is under the supervision of the Library
Councie, consisting of seven members, as follows : The President of
the University and the Librarian, ex officio, one member chosen by
the Board of Trustees, and four members nominated by the University
Faculty and confirmed by
the University
the Board of Trustees. The President of
is ex officio chairman of the council. The elected
members hold office until their successors are chosen.