The City Library in 1910

‘The building is Byzantine in style and being nicely proportioned is commodious and handsome in appearance. It is built entirely of hollow concrete blocks and lined throughout with Athy stock brick. being finished with a dark grey coating. The concrete blocks it is interesting to know were manufactured on the premises of the contactors by local labour and some specimens at present on view in the building reflect great credit on the skill and intelligence of our local labourers. Owing to the occasional flooding which causes such an amount of damage to residents on the Quay, it was wisely decided to raise the foundation almost three feet above the level of the Quay. The facade is extremely pretty, the nobly-proportioned cut-stone columns with moulded caps and bases that support entrance porch and the turret that surmounts the roof imparting to it an arresting and picturesque appearance. The porch is semi-circular in shape, the parapet walls being of reinforced concrete. Handsome doors of one panel, the top being glazed with plate glass and having a semi-circular fanlight above afford an entrance to the building. The doors of the vestibule and those erected in the other portions of the building are hung on patent swing hinges and close without making the least noise. The first thought that suggests itself to one on entering is the admirable manner in which the building is lighted and ventilated. The four apartments which will be open to the public can be viewed from the entrance hall, and each one has several large mullioned windows so arranged as to admit a full supply of fresh supply without causing any draughts whatever. There are in addition, twelve inlets in the external walls and six ceiling exhausts all built after the most improved pattern and discharging into turrets on the tower. The ceiling on the entrance hall is lined, the wells being coved and moulded. The lending department is situate on the right hand side and the counter has a nicely framed and pannelled front with Austrian polished oak top. At one side the lending department in the ladies’ room and at the other, the reference department, which is connected by an adjustable glass partition. On the left hand side the general reading room, which is the largest in the building is situate, and below that the gymnasium. The librarian’s room is at the back of the lending department and immediately over the heating chamber, which is built lower that the normal flow of the Nore. It was found necessary to carry out the work in that manner and after a very severe test the chamber is now guaranteed to be absolutely air tight. The sanitary annexe at the back is built similarly to the main portion of the building having a flat re-enforced concrete roof covered with Limmer asphalt.’

 

- Kilkenny People, Saturday, November 5 1910