Evening star., 1896-12-02

plemented by an oral examination. The
questions are not all technical ones ir -
lation to library work. That is, other
qualifications than technical ones are ;aken
into consideration upon final selection. Ai-
m.nistrative ability is taken into question.
No political or perSGnal questions, however,
enter into the selection of employees
rs there such thing technical Ii
prary science"' asked Mr.. Quigg.
Mr. Putnam answered in the affirmative.
He deemed 1t to consist of a certain kDowl-
edge of photography, of the essentials gov
erhing cataloguing, of questions of admin
lstration. of bookmaking and of the con-
duct of a reference library. He knew some
thing of the schools that teach this science.
He had not sent to any of them to obtain
employees. Other libraries had drawn upon
such schools, however, for employees.
Would you advise Mr.. Sporford TO adopt
a different system in the employment of
his assistants than the one which you en-
ploy?" asked Mr. Qugg.
Mr. Putnam said differing conditions of
the two Libraries might qualify his answer
He would not say that the Boston system
would be the best for the Congressio
Library.
What work do you think the Congress
sional Library could engage in besides fur
nishing reading room and some books?"
| asked MIR. Quigg.
Mr. Putnam doubted the practicability OF
throwing upon the administration of the
library features outside of the natural
func tionS of a national library
Mr.. Putnam said that the Boston libra rN
maintained sixteen persons to make cata-
losues. He hardly believed that eight cat
aloguers. as proposed, could do the work
OF the Congressional Library. He though.
that thirty catalogues would be needed 10
start the work.
At this point the committee took a re-
cess until o'clock, when Mr.. Putnam re-
sumed the stand.
The Night Session.
Mr.. Putram said that when the Boston
library was moved into it's new building
about 100000 volumes were transported the
distance of one-th.rd or one-quarter of a
nIiie. The books were piled into boxes.
loaded on drays and carted through the
streets The most serious problem of the
rem, val was the changing of the shelf ia
c.ities and consequent recastiug of the
method of location. 1t took a long time
to figure out places on the new shelving for
the lres Of books. The books were all
numbered and when a place was found IN
the new library the books went into it ac-
cordinS to the numbers, liliing the shelves.
Ihe library was closed for six weeks, but
was crippled for several months during the
process of gradual removal.
We'll, they did not have to move that
library have to move olrs' re-
marked Mr. Quigg. He referred to the sug-
gestion made at a previous meeting that
ia the event of extra session of Con-
gross the library shall be moved within
thirty days.
Coming to the question of cataloguing Mr.
Putnam explained the system in vogue in
Boston. Under it, the average time for
tha applicant to receive his book is seven
minutes from the time of handing in his
ca,d. The library was about eight years
In building. and cost $2.4O0O00. The ulti-
mate capacity Of the library is about $780,
OOO volumes. The total force employed in
the library is AS. including watchmen, en-
gincers and workers in the binding depart
ment
Mr.. Putnam said that 112 persons are
utilized to find, hand out and take in from
2OoO to 1000 books a day. This service in
c1udes the use of a double system of cata-
ioguing, card catalogue and shelf cata-
iosue. The purchases of books are made
by the trustees. five in number who meet
weekly and consider the lists. More than
one-half of the employees of the library are
women. All of the branch offices are con-
Quoted by women.
DO you pay the wcmen less because they
are womeE?" asked Mr.. Quigg.
Mr. Putnam said there were Instances
Wrere women were paid less than men for
just as good work. He had not fixed these
salaries, however. and if he had control
Of the matter he would not have made any
such discrimination. In response to oueS-
tloEs Mr.. Putnam paid tribute to the work
performed by the women in the library.
Reverting to the matter OF the selection
OF employees, Mr.. Quigg asked Mr. Putnam
II ne would be willing to submit to choosing
1oii q hSs VI t~o OF tnreS persons certified
py board OF examiners over which board
he had no control? Mr. Putnam said he
would, II 1t were the alternative of q great
er embarrassment.
What would you think of the Joint COM
mittee on library making appointments up
en- the recommendation of the librarian p,
asked Mr.. Quigg.
Mr.. Putnam thought the plan a good one
assuming that the librarian would be free
from all political pressure.
Librarian RaLer Canaa
Librarian Baker of Columbia University.
New York, was next called upon for infor-
nation. There are about 23O, 600 volumes I'm
the library over which he presides. There
are thirty-seven employees to take care of
these books. Applicants for positions are
carefully questioned by the librarian as to
their qualifications. The catalogue system
includes the card, shelf and accession lists
or catalogues. The arrangement of the
shelves is upon the decimal plan, with local
notifications.
''Is there any shelf system recognized bv
librarians as the standard one?" asked Mr.
Quigg. Mr.. Baker did not know any such
plan.
Mr.. Baker hoped to see established in
washington national library adminis-
tered in an adequate manner and upon a
books to other libraries might be estab-
lished. He did not think the library should
extend it's functions so as to take on the
elements of an art museum.
AS to the government of the library IT
should be national institution and not a
congressional library. 1t should be made
Independent Of direct congressional con-