Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-04-05
NOT A MAJSOLEU
VIII at the National Library should BE

NOT MAI'SOLEl VI.
A pamphlet has been issued (by Brentano) very
recently. under the title "A National Library
Not a Mausoleum." in which the author sets
forth afresh and forcibly the necessity for the
better accommodation of the National Library.
He has evidently made an exhaustive study of
his subject. from the standpoint OF an entire
familiarity with and comprehension of it, and
his presentation of its merits in this pamphlet is
effective and timely. The present aspect Of the
endless rows. piles. mounds and ragged heaps
OF dusty books and pamphlets which meet the
eye of the observer in the library is we'll calcu-
lated to remind him of the Gesolaton of the
Catacomhs. or. as the writer SAYS. of those
grinning pyramids ofhuman skulls which Timour
the / artar was wont 10 erect for trophies on the
sites of RACED and conqnered cities" The
irremediahe disorder and neglect plead silently
but eoquently for relief. But the relief should
be not only speedy but also adequate and
judciOus. The library. which is TIN, largest in
America, and one of the largest and most COM
pcte in the world. should bc housed in a style
which would be acceptable To an educated taste
ana would secure for 1t the highest possible
degree OF availability. The author clearly points
out the faacieS of those congressman who
underestimate the value of the library. 1t is
useless" only to such as are Indifferent to
schools and the printing press and other educa-
tlOnal forces. or are too lazy to take advantage
of their opportunities. 1t is too large" only In
the sense that in its present quarters il is too
| crowded. Almost the first requisite of a good
library is that it be large. To satisfy the public
| II must touch the public at all points. Ii must
give equally full and trustworthy information
| on all possible subjects-on political history on
business statistics, on geographical chronological
| economical, geological, medical, legal, theo-
| logical and military science. on literature on
art. on mathematics. 4 limited collection OF
| parliamentary literature is not all that the
trained and intelligent legislator needs He
ought to have easy and constant access to all
| manner OF books, for facts, for comparisons and
| for quotations.
The proposal to split up this great library re-
tanning at the Capitol only the comparatively
small portion directly connected with legisla-
tive matters, and scattering the bulk of the col
lection to the four winds of heaven. Is worthy OF
| an Alarc in the whitest heat of his vandalism.
Congress has in the first place. no real right to
do such thing The library belongs to the
people, and not to Congress. The people are
proud OF the library. and desire IL to be retained
in its integrity. To disintegrate 1t would prop
erly expose us to the scorn of all Christendom,
and would seriously cripple and discourage our
M >lonal literary growth. AS the pamphlet
Says: lit is not merely stOrehouse of informa-
ton, magazine, an arlnory All this
Is well, but ii is only Incidental to the function
OF great national library. That function is to
foster and conserve the literary growth of the
country. TO preserve copies and records of
American books and to guard the rights of
| literary property in the United States" The
scholars OF the country are learning to look to
this noble collection of books to an unfailing
resource; the students of the country are flock
ing TO it In eVer-lncreasing numbers for inval-
liable Information which they cannot obtain in
any. other way on this side OF the ocean
The National Library, then, is unsatisfactory
r1S IFS in, II
as plain as day that it ought to be dominciled
at once In special and appropriate building
And where? Not in swamp, not alongside a
railway, not amid the din of traffic not at an
lnconvenient distance from the center of the
city. 1t certainly ought not to overtaX the wis
dom OF Congress to provide a suitable site
which should be free from these objections and
at the sametime should be Obtainable at not
unreasonable figure. Again the new building
should be constructed with a wise and generous
forethought for future as well as for present
needs. During the past tour years, more than
$1,000 new publications have been added by
copyright to the library. The entrees comprise
(besides books which constitute not quite
three-fifths of the whole number. pamphlets,
periodicals, musical and dramatic compositions
photographs, prints, engravings chromos, maps
and charts. Many of the pamphlets deposited
there are OF great consequence, while the period
icas are sought for reference by the general
reader perhaps even more eagerly than books.
hce to give one some idea of the rapid rate at
which the library is growing In size. All plans
for new structure should make ample pro-
vision for this increase for many years to come.
The danger from fire In the present condition
of affairs in the Capitol library has been SO often
and SO fully discussed that it is only necessary
In this connection to make passing allusion to
IL. But the inconvenience and undergraduates
OF the present arrangements are SO CALLING and
SO imperfectly understood by many that they
cannot be too frequently brought to the atten-
ton OF the public A casual visitor at the Capt.
toll, strolling into the library, is struck by its
large proportions, and is prone to imagine that
surely there must be room enough there for all
the books In the world. This is nothing but an
architectural delusion. All the library rooms at
the Capitol cover space Of only IL 900 square
feet, willy the space covered by the Paris Biblo-
theque Rationale is 20. 200 square feet, and that
of the British Museum library, tor books alone,
is 40 600 square feet besides half as much more
for its other collections. These are but a few
of the more salient points of this important sub
ject The librarian, whose fidelity and efficiency
are everywhere known and appreciated has no.
where exhibited more clearly his fitness for the
trust relegated to him than in his terse official
appeals to Congress for action in the premises;
and it is most earnestly to be hoped that now at
last Congress will do the public the shamefuIly
tardy service which is demanded in their behalf
by all conceivable considerations of propriety,
prudence, enterprise and common sense.