Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-02
OPENING THE LIBRARY
It Will Probably Take Place About o.
tober /.
Delay In Transferring the Books May
Cause n Later Date to He Chosen
The Work of Removal.

Unless a period of rainy weather inter
venes to prevent the transportation of the
books between the two buildings. the Con-
gressional Library will probably be opened
to the public in the new library building
about October 1. Only an approximate
date can be fixed at this time, and the
day of opening may run beyond October 1,
but the library officials are glad TO see
daylight ahead even approximately.
The work of removing the books seems
to the casual onlooker to be progressing
slowly and labcriously. The spectacle OF
a handful OF men carrying boxes across
the rotunda of the Capitol tobogganing
them down a chute and transporting them
a wagon-load at a time over the plaza to
the new building. where another handful
of men takes them in charge, seems at
first glance to be piecemeal method OF
handling the collection, when the vast
number OF books in the library Is taken
into calculation.
AS a matter of fact, however, the work
is not dragging along by any means. but
is progre ,sing with a great deal of rapidly
Although it is not shown on the surface,
1t means more than 1t appears on account
of the system which is being followed.
There is no duplication Of labor, no waste
of effort and every lick counts. The pre-
liminary work was of character which
lenders it possible now for the removal to
proceed in systematic manner. without
friction. each man who handles the books
being like cog in a wheel and doing his
work in u routine manner without refer
ence to any other fellow.
Nearly one-third of the collection of books
will have been removed and placed in po-
sition in the new building by the end of
this week. This will include the books that
are in daily use what might be called the
working part of the library. A large I'M
classified portion of the collection will be
handled irrespective of this calculation.
When the boxes containing the books
reach the new building they contain a col
ored card, bearing figures which direct the
disposition of the box. The box is hos,ed
on the elevator to the proper floor or
deck as it is called and the figures on
what section of the row, and what shelf
in the section the books shall be placed
upon.
In the old library quarters at the Capitol
employees are hard at work labelling the
volumes. One man can label about 1900 in
a day, and this work is a material aid in
the proper classification and disposition of
the books in the new quarters.
Speculation is rife as to what use will he
made of the old library rooms after the
books are removed. A number Of plans
have been suggested, and there will be no
trouble in finding some use to which the
rooms can be put In fact, there is more
demand for the quarters than could pos
sibly be met by the area Of the space va
Gated by the library.
One of the suggestions. which is said to
have had the Endorsement of Speaker Reed,
is that the long corridor of the old library
Re used as the Capitol restaurant. dis
pensing with the House and Senate res
taurants and turning those places into
CT mmittee rooms. 1t is urged in behalf
of this plan that more commodious quar-
tiers are necessary for restaurant purposes
and that the location of this room makes
it peculiarly desirable for that use.
Another plan is to make the central cor
ridor a general reading and reference room
for senator's and representatives who do
rot care to go to the new building. and to
convert the wings into storage places for
the archives of Congress.
AS heretofore stated in The Star. no use
can be made of the vacant rooms until
Congress convenes and directs, as the last
Congress expressly stipulated to this
effect.