Evening star., 1896-12-03
THE INQUIRY COMPLETED
Joint Congressional Library Committee
Finishes Its Examinations.
Messrs. r. b. Hayes, w. A. Cronut, w
cation Harris Give Their Views.

At the afternoon session or the joint COM
mittee library yesterday, Mr. r. b.
Hayes of Columbus, Ohio, secretary of the
American Library Association. was ex-
amined. He is the son of the late President
Hayes. and is prominently identified with
library interests.
He thought the entire business part of
the library should be put into the hands of
executive officer, and the librarian
should nave dealings only with the litera:y
part of the work. He would relieve the
librarian of the duty of making appoint
m@nts, and choose the employees through
the civil service system. When questioned
upon this point. he said he did not know of
any library where such a mode of selection
prevails, and the American Library iSso-
citation has never mace recommended. .ons
upon that line.
Professor Dewey said that civil service
resolutions had been Introduced and con-
SlGered by the association however at diff
ferent meetings.
Continuing. Mr.. Hayes added his voice
to the appeals made by other librarians tor
the prosecution of photographic work by
the library He would like to see the new
laws governing the library YES, discretion
airy power IN the administration OF the
library TO make such rules and regulations
Tor the conduct of the library as thew
Should deem best. He would like to see the
governing power little more permanent
than is now provided by the joint COM
"A Ter
OF SIX years.
Mr. W. 4. Crofut's Opinion
Mr. W. A. Croffut of this city addressed
the committee in behalf of making the Con-
gress.onal Library a circulating library, as
III former days, by the payment of a de-
pcslt fee of So He thought the Congress-
ional Library ought TO be accessible to the
Citizens. One-fourth of the books are nov
els, and never used as reference books
Mr. Croffut held that if a citizen is allowed
10 deposit 81 and have access TO the library
II "ou.d oDNlate the necessity for d fire,
city library.
He said the total number of bound vol
nfnes IN the departments of this city out
Side of the COngreSSional Library is S.I :
Gb. He wanted them consolidated wf,h
the Congressional Library. In the course
OF his remarks Mr.. Croffut said he had
been informed by an official of the British
Museum that the Congressional Library is
more symmetrical in its contents than the
British Museum.
What Gen. Harris Said.
Gen. Harris of this city. commissioner of
education. was next called before the COM
mittee- He said the library of the bureau
of education contained about 10000 vol
uncs Residents of the city have access
to the books This is nuisance to the
bureau. He would like to dispense with
5,"o volumes and cut off the city clientele.
That would leave the scientific library,
which. he said, with respect to books upon
educational subjects. is the richest in the
world.
In regard to the Congressional Library,
Gen Harris thought the first work would
be to ascertain its strength and its prob
able weakness upon certain lines. This
Work would have to be done by men who
Were specialists in different branches of
literature. They should he retained in the
library 10 keep lookout for publicatlon' :
in other lands and to render Information
to applicants upon their lires.
When questioned upon the appointment
OF employees, Gen. Harris said he would
be willing TO have the civil service COM
mission select his employees. He would get
the best he could in this way and train
them in the library.
He old not advocate the removal of the
departmental collec tions of books 10 the
Congressional Library. The Congressional
Library should lie reference library aione
and should not contain any features OF a
circulating library.
Nr. W. II. Brett's Views.
Mr. w. H. Erett of Cleveland hoped to
gee the Congressional Library made ma
ticraI institution and not designated as an
appeuds ge of Congress. He was opposed
to making an art museum a feature of the
library The classification of books in the
library should be upon the relative loca-
tior" system. In CataloSuinS there should
be shelf list, an accession catalogue. and
as seen as possible a dictionary catalogue.
He would choose his employees by means Of
a competitive examination. held by the Il
brary authorities, and careful selection
from the list of successful applicants. He
would not necessarily choose the person
who passed highest, but would take into
consideration other qualificat.o:ls.
Prof. Dewey opposed the -dea of consol-
idatirs the books of the departmental Ii
braTieS in the Cor gTessional Library. He
saw no objection to maintaining circulat-
ing branch of the departmental libraries.
H. suggested that when gifts of books
are made to the library, which are dupli-
Gates of those already on hand. they might
be used for travelling libraries in the south
and west. where they would be gladly re-
ceivcd.
The committee then formally closed the
hearings. NJ Spofford was examined IN
executive session for short time and the
committee adjourned.