NEW ADDITION AFFORDS WIDENER SHELVING ROOM

With the approaching completion of two new floors of steel stacks in the Widener Library additional space will be provided for more than a quarter of a million volumes, according to Superintendent Frank Carney. The original plans made allowances for two floors, upon a level lower than the present A and B floors; but no movement was made toward the completion of these floors until further contributions could be received. Merely the steel superstructure supporting the above eight floors was in place.

The recent contribution of Mrs. Hamilton Rice, formerly Mrs. George B. Widener, the donor of the original building, made possible the renewal of operations. Workmen are now occupied in installing the unit construction steel supports and shelves, similar in form to the stacks on the above floors. The floors of high grade Vermont marble are in place and it is expected that in two months time the addition will be settled and ready for occupancy. An added space of three feet between the two new floors insures better ventilation and less crowded over head space than in the old stacks.

With the addition of the two new floors source materials is now distributed over ten levels of stacks six of which lie above the level of the main entrance, designated by numerals and four below indicated by letter. Sufficient light on the lowest level is afforded by the center light well which extends about is feet below the outside ground level.