Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-07
MOVING THE BOOKS
Mr.. Young's Plans for Transfer Of the
Congressional Library.
MANAGEMENT OF THE INSTITUTION
Special Provisions Made for Seek
ers After information.
KEEPING TAB ON CLERKS

Affairs are progressing finely at the Con-
gressional Library now and the many
PLANS and details which have been thought
cut by Librarian Young are being per-
fectcd, while number of schemes
for the benefit of the public have been
suggested. 1t is believed that the transfer
of the books will be completed by TIE first
of the month, unless some unforeseen de-
lay occurs. Assistant Librarian Spofford
has been granted q much-needed vacation
from his labors. He will be absent two or
thee weeks on a visit to the north.
Librarian Young has not been able to
take days rest since he took charge. Be
sides having general control of the whole
library work, in which he is ably assisted
by Mr.. Alvord. he is kept busy seeing ap-
plicants for office and looking over their
papers. His office, which is for the pres
ent removed from the library. is visited
daily by scores of office seekers.
Some New Ideas.
One of the latest ideas evolved by Mr..
Young is to have an apartment in tie
basement of the library building which
will be given up entirely to d commission
for special research. For instance, if
persons interested In the settling OF any
question of national Importance, such Is
the Bering sea seal committee, desire to
learn all that is possible on this or kindred
Subjects, they VII have admission to this
department, ard every facility provided
for their accommodation.
In addition to this. some of tie many
available rooms in the attic. which is one
CT the most desirable sections Of the build
ing, will be fitted up for the benefit of in
dividuals desiring to refer to books and at
the same time employ the services of stem
ncprp ,oaI and xxrit JiSfnr
aZinists, journalists and the like will be
accommodated there. Only one or two will
be placed in each room, SO that there will
be confusion, and all the room needed
can be secured. These apartments in the
attic are on the same floor as the restau-
rant, that it will be possible to re-
main in the building all day, if sucn
thing is deemed advisable by the visitor.
There will be a dairy lunch. besides the
restaurant, 50 that if it is wished simple
repast can be INDUCED in there, when a
heavier meal is not wanted.
Department for the Blind.
1t has been practically decided by MIR.
Young that the department for the blind
Will not be on the same floor as the read
ing room, as was at first contemplated. 1t
is most probable that a section will be re-
served in the basement for this use, it
will be of more advantage for many rea-
sons. One OF the chief of these is that
when entrance is gained to the building, it
will not be necessary for the raised-letter
people to climb the stairways.
Mrs. Helen Mari Campbell, representing
delegation of the blind of the District,
called upon Mr.. Young this morning and
teEdered a vote of thanks for the interest
he has taken in assisting them to gain ac
cess TO a portion, at least, of the contents
of the library.
Special arrangements will be furnished
later for the distribution of the mail at
the library. All the matter which comes
there. and there are hundreds of pounds
of 1t daily, will pass through the hands
of Mr.. S. NJ. Croft. The mail will be dis
tributed al am. and 80 pm. The copy
right matter will have records entered of
it, and will then be taken directly to the
stacks provided for it.
One of the chief departments will be that
of the finances, from where all supplies
will be issued. bills for books bought ap-
proved and the like. The head of this de-
partment has not yet been selected.
The Smithsonian Collection.
The Smithsonian Institution collection,
comprising some 10000 volumes of great
scientific value, Will, 1t is thought soon
be in shape at the library.
The system in vogue at the Navy De-
partment for the regulating and oversee
ing of the employees has been adopted. By
this all employees will be required, on en-
tcflnS the building, TO sign blanks with
their names, and the hour and minute of
their arrival. few minutes after 8
o'clock the chief of each department will
draw line under the names on the blanks
50 that it can be discovered by a glance
what names were signed after the line was
made with the pen. Blanks will rest on
the Gesk of the superintendent of the read
ing rooms, which the chiefs will sign, as
we'll as the others.
Record of Extra Time.
All overtime work will be turned in at
the end of each month on the honor of the
employe that 1t is accurate. Each chief
will keep a record also of the extra work
accomplished by those under him during
the month SO that perfect "check" will
he thereby established.
Librarian Young yesterday made an in
srection of the entire building to see which
sections would be most available for the
different apartments. He and Superinten-
dent Green. after a careful estimate, de-
cided that the building mad a capacity of
four and half million volumes. 1t was
built with special reference to the future,
provision having been made for the prob
able additions of a century to come.
PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENTS.