Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-02-22

Issue on copyrights oy the librarian OF
congress Is now confined to literature
and art IN their various branches A
copyright secures the author against
pillage OF the product Of his brain, as
patent does the inventor. The life
OF . copyright Is twenty-eight years
At the expiration OF that time it may be
renewed for fourteen years more by the
author. or by his heirs, If he be dead
IL cannot be extended beyond forty-two
years There are very few publications
the vitality Of which is not exhausted
long before even the first limit Is
reached
The number of entries for copyrights
approximately indicates the birth OF
new books in each year. The entries
are somewhat larger than the actual
Issue, for ia many cases the enterprise
ends with the eopyright-the manu-
script never goes into the hands of the
printers. The qualification of liter
AIRY ambition Is more or less expensive.
To the publisher it is simple, sordid
question OF dollars and cents In which
sentiment is a scarcely appreciable fac
tor. He viii not publish book unless
he thinks he can make money on il. IL
the author has means and faith enough
in his work 10 assume the financial
risks. he will, OF course. have no diff
Guilty in getting his book into print
One whose reputation is assured as q
successful caterer To the reading taste
of the people, in any department Of
literature, viii always find a ready
publisher. II is the ambitious noviti-
ates in authorship who suffer frequent
and grievous disappointment
.'As do the bound volumes in the
library. the 200. 900 pamphlets cover the
widest possible range that the mind
can conceive. They are upon every
subject that has entered into the mind
OF man. Naturally much of this class
of literature is ephemeral, having only
q temporary or local interest. Many of
these pamphlets, however. are Of per-
manent historical. statistical or scien-
tifc value. These. as well as all bound
books, are recorded in a manuscript
catalogue classified by topics and by
authors, so that anything called for
may be readily found. Years ago il
was attempted to keep up printed
catalogue, but this proved impractic-
able, by reason of the large and con.
stantly growing increase of the library
and the copyright business. and the
plan was abandoned. The manuscript
catalogue is found sufficient for all
practical needs. This is kept closely
up TO date, all publications received
each day being at once entered accord
ing to their proper classification. The
catalogue is somewhat ponderous with
its 100000 entries, but so perfect is the
system that there is little delay in fnd-
ing whatever may be wanted"
''How about newspapers" I asked.
Besides complete issues of maya
zines and reviews of all kinds" replied
the librarian, 'there are in the library
very large number of newspapers, in
Guiding 10000 bound volumes. Among
them are many foreign newspapers.
There are English papers running back
more than two centuries, and American
papers from a hundred to hundred
and forty years. 1t may be easily un-
derstood that these relics of the past
bear little resemblance to the daily is
sues under the marvellous enterprise
and development of to-day in the field
| of journalism. These old newspapers,
in quaint typography, faded and yellow
with age, have a value that goes
beyond the mere qualification Of curl
osity. AS record of current events in
years long past, the writings and
speeches and deeds of former genera
| tions, they are often sought by the stu
dent of history and the antiquarian.
| These may be consulted in the library
| rooms, but under no circumstances are
| they permitted to be taken away. II
lost or destroyed it would be impossible
to replace them"
1.-THE library is now very much
| crowded, is it not?"
"a new and adequate building should
have been erected years ago. Congress
| has long had the subject under consid-
| Grafton, and it is matter of congratu-
lation that at last the project has crys-
talized into definite form, and the
walls Of the new National Library
building are slowly but surely rising.
An entire square, just east OF the capt.
toll. was bought for this purpose. Arch
| fleets were sent to Europe to examine
the great libraries in order that the
best possible plan might be perfected.
| AS matured. it is believed to be second
| 10 none in the world. The building will
cover three acres 1t will be larger
than the great State, Army and Navy
building. Its estimate cost will be
$1,000, 900. IL is the only structure yet
undertaken by the government that
will be built for century. Not one Of
the present public buildings in Wash.
inFton is even now sufficient to meet
tho needs of the vast and rapidly-grow-
ing business Of the country. The new
library building viii suffice for $50
| years 70 come. When finished il will
| afford room for 100000 Volumes
| nearly so per cent. more than are now
embraced In any library 10 the world.
During the sessions of congress the
library Is often visited by senator's and
| members Of the house In quest of facts
and authorities upon topics in which for
the time they are particularly inter
ested- At any hour Of the day you may
see scores OF men and women. of all
| ages. citizens of Washington and
j strangers, sitting at the tables reading
or consulting books of reference. No
loud talking Is permitted, ana the stu
dent may pursue his researches un-