PLACE FOR BOOKS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 303, 14 March 1928, Page 7

PLACE FOR BOOKS

A COSY LIBRARY I The library in a home is usually the room to which members of the family go when they wish to enjoy solid comfort. It should be one of the most comfortably furnished rooms in the house. Easy chairs should be available for those who frequent this part of the home. Of course, one expects to find books ! in a library, and this means that there ; must be a space provided where they j can be kept. Bookcases should be 1 built so that they will be artistic. The bookcases should also be arranged so that the books will be easily reached. Xobody wants to have to climb up on a chair and reach for books. Then one should provide bookcases for more books than the owner of the house has to begin with. A library of books ought to grow, and usually does. It is desirable to keep the books in such places as will protect them from dust and dirt, for it does not take long to practically ruin good books if they are not given such protection. Glass doors in front of bookshelves will solve this problem and at the same time enable one to read the titles of the books. A fireplace is always an attractive feature of a library. There is nothing so pleasant as a good book in a comfortable chair before an open fireplace. Then the space on each side of the fireplace is usually available for bookshelves and enables one to utilise the space in the room to the best possible advantage. Perhaps the primary requisite for a library is good lighting, for it is very difficult to really enjoy a book if the lighting is poor. This calls for plenty of window space for day reading and ample supply of lighting fixtures for evening use. A very satisfactory way of lighting a library is by the indirect system. The source of the illumination is screened by opaque inverted bowls lined with reflectors, which send the light to the ceiling. But the light i must be white or very light in colour, so that it will be well diffused through- • cut the room. However, many people I prefer the use of lamps especially de- : signed for reading. J The library should be the cosiest 1 room in the house.