The north side of the building faces toward the back of a bus station in a very unsightly area. This is completely close off as a solid wall and along that wall all of our utility runs--air conditioning, piping, plumbing, etc.--are brought up to different levels and from there run through the building. The other sides of the building are open and are protected by a sunscreen which we hope will actually control the rays of the sun but at the same time will have transparency so that one will get a feeling of being in the surroundings and yet will have a sense of protection.

To provide economy of operation and flexibility of service, all public areas are planned as zones within the total space, defined only by furniture and movable stacks. This allows for increase or decrease, addition or subtraction of departments without alteration. Also, the large interrupted spaces can be supervised by a smaller staff. With all departments exposed to view, the public is encouraged to wander and "shop" for the various services offered.

The bridge area penetrates vertically through an opening in the second floor, extending this space upwards to the ceiling of the second floor a height of 26'-0" above the floor of the bridge. This opening is glazed on three sides at the second level, being flanked on the two long sides by luxuriously landscaped patios which open to the sky. This penetration affords exciting vistas from the first floor and mezzanine interior spaces and, in reverse, floods the central interior with natural lights.

The building retains no reminder of the cloistered fortress which tradition has established as the standard library. Instead, planners for the new branch sought a light, airy appeal--an open effect that would invite outsiders into its fascinating world of books. To achieve this end, the associated architects . . . created the three most important walls of glass and shielded them with a sunscreen of Alcoa Aluminum.

. . . he [the City Librarian] wanted a library that would appeal to everyone in the community who passed by. He wanted them to come in because the building looked inviting and because they saw other people in there reading and would think that it might be a good idea to read a book once again.

Of special interest is a 63 x 9 foot illuminated photomural map of New Orleans and Lower Louisiana, drawn by John Chase, noted local newspaper cartoonist, which covers the wall behind the service desk. The huge mural, believed to be the largest o its kind in the world, was presented to the library by Dillard University, through efforts of The Friends of the New Orleans Public Library.

The little roof deck over the main checking-in and checking-out desk was a bit of concern to us from an esthetic point of view; we weren't sure of its appearance but it was quite necessary. We now have a commitment from the Japanese consul to transport from Japan a Japanese stone garden, which will be located out there on the roof. We believe that this will be a very attractive thing as one arrives at the mezzanine level.

The building itself reflects the conviction of the staff that the fundamental purposes of a public library are to provide information, tools for education and a place in which the records or our heritage may be preserved for posterity. A rectangular structure measuring 150 by 216 feet, it contains a total of 146,902 square feet of floor space, four times as much as was available in the old building.

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