Looks Well Beside Others

The New Eogüarul Magazine ior December bas au ai-tic'le upon College Libiiaries, In "wbich appears a íine váeiv of tibe U. of M. library building, Avith this in neBerence to Ifc : '■The library of the University of Miclidgan at Aran Artxor, buül't in ÍS83 f :oni designs of Van and Howe, piiesí?nts a uinique pí'an, wíiiclij' ib ANOiild be impossible x3 bring Juto line it.li any BpieciaJOy de'sieloped series of library torms. Tlïe arcüitects saw iic to adopta sym'metrioal instead of au irreguiar plan, and to arrangie a doullfle sj'sbenï of ente-ances corresponding to eacJi ottoer. But this feature of the design had a raison d'etre in flie iact tliat University of Michigan is co-educatioaaj and it mis regarded as desirable to provide separate entj-ainces and cloak, rooms ior thie mieaaud womeu. The book stacks, being arraiiOed in a room' on the long central axis of the building, toavie rno correspomding xuember ia any ot'hier part oi tbe litructure and can consequently be extended without nrarring tbe gymmet-ry of the deBigia. As in the case of the Jow Library at Colunrbia UmiTiersity, the lnteitor is mot devoted exciasively to reading rooms or rooms for tliO stoffige oí boolis, a J.a,rOa lecbure room haviiïg been p-rovided at thiö l'ea.r oí eacli oí the Oiiitrances. The tsecond i.oor also conitains accommodations ior a p;ietuae and, sculï)tui-6 gallery. The exterioa' of the library ís quit-e pieculiar arnd presante no Kichardsonian tealtures, untos ive regard as such tlii taieatment oí thei onter watil ol the ïieadinig room1, which is brokea omly by a row of Bm'alll Windows ut the top, suggiesbing distinctly tjie tneatimnit of tlile booki wing in the Biaimgs Libnary. The individual chu.racted oi the exterior oí the Michigan "Jibnairy is iurt'hier inereased by tire piecTiliar appearaace oí the two nather 'jo.ty towers caipped by yyramidall ïooïb, wMch ris& tlirough the maln body oí tlue buil.dLng ín symmetlieal positions on eitiher side oí the lOingituünjal axte. I oim not aware i'hat thiesa campiariiilii ha"i aay special funetton, except that croe oí them i-i uaed asa clock tower."