Evening star., 1896-12-02
Librarians Further Express Their
Views on the New Library.
GREAT DEVELOPMENT ANTICIPATED
Its Relations to the Washington
City Library.
INQUIRY STILL IN PROGRESS

who have been invited to Washington to
give the committee the result Of their eX-
perience in the conduct Of libraries. The
committee worked all day yesterday. taking
a recess at o'clock until in the evening.
and sitting until II pm. The report of the
afternoon and evening sessions will be
found IN another column.
1t Is the purpose of the committee, as an
bounced by Mr.. Quigg. to make a report to
Congress within ten days. The first work
of the committee will be found in the legis-
lative appropriation bill that Is now under
consideration in the House committee on
appropriations. The estimates for clerical
force for the new library. submitted by Lii
brarian Spofford and now in the hands OF
the appropriations committee, have been
pronounced entirely inadequate by the ex-
perts thus far examined and will prob
ably be revised and supplemented by the
joint committee.
Mr.. Putnam Recalled.
At today's session Mr. Putnam. librarian
of the Boston Public Library, was recalled
to give suggestions about the removal OF
the library to the new building. taking ad-
vantage Of his experience of the installa-
ton Of the Boston library in it's new quar-
ters. Mr.. Putnam explained that he was
not connected with the library at the time
seQuent events.
The most striking fact in this connection.
said Mr.. Putnam, was the disappointment
Of expectations. The capacity Of the read
Ing room was found Inadequate. 1t had a
seating capacity of 800, which was 50 more
than the Congressional Library's reading
room, but the accession Of visitors upon
getting into the new building was SO large
as to crowd the place. The British Museum
seats about $50 in the main reading room.
In the enlargement of great library
there are always administrative difficulties
which cannot be foreseen said Mr. Putna m,
and can only be found after actual exper-
ience. In the case of the Congressional
Library. he thought the assignment of
rooms for different purposes should he care
fully and economically planned before occu-
pancy
Line Of Books Weak.
In answer to a question, Mr.. Putnam ex-
pressed the opinion that the line of books
in the Congressional Library is weak in
some respects-very weak. No one, how
ever, really knows what the library con-
tains. unless it might be Mr.. Spofford.
Don't you think the country should
know what is in the library?" asked Mr..
Quigg.
Mr.. Putnam thought 1t should be done.
1t would take twenty-five or thirty years
to prepare an adequate catalogue, taking
the word in It's fullest sense understood
by modern librarians. 1t would only re-
quire year, however, to make an analysis
of the contents of the library to develop
the relative strength and weakness of the
contents.
Coming to the question Of appropriations
for the first year. Mr.. Putnam said the
moving. classification and shelving of the
books would occupy attention. smaller
force could attend to this than would be
required when the greater work Of cata-
loguing and arrangement were commenced.
The estimates of Mr.. Spofford might be
SS,f~, P0r Aycf I,,f Nf~ Dot
nam expressed grave solicitation lest they
would not be sufficient.
Mr.. Putnam thought the Congressional
Library should be national in its character
before attempting to be universal in scope.
Account should be taken of collections of
books in other cities, and should not neces-
sarily be duplicated at Washington. The
photographed work should receive partic-
ular attention.
When asked what steps should be imme-
diately taken when the Congressional Lii
brary is moved into the new building. Mr..
Putnam outlined the work follows: In
stallation Of the books, the preparation of a
comprehensive plan Of classification. or
ganiZation Of the force, preparation of the
shelf list, verification of the authors card
catalogue, preparation of a printed cata-
lcgue He emphasized the advisability of
getting out a comprehensive printed cata-
log que.
Selection of Employees.
Upon the question of the selection of en-
pcyes for the Congressional Library, Mr..
Putnam thought that unless the librarian
could be relieved from the embarrassment
of recommendations for appointment by the
controlling committee, trustees or regents,
as the case may be. 1T would be better to
have them chosen through some kind of
civil service system. The mere personal
weight of a recommendation by the library
committee, or congressional recommended
tiCn of other kind, while it might be of the
most upright character and removed from
the slightest suspicion of coercion, would
be most embarrassing to the librarian. In
his own case, Mr.. Putnam explained. he
had never in his experience received the
slightest intimation from any members of
the board of trustees governing the Boston
public library of a desire for the appoint
ment Of any employe.
MIR. Fletcher Examined.
Mr.. VIM. I. Fletcher, librarian of Am
herst College, was then examined. He said
a limited staff can install the library in it's
new quarters. Beyond that, little could be
attempted at first. He discouraged the
idea of attempting to change or develop the
general scope Of the Congressional Library
at this time, or to make plans for such
changes. The population around the library
is of a class calculated to take great deal
of interest in the library. People come here
10 study and read. Large universities are
being established at Washington. The Of
ficials of the government have to consult
| the library frequently, and the Congress
sional Library is the place they should go
for research and study.
He thought the Washington public library
should become the place for the general
public O. the city to resort for general
reading. Those who were not engaged in
study or research, but were interested IL,
general literature, might find their wants
supplied at the Washington city library.
OF course, that would necessitate the larger
growth of the city library. which every one
| is anxious to forward. He opposed the re-
moval Of the departmental libraries to the
| Congressional Library, but thought there
should be cooperation between them so as
| to avoid duplication of books. The biblio-
graphical feature of the Congressional Lii
brary should receive consideration.
Did Not Agree With Prof. Dewey.
Mr.. Fletcher did not agree with the idea
| advanced by Prof. Dewey yesterday that
| the catalogue of the library should be ex-
| tended so to include dictionary cata-
I lcgue. Neither did he think the library
should be made a museum of fine arts.
| AS to the selection of employees he would
be slow to advocate the application of the
| civil service system. That system should
+! apply to positions regarded as public prop