Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-12-29
The Great National Library.

PLANS FOR TIE NEW BUILDING IN JupIc1AIY
sqUARE-REGULATIoNs FOR THE usS OF TEE
BOOKS
Plans and designs In several different STYLES
voorhees,, chairman OF the joint Congressional
committee, for the proposed new library pu.l1-
ing, and the committee will report the bill for
the construction Of the building soon after the
recess. The members of the committee. who
by reason Of their duties have been all through
m ne library: fully appreciate the urgent neoes-
practical moment, and they intend to press
this important matter with all their ability.
BvERY AVAILABLE INCH
OF space In the library rooms at the Capitol
seems to be filed, and yet there is steady in
crease OF the number OF volumes. The shelves
contain double rows OF books-one row behind
piles OF books, periodicals, etc., as high as they
can De piled.
HOW THE LIBRARY GROWS
For the present year the copyright entries
reach about 20, eco, while in no former wear did
the number go above $4,000. Two copies or
volumes OF every copyright are required by
law TO be sent to the library. so that nv this
channel alone the increase In the library this
year has been 10000. Among the copyrights
are multltudes OF large, fine engravings
chromos and other works OF art, which occupy
mucb more space than corresponding number
OF books.
TIE GROWTH OF MAPS
has been enormous, and though they are valu-
able all OF them are unused because of want OF
spaceto arrange them for display, and they
must remain as SO much dead matter until the
iorafy Is put In quarters where these maps can
De properly displayed Complete sets of all
the DOCKS and works printed by the govern.
nent are required to be kept in the library and
ny this means thousands of volumes, many OF
them very large are annually added TO the al
10
immense yearly increase Of English and other
loTeIgn BOOKS ana periodicals and OF the pub
llsbed transactions OF learned societies and Or
CARNATIONS throughout the civilized world
winch are obtained through exchanges with the
Smithsonian Institution for similar works OF
our country. The Smithsonian sends these
vast ana valuable EXCHANGES 10 the Congress
toLal library.
OTHER ACCRETIONS.
TO these must be added thousands OF volumes
OF documents published annually by foreign
governments, which are obtained 10y exchange
lor the Works. documents, etc. published by
quI government All these exchanges from all
Inc governments, making yearly of itself a
VaSI coiieCi1on, are stored In the Congressional
library. Besides these several channels OF col
lection and increase there is the yearly pur-
chase OF books and publications, etc, with
pose. This stream is constantly pouring in
upon the library, which Is already so packed
and Jammed that 1t Is utterly impossible to
MAKE ~, room ior more Every body readily admits
that there must library building to accommo-
date the rapidly growing institution. and those
most familiar with the condition OF the library
reallZe that the new accommodations must be
provided without delay, as much OF the valu-
able collection Is being injured because of
want OF sufficient room to properly arrange the
contents. The purpose OF the committee Is
70 pf0vlde money and to begin work on the
proposed
NEW BUILDING IN JUDICIARY SQUARE
as soon as the weather will admit of that sort
Of work, and then to push the building to con-
pletion. Once In the new building, the library
Will be kept open at nights, and everybody will
be welcome to its reading rooms. The reguIa-
tons for taking books from the library will
probably remain as at present, controlled by
members OF Congress. The idea will be to
make 1t a national reading library, and not a
circulating library. The present library rooms
are not provided with gas and therefore could
not be Kept open at night, even If the rules per
mittedit.