Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-12-21
THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS-.
The Proposed New library Building

Ahe FTVpose0 New AlOfSby DushufuS.
The annual report by Mr.. A. r. sponord.
Librarian Of Congress, is, this year, an I'M
usually interesting document, from the fact
that the N after of the growth Of the library and
its imperative requirements in the way Of more
space is treated with conclusive point.
The annual enumeration OF books in the
library, on the LIST December OF the present
year, exhibits an aggregate Of 246 ,545 volumes.
and about IS 600 pamphlets. At the date of the
last annual report the library contained 80 $40
VOLUMES, thus showing an increase during the
past year OF 9,S.9 volumes. That portion OF
this aggregate belonging to the law department
Of the library consists OF % ,s7s volumes.
COPYRIGHTS.
The operations Of the copyright law con-
tinue highly satisfactory, both in respect TO the
efficiency of the system OF registry, and the
procuring for the library Of books and period
ica's secured by copyright The attainment OF
anesrly complete representation of the product
OF the American press, for permanent preserya-
ton In q fresr-cccc: hs,;S;s:. ii5rary, would in
itself alone justify the measures taken by the
Legislation OF 1870, to transfer the entire copy
right business to one central Office in Washing
ton. To this must be added the considerations
that the fees derived from copyrights, paid
directly into the treasury, are more than double
the expenses of the library on account of CODY
rights and that it is now for the nrst time posi-
Bile TO verify all facts connected with the title 10
any literary property by single reference.
MORE SPACE WANTED.
Inc subject Of providing an enlarged space
for the Library, now numbering quarter OF q
million volumes, and for the copyright business
ana archives, now very iDadequately provided
Tor, demands the early and careful attention OF
the committee and of Congress. In nv last
report the leading facts OF this necessity were
briefly recapitulated, and 1t was stated that all
possible accommodations which might be pro-
yided within the Capitol would be exhausted in
nom three to tive years, while the utmost space
era front Of the Capitol would be filed in
twenty years ordinary growth OF the Library
From the nature OF the case, the evil and incon-
venience now experienced of contracting great
library into space too crowded for psoper
arrangement Is constantly growing The
wooden cases, one hundred in number, reluc-
family introduced year ago 10 accommod ate
s am 9VeThow OF the alcoves, are approximately
nlled There is no possible place for the arrange
ment or filing OF the current periodicals, many
OF which, therefore, remain comparatively use
less for reference until bound. The Library
mas no packing room, and the heavy receipts OF
books from all quarters, by daily mails and
otherwise, the biGdery business, the cataloyaing
OF the books, the correspondence Of the Library ,
daily labors of the copyright department, are ali
constantly going on in those public parts of the
Library which should be kept free for readers
Masses OF books, pamphlets, newspapers, en-
cravings, &C., in the course of collation., cata-
loguing, labelling, and stamping, IN prepar alton
Tor their proper location In the Library are
necessarily always under the eye and almost
under the feet OF members Of Congress and
other visitors
Under these adverse circumstances il must
not be wondered at that the library of Com
Rress, with all It's apparent advantages as the
largest and one of the most progressive of A me
rlcan hbr SFies, is comparatively an unfit place
for students. The exigencies of its current bus
mess involve an amount of verbal direction and
consequently interruption to the studies OF
readers, which are incompatible with that rule
OF silence which should be the law of all great
Libraries Of reference. With the exception OF
enc narrow reading-room in the north wing
capable OF seating only twenty readers, the en-
tire Library of Congress afor is no pl ACE for the
quiet pursuit of study but is subject to the con
start annoy ance of compulsory violations of its
rule OF silence by its own officers, and by the
invasion OF frequent professions of talking yisi.
tors.
OTHER Evils FOR WANT OF SPACE
The addition TO the functions OF the librarian
OF the whole copyright business of the United
States, involving the custody Of q vast number
OF RECORDS, and calling for q large amount OF
clerical labor, makes the present library apart
ments yet more unfit and inadequate. The ex-
tenslve character of this business, with its con-
slant Increase, and the Inconvenience and OBJ
struction attending its Transaction in the midst
OF the much -frequented reading.room of the
library, add conclusive argument, if such
were needed, to the demonstration of the alb
solute necessity of erecting a separate building
for the new library and copyright department
coDjoIDed.
PROPOSED MODES OF MEETING THE pTPFIcULpy
Three suggestions have been made, LOOKING
toward provision which should retain the
library in the Capitol, at least for several years
to come.
First, the extension of the eastern front of the
central building, repeatedly recommended by
the architect, so as to bring the facade and por
tico out in line with the two wings and to
anord properly .proportioned base for the
magnificent iron dome. While this addition
would afford convenient and greatly needed
space for committee-rooms, its isolation from
the present library rooms, and the fact that by
no possibility could it be made to contain more
than twelve to fifteen years growth of the col
lection, take it out Of the category OF expedient
suggestions. Secondly, as was suggested i'm the
last report, II would be feasible to extend the
ward, thus
RNLARGINe THE PRESENT LIBRARY
10 uouoie its present space, and erecting a new
tIont OF hne architectural appearance, looking
toward the center of the city. This proposition
is far more reasonable than the first, since II
would keep the library in a measure together
instead OF widely separating it, by the inter
vening rotnsda OF the Capitol, into two parts
Yet II would multiply some of the existing OBJ
stacles to convenient arrangement, by multi
plying the angles, walls, and galleries, which
impair the effect, besides the more important
practical difficulty of rendering the production
OF DOCKS 10 a common center needessly slow
and cumbersome. But the chief objection 70
the proposed extension is that after an possibIe
provision OF space included in it is allowed for
1t would be flied with books in twenty wears
from the present time, when the same problem
would again confront US, and a removal to n
separate edihce would be necessary, while the
cost OF the extension would, In the opinion OF
the architect, be equal to that OF a new library
building. A third suggestion which has been
made is,
TO BUILD NEW CAPITOL
Tor the legislative uses ct Congress aud TO de-
vo'e one wing OF the present edifice to the
Library, and the other 10 judicial uses, or to
the accommodation or the Supreme Court and
the Court of Claims. However i'll adapted TO
the accommodation of the Senate and the
house OF Representatives the present wings of
the Capitol may be, there can be no question
that they are less adapted to the uses PROMISED
in this plan. Not only must the entire interior
architecture be removed and rebuilt, at great
cost. but the space attainabe in either wing for
the Library and copyright department would be
whoDy inadequate for its permanent accomuo-
dation. Nor is it easy to see where any site for
new national capitol at all approximating the
present one In commanding elevation, convent
ent location, and extent of view could be found
within the limits of Washington.
The only remaining alternative that is per-
ceived is to erect
WHOLLY DISTINCT BUILDING
for the library and copyright department. The
requisite space for this purpose has already been
secured through the purchase, BY act of Com
gress at the last session, of two squares of
ground adjoining the Capitol. The central Dor
ton OF one of these squares might be devoted TO
. library building, having ample accommoda-
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