takes care of itself; and one of the largest apartments in any
edifice in the United States is practically concealed, so far as
any positive exterior result is concerned."

[Illustration: A RAINY DAY--FIFTH AVENUE

FROM AN ETCHING BY CHARLES B. KING]

The large apartment referred to in this quotation is the Main Reading
Room of the Library, which is described farther on in this Handbook.

FIRST FLOOR

=Entrances.= There are two entrances to the Library, the main entrance on
Fifth Avenue, and the side door on 42nd Street, which gives admission to
the basement, where the Central Circulation Room, the Newspaper Room and
the Central Children's Room are to be found. On a first visit, however,
the sightseer should use the main entrance on Fifth Avenue, in order to
see the lobby, which rises through two stories, with broad staircases to
the right and left. The flying arches of these staircases are of
seventeen feet span, and are all of marble without any brick or metal
work whatever. The marble used in the lobby is from Vermont. The ceiling
is a true marble vault of forty feet span, supporting itself and the
floor over it, with no metal whatever, except some reinforcing rods
buried in the concrete filling in the floor above.

[Illustration: TRUTH

BY FREDERICK MACMONNIES]

Between the pillars facing the entrance are two inscriptions. At the
left is this:

THE CITY OF NEW YORK
HAS ERECTED THIS BUILDING
TO BE MAINTAINED FOREVER
AS A FREE LIBRARY
FOR THE USE OF THE PEOPLE

[Illustration: PART OF MAIN FACADE]

And at the right:

ON THE DIFFUSION OF EDUCATION
AMONG THE PEOPLE
REST THE PRESERVATION
AND PERPETUATION
OF OUR FREE INSTITUTIONS

The latter is a quotation from an address by Daniel Webster at Madison,
Indiana, June 1, 1837.

=Elevators= are near the northern or 42nd Street end of the building.
There is also a staircase at this end of the building, in addition to
the staircases near the main entrance.

=Exhibition Room.= Directly opposite the main entrance is the Exhibition
Room, finished in white Vermont marble. The ceiling is supported by
twenty-four columns of green veined white marble. The ceiling itself is
elaborately and beautifully carved in oak. This room is devoted to
exhibitions of rare books, manuscripts and prints. The exhibitions are
changed from time to time, usually as often as three or four times a
year. Open 9 a. m. to 6 p. m. on week d