Joint Library Stores Greater Boston Books

First conceived by President Eliot in 1902 but still the only one of its kind in the country, "the new library in back of the Business School," more formally known as the New England Deposit Library, has quietly begun operations.

Eliot called it "a warehouse for dead books", but this $200,000 cooperative venture for 11 greater Boston libraries will by no means be neglected. It primarily aims to relieve unnecessary overcrowding in Widener and the other member libraries caused by little-used technical works, textbooks, and newspaper files, some of which date back a century or more.

Construction began eight months ago on the imposing brick mass, of the simplest design inside and out, whose most unique architectural feature are the five-story windows on front and back.

Small Reading Room

Compared with the six floors of stacks, the small reading room to the left of the entrance accomodates no more than 35. Scholars who plan to use a large amount of source material over a period of a week or so may keep it on shelves in this room within arm's reach.

If priorities had not interfered, all the stacks would have been of the regular steel variety, but at present they are being built of wood impregnated with an effectively fire-resistant chemical and if possible they will be permanent.

1,000,000 books of standard size can be shelved in the space now available but if, in the distant future, more room is required, five additional units, each as large as the original, have been projected, the first two of which will flank the present structure while the other three will be placed immediately to the rear.

Few volumes have been permanently deposited so far, but Librarian Keyes D. Metcalf said yesterday that the University Library expects to begin transferring some 100,000 books next week, followed in successive weeks by the other libraries.

Makes Hole in Widener Stacks

The relieving effect this removal will have on library facilities here is made apparent when one realizes that it is the equivalent of one of Widener's stack levels.

With construction still in progress, the basement of the deposit library has been given over to the U. S. O. to store books gathered in the "V" Book Drive which have been arriving at the rate of more than a thousand a day.

Seriously considered by Metropolitan Boston librarians three years ago, the New England Deposit Library was erected with funds supplied by the University which will be repaid by the corporation which is now the nominal owner, over a long-term period.