The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-11-19

had to find resting places upon the floor.
Less than two-thirds of our library
has shelf room in this, building. We
now have o grand total of '678,0OO
books, and In addition thereto $40, 900.
pamphlets. IF we classified our pam
phlets as they do in Europe, counting,
each separate pamphlet as q volume,
our total would be at least 100, 900
higher"
Built For q Century.
How will you move this enormous
mass Of books to the new library, MIR.
Spofford?"
"That is problem which I have not
as yet begun to consider. It is not true
that we are to have an underground
conduit, connecting the capitol and
the New library. At least, that has
not been decided on. We hope to have
something better. For the purpose of
removing the library hope to have
temporary elevated electric railway.
Tho distance is only 1900 feet, and
with such continuance we could effect
our removal in couple of weeks
You will have room for years to
come in the new building, will you
notP"
This new library is built for a CEN
tury. 1t is the only public structure
in this country that was planned for
more than decade ahead. Every
government building in this city was
crowded full the moment it was ready
for occupancy. This country grows so
fast that it is almost impossible to
build ahead Of its needs, but in plan
ming this library we agreed it was not
worth while to build at all unless we
could build for at least century.
When we move into the new building,
two or three years hence, we shall not
much more than fill one Of the eight
great book stacks. There is room there
for 100000 volumes, and we have
only 100000. Two Of the eight stacks
will hold us at the time Of removal.
Careful estimates Of the growth Of the
library in the future show that at the
end of the next century it may be ne
cessary to enlarge the building, but
not before. That building covers az
acres of ground. In the center is
great rotunda, about as largo as the
rotunda of the capitol, covered by the
golden dome. That is to be our read
ing room. Running out from this CEN
trail structure are the book stacks, and
in the outside rooms, spacious and beau
tlfully lighted, we shall display the
pictures, the precious books and rich
things of which we have many more
than any one has thought. Four or five
years hence our national library will
be Il surprise and delight to all behold
ers. Here we have no opportunity to
show tho precious things which belong
to our collection. 1t is as much as we
can do to preserve them, let alone dis
playing them.
Years of Application.
Mr.. Spofford, how do you fix in
your mind the location of so many
bool1s?"
II do not fix them. They fix them
selves. The process is automatic, Just
as ono becomes familiar with the loca-
ton of the articles of furniture in a
room by constant observation and use.
without conscious effort. Just as YOU
know where the books are in your pri-
vate library, so do know where they
are i'll this larger library. 1 do not
claim to have any wonderful powers Of
memory. i am not like Macaulay,
who, it was said, could restore every
word and line of Paradise Lost from
his memory were that great book to be
physically blotted out of existence.
have retentive memory, that is all.
Almost any man with the right sort of
brain could learn this library as 1 have
learned it if no would give enough
time and labor to it. He couldn't
learn it in day, nor year, nor half
dozen years. Neither did l. I have
been nearly third of century at it.
Every volume in this library has
passed through my hands repeatedly.
Every book on these shelves, or on the
floor. or heaped up in the corners, has
an individuality to me. I know its
size, shape, color, expression. Speak of
book and this individuality rises before
me, just as mention Of the name of a
man you know serves to call his face
and figure, his individuality, before
your minds eye. If pushed to it, sup
pose could find almost any book in this
library, in any alcove or part, with my
eyes shut or blindfolded. Instinct
would guide me to the right spot and
if at the first attempt my hands did not
pick up the desired volume-which they
would if the book were in it's right place
then the sense of touch would come
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