Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-12

Il AST JANUARY A VALUED OORhE-
~ spondent suggested in communication to
TIE STAR that space be provided in the new
post Office building for . Washington public
library. The STAB Endorsed tho idea a. COED
one and said at that time: 1T is discreditabls
that this need has not long ago been supplied.
If suitable and convenient quarters are fur
nished, such as those suggested BY this corrs-
spondent, the books can readily be obtained.
The departmental libraries ct the Capitol con-
tain nearly 10000 volumes. accessible only to
o few employees Of the government The vast
wealth Of reading matter in the Congressional
Library is practically out Of reach Of the work.
ingmen, owing to the hours Of opening and
closing, and the conditions placed upon the
enjoyment Of its privileges Viewing this
ocean Of books spread tantalzingly before him,
the workingman, thirsty for the knowledge
which comes from reading, might well exclaim
with the ancient mariner:
- Water. water, everywhere. any drop to drink'
'Nearly every little New England and mid
die states town has library Of this kind, not to
mention the well-supplied large cities Of the
republic. In some of these smaller towns the
records show that as many as one out of every
five inhabitants. counting men, women and
children, is registered as q borrower of these
books The statistics also show that at first
fiction was most largely drawn upon by such
readers, but that as the taste for reading was
acquired and developed stronger food for the
mind was demanded, and the ratio of serious
reading steadily increased. The reading room
has proved a strong rival Of the pool room and
drinking saloon in claims upon the evenings Of
many, especially the young, and has served as
a satisfactory substitute for nightly idleness in
dreary lodgings or on the street.
There have been several local movements
toward securing such q library. In 1887 the
labor organizations Of the city gave some at
tention to the matter and a number Of citizens
agreed to subscribe amounts for the purpose
aaggregating some $1,000 library having a
local character, installed in the new post office
building, would certainly grow rapidly through
private donations Of books and money, and
when it had demonstrated its usefulness and it
was appreciated by the public some one of
Washingtons wealthy men might be moved by
local pride or other good motive to endow it
and give it a name.
Last year the commissioner Of labor sug-
gested that arrangements might be made to use
the library connected with its department as
the nucleus of q free library and reading room,
for the benefit Of the general public, and the
bill was introduced to accomplish this purpose.
In another part Of todays paper are collected
interesting facts concerning all Of the depart
mental libraries. 1t appears that outside of
the technical books and works Of reference
which have direct bearing upon the work
Of various departments these libraries con-
tain many thousands OF volumes which are of
the kind which are found in the ordinary
circulating library. The circulating books
are also massed in certain departments and are
not accessible to the employees in other
departments. II the heads OF all the de-
partments affected were of the same mind as
the commissioner Of labor. and Congress and
the President should approve. this class of
books might be separated from the technical
and reference books and placed in the post
Office building as the nucleus of public and
M al ha nEa hno
become accessible, not only to the general
public, but to the clerks in all Of the depart
ments, instead Of to those only who are en-
ployed in the department with circulating
libraries. To facilitate the drawing of books
by the clerks the use Of accredited messengers
by them might be permitted for this purpose.
The government would profit by q
checking of the duplication Of circulat-
ing books in the various departments and
the money might be applied upon this general
might also be obtained from among the dupli-
Gates in the Congressional Library without the
slightest injury to that collection. Indeed, 1t
might be a benefit, by increasing shelfroom, to
remove such superfuous volumes as could be
utilized to advantage in the new library. II
the District government has quarters in the
post Office building its municipal library might
be merged in this collection and some contribu-
ton toward the support Of the new library
might well be made in the District appropria-
tions.
1.-The project Of public and departmental
circulating library and reading room, open in
the evenings is worthy of the strongest and
most enthusiastic labors in its behalf. It will
doubtless receive the hearty support Of all
friends Of the capital and its people. who ap-
preciate that a city Of a quarter-million Of in
habitants contains men to be considered, not
merely buildings, trees, statues and monu-
ments."
THE DEPARTMENT libraries.
The statement concerning the department
libraries, to which reference is made. shows
that the State Department library contains
81, 600 volumes, including valuable collection
of international law, history, biography,
travels and state law, and about 400 volumes OF
fiction and other literature that are used
mostly by the lady clerks; that the Navy De-
partment library contains %, 312 volumes,
almost exclusively on technical and profess
sional topics, containing little II anything of
value for a general circulating library; that the
War Department library contains about %. 500
volumes, reference books, works pertaining to
military science, American history and litera-
ture Of the war Of the rebellion and about
5000 suitable for a general circulating library;
that the Treasury library Of its 81 600 volumes
has about !, 600 miscellaneous in character, not
of special use for reference in the depart
mental work; that the patent office library of
6OOO0 volumes is scientific reference
library purely; that the bureau of edu-
catlon uDrary OF ZO,OUO volumes Is OF
the same description; that the Interior
Department library Of 10, 900 volumes is wholly
a circulating library. valuable, well-selected
and much-used collection OF books, sustained
by an annual appropriation of $500 for new
books, cramped and jammed into q badly
lighted room that is not half large enough:
that the Post Office Department library has
about 10000 reference volumes and 1000
miscellaneous circulating books; that
the geological survey library Of about
2s,l07 books Is strictly work.
ing library; that the library of the Department
of Justice contains 10000 law books that the
Agricultural Department library contains %, 900
volumes almost entirely of a scientific char
acter; and that the labor bureau has about
5000 volumes which Col Wright the COM
missioner, is in favor of making available for
public use. 1t thus appeared that there were
in the neighborhood Of $4,000 volumes of a
miscellaneous circulating character in the
department libraries but in this number there
were doubtless many duplicates.
The STAR persistently advocated the free
library project and it was seconded on all sides
with heartiness that showed how popular the
movement Is. II was readily seen that not only
the clerks but the workingmen, tho schools and
the public generally would be greatly benefited
by the library.
Mr.. sPoFFoRD's VIEWS
Librarian Spohord, who il, a. q matter of
course. an eminent authority on . subject Of
this kind, said to STAR reporter:
There is no city where it would be easier to