Editing Library of Parliament (section)

==Main branch characteristics==
[[File:Canadian Parlimentary Library Interior.jpg|thumb|left|The main reading room of the Library of Parliament]]

Designed by [[Thomas Fuller (architect)|Thomas Fuller]] and [[Chilion Jones]], and inspired by the [[British Museum Reading Room]],<ref name=PWGSC2>{{cite web| url=http://www.collineduparlement-parliamenthill.gc.ca/histoire-history/bdp-lop/exbblthq-exlbrry-eng.html| title=A Treasure to Explore > Parliament Hill > History of the Hill > Library of Parliament > Exterior| author=Public Works and Government Services Canada| publisher=Queen's Printer for Canada| access-date=2008-12-30| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100206141205/http://www.collineduparlement-parliamenthill.gc.ca/histoire-history/bdp-lop/exbblthq-exlbrry-eng.html| archive-date=2010-02-06}}</ref> the building is formed as a [[chapter house]],<ref name=PWGSC>{{cite web| url=http://www.collineduparlement-parliamenthill.gc.ca/histoire-history/bdp-lop/inbblthq-inlbrry-eng.html| title=A Treasure to Explore > Parliament Hill > History of the Hill > Library of Parliament > Interior| author=Public Works and Government Services Canada| publisher=Queen's Printer for Canada| access-date=2008-12-30| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706181633/http://www.collineduparlement-parliamenthill.gc.ca/histoire-history/bdp-lop/inbblthq-inlbrry-eng.html| archive-date=2011-07-06}}</ref> separated from the main body of the Centre Block by a corridor; this arrangement, as well as many other details of the design, was reached with the input of the then parliamentary librarian, [[Alpheus Todd]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.collineduparlement-parliamenthill.gc.ca/histoire-history/1859-1916-04-eng.html| title=A Treasure to Explore > Parliament Hill > The History of Parliament Hill > Construction, 1859-1916 > The Library| author=Public Works and Government Services Canada| publisher=Queen's Printer for Canada| access-date=2009-01-01| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706181708/http://www.collineduparlement-parliamenthill.gc.ca/histoire-history/1859-1916-04-eng.html| archive-date=2011-07-06}}</ref> The walls, supported by a ring of 16 [[flying buttress]]es, are loadbearing, double-[[wythe]] masonry, consisting of a hydraulic lime [[Rubble masonry|rubble fill]] core between an interior layer of dressed stone and rustic Nepean sandstone on the exterior.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.collineduparlement-parliamenthill.gc.ca/modern/mcnnr-msnry-eng.html | title=Parliament Hill > Modernization of the Buildings > Library of Parliament > Exterior Work > Masonry| author=Library of Parliament| publisher=Queen's Printer for Canada| access-date=2008-12-29| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706181628/http://www.collineduparlement-parliamenthill.gc.ca/modern/mcnnr-msnry-eng.html| archive-date=2011-07-06}}</ref> Around the windows and along other edges is dressed stone trim, along with a multitude of [[rock carving|stone carvings]], including floral patterns and [[frieze]]s, keeping with the [[Gothic Revival architecture in Canada#Victorian High Gothic|Victorian High Gothic style]] of the rest of the parliamentary complex. The roof, set in three tiers topped by a [[cupola]], used to be a timber frame structure covered with slate tiles, but has been rebuilt with steel framing and deck covered with [[copper]].<ref name="Lib">{{cite web |author=Library of Parliament |title=Parliament of Canada > Library of Parliament |url=http://www.parl.gc.ca/publications/LoP/LOP-e.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080623102214/http://www.parl.gc.ca/publications/LoP/LOP-e.asp |archive-date=2008-06-23 |access-date=2008-12-29 |publisher=Queen's Printer for Canada}}</ref> The initial overall combination of colours—grey Gloucester limestone and grey Nepean, red Potsdam and buff Ohio sandstones, as well as purple and green slate banding—conformed to the [[picturesque]] style known as ''structural polychromy''.<ref name=CA>{{cite journal |last=Chodikoff |first=Ian |title=Parliamentary Briefing |journal=Canadian Architect |publisher=Business Information Group |location=Toronto |date=September 2006 |url=https://www.canadianarchitect.com/parliamentary-briefing/ |access-date=May 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126211518/https://www.canadianarchitect.com/parliamentary-briefing/ |archive-date=January 26, 2021}}</ref>

The main reading room rises to a vaulted ceiling and the walls and stacks are lined with white pine panelling carved into a variety of textures, flowers, masks, and mythical creatures. In the galleries are displayed the coats of arms of the seven provinces that existed in 1876, as well as that of the Dominion of Canada, and standing directly in the centre of the room is a white marble statue of [[Queen Victoria]], sculpted by [[Marshall Wood]] in 1871.<ref name=Lib /> The northern galleries are also flanked with the white marble busts of [[John Sandfield Macdonald|Sir John Sandfield Macdonald]]; [[Edward VII of the United Kingdom|Prince Edward, Prince of Wales]] (later King Edward VII); [[Alexandra of Denmark|Alexandra, Princess of Wales]] (later Queen Alexandra); and [[Étienne-Paschal Taché|Sir Étienne-Paschal Taché]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Baker|first=Wendy|title=Restoration of a Marble Sculpture from the Library of Parliament|url=http://www.cci-icc.gc.ca/about-apropos/nb/nb35/victoria-eng.aspx|work=CCI Newsletter, No. 35, June 2005|publisher=Canadian Conservation Institute|access-date=26 February 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706181413/http://www.cci-icc.gc.ca/about-apropos/nb/nb35/victoria-eng.aspx|archive-date=6 July 2011}}</ref>

The library's collection comprises 650,000 items, covering hundreds of years of history and tended by a staff of 300.<ref name=PWGSC /> Access to the facility is generally restricted to those on parliamentary business, but research publications are produced by the library and are available to the public.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Research Publications |url=https://lop.parl.ca/sites/PublicWebsite/default/en_CA/ResearchPublications#gsc.tab=0 |access-date=2022-09-15 |website=lop.parl.ca}}</ref> The main branch on Parliament Hill is only the central hub of a larger complex that spreads to other parliamentary buildings, where services are offered in a number of branch libraries and reading rooms.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Service Areas |url=https://lop.parl.ca/sites/PublicWebsite/default/en_CA/About/Services?selected=Services |access-date=2022-09-15 |website=lop.parl.ca}}</ref>