Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1897-08-26

NEW CONGRESSIONAL LIBRARY.
brary is about to be permanently
opened. On the Saturday following the
recent adjournment of congress, the
new librarian, Hon. j ohm Russell Young,
closed the old library for the purpose
of transferring to the new library
building its books, it's treasures, its GU
rios, its Klondyke mines of golden in
telligence. When all of these valuable
volumes are seen again by the public
they will be in perfect order on the
commodious stacks and shelves in the
attractive halls of the most beautiful
library building in the world.
The decision of Librarian Young to
close the library so soon after the adj
journment of congress was born of
necessity. The work of removal is q
stupendous task. To finish this, and to
open the library again with the least
possible Inconvenience to those who
frequent it, were the two objects to be
aimed at. The number of readers grows
less as summer advances, and increases
pgain with it's end and the coming fall.
There are over 100000 volumes to be re-
moved and arranged in the new build
ing. The accumulation of other ma
terial is enormous. 1t is in different
Qooms, alcoves and stories. Some is on
shelves, some in chaotic heaps, some
is classified, and much is unclassifcd.
The question how to safely and ex-
peditiously remove this matter from
these places, and retain its classified
'tion, and put it all so that it will be at
~once available, was discussed at length
by Mr.. Young, Mr. Spofford, Mr.. Hutch
enson and Superintendent Green, who
is charged by law with the work of
removal.
1t was considered as an engineering
problem. A system of carding the books
as they start, and numbering the new
stacks, was finally settled upon. Chutes
will be built to slide the books in boxes
down the front steps of the capitol. The
men will load the boxes in wagons, and
at the new library these boxes will
lie received and carried to their places.
A plan showing every deck, and shelf,
and division of the shelves has been
prepared, very much like diagram of
books will go to a certain seat, so to
speak, and that seat will be crossed off
us box is sent out, properly marked.
In this way no confusion can result.
AS the various classes of books in the
old library are widely scattered, it will
take some time to properly card and
number them. 1t is this work which is
to be done first. The entire force of
the library, except the copyright clerks,
are now at work on this task. No adj
ditional help will be needed or en-
ployed, as only those who are familiar
with the classes of books, and their To-
cation, can be used to advantage.
This marking, or carding of books
and material will take several weeks.
The carting will not occupy so long a
time, but several more weeks must
pass before the books can be classified
and arranged on shelves built on diff
ferent plan, before the reading-roon.
can be opened and proper service
given.
The work will be pushed by Mr..
Young with all possible speed. With
good weather, and the best of fortune,
the new library will be opened by Oc-
tober l; but it is likely to be later than
that, owing to the mass of things to
be removed, and the care which must
be taken to prevent loss, damage and
confusion.
The removal of the Boston public IL
brary, containing 100000 volumes, &C.
cupied year. The library was opened
within two months, but it was crippled
for four months; and removing the Ii
brary OF congress is a much greater
task.
Until the books are moved, no ap-
pointments will be made by Mr.. Young.
There is sufficient force now to do that
work, and although the applications
are still pouring in at the rate of over
80 day, nothing can be done with
them except to place them on file.
After the library is arranged the twill
be taken up. Those persons who seem
to be best fitted for library work will
be considered, and if deemed desirable
will be sent for to be subjected to an
examination. The law is very specific
in it's requirements that only those
adapted to the positions which they
seek shall be chosen. 1t will be strictly
observed
There are los places provided for on
the library staff. OF these, AS are filled
by those of the old library staff, who
will be retained. They will, for the
most part, receive the higher salaries
leaving only about 60 places with small
sa.anes 10 ee diied.
~. 1850 -<s ~ = 49, -