The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1897-05-22
A GREAT LIBRARY.
Most Magnificent Building of Its
Kind in the World.
Covers q Block, Cost 100000,
and Contains 100000 Books.

Ten years after tho United States OF
America came into existence the IL
brary of congress had its beginning
Congress was about to move from
Philadelphia. The seat of govern
ment was to DO transferred on two
sloops to the District of Columbia,
There was a fine collection OF town
lots. but not much else, in Washing
ton. So long as they remained IN
Philadelphia the senators and repre-
senkatiyes made use of the Loganian IL
brary. When they came to consider the
needs of the new location they appro-
priated $4,000 to buy books, and or
dered room set apart for them in the
capitol. Tho grandfather OF Ambas'
sador Bayard was one of the committee
which carried out the provision. Two
years later congress employed IL
brarian at 81 day to take care of the
books, but stipulated that the pay
was for only such time rs he was act
ually at work. The early appropria-
tions for the library were $3.50 year.
1t took fourteen years to get together
5000 books. Then came the British
under General Ross, entering Wash
ington in 1914. They burned the
capitol and the library went up in
flames. The next year congress made
another start by purchasing the G7OO
books of Thomas Jefferson for S23,-
$50. In 1851 the library Of congress,
as it is officially known, had grown to
about 10000 volumes. A fire on
Christmas day destroyed 80, 900 books
and part of the capitol. From 90
900 volumes in 1852 the library has
reached its present collection of $780,
900, and now takes possession of the
finest library building in the world,
which cost Sc, 900, 900, and was nine
years in course of construction.
A public building covering block
OF ground and without dark corner
is something novel in architecture
Yet that is what the new library is.
Such q result is made possible by |
1900 windows and by an arrangement
of courts within the exterior rim of
of halls. The reading room is in the
very centre, but food of light pours
in on the cloudiest day. 1t is under
the golden dome. 1t is an eight
sided room, with the elevated desk of
the librarian in the centre, and all of
the apparatus for communicating with
assistants around and beneath. The
desks for readers are in circles fncing
the librarian. The distance across
this octagonal room is 100 feet Ro-
tunda is a better description than
room, for the ceiling is the vaulted
interior of the dome. The walls of
this rotunda for forty feet from the
floor are of amber tinted marble, rich
enough in polish and color to be mis-
taken at first glance for onyx.
Opening into the rotunda on the
eight sides are alcoves, where ency-
books of reference, diction-
lries and works for which there is al
most continuous use will be kept.
These alcoves are on the level of the
loor. Readers will be allowed to go
nto them and consult such books as
hey may need. Sitting on his high
perch in the centre of the rotunda, the
librarian or his immediate representa-
i've occupies a position much like the
ookout's in n modern penitentiary.
lie not only has every occupant of the
eading room under his eyes, but he
an see into every one of the alcoves
which are open to the public. These
eference alcoves will be the only
arts of the library containing books I
0 which readers will have direct ac- {
ess The book racks are completely t
'olated -Globe-Democrat. {