The only thing I can gather was that there must have been something there for each of the senses. Seeing is obvious, because it was a reading room. They may have also had something else to see. The other senses don't make any sense at all unless they were serving food, which would be something for the senses of taste and smell. As for hearing, they may have had quiet, but good music playing - perhaps classical. If somebody was reading aloud, it would defeat the purpose of a reading room.

I don't really understand it But it sounds like it is feeding your senses knowledge maybe so you are getting smarter from reading