The times., 1897-07-27
TRANSFERRING THE BOOKS
Work Of Moving Congressional
Library Soon TO Begin.
SIX WEEKS TO DO THE JOB
1t VIII Require Fifty Men Working
Every Day to Move the 15e,oOo
Volumes TO Their New Reposi-
tory-Ho,v 1t VIII BE Done With
out Disorder or Confusion.

The general transfer of books to the
new Library building from the old quarters
OF the Congressional Library viii begin in
few days There are 100000 books
TO be moved, besides pamphlets. music,
maps, newspapers, and other unbound
works.
The transfer win take anywhere from
six weeks To three months, 1t is esti-
mated During this time the Library
viii be closed TO the reading public. Long
before the return OF Congress, however,
the library viii be in its new home and
ready for business
There are 10000 bound volumes in
the whnle collection. The law library
will remain at its present quarters at
the Capitol.
One large collection of books has al
ready been transferred, 10000 duplicate
volumes of copyright material, including
large numbers of periodicals and musical
ompositions, which are not included In
the working library of use and reference.
The main library remains to be transferred
and has. Roughly speaking half million
volumes.
The copyright department will he the
frs, to be removed. This, however, does
not Involve the handling and classification
Of books which are in use, but only the
transfer or eome hundreds OF volumes OF
cop wright records elten ling over century,
together with the index system OF copy
rights kept in many drawers and cases
an d also involves the fitting up OF the eK-
tensiye copyright record room and public
office with the necessary desks, tables,
cases aud other furniture. These rooms
ere located in the south wing of the
library building on the same floor with
the library rUtunda They include
large hau, measuring 2i7x35 feet, and
corner pavilion on the southeast about
foTty-eight feet square
The great leading divisions OF the Ii
brary, aside from the law library, are
forty -four in number, beginning with his
tory and eIaling with periodicals. These
are now arranged in the Library at the
Capitol upon shelves, SO far as they go,
all related books being kept together in
The snIne division or Subdivision, the over
plus FOR which no shelves exist being
piled In the neighDoThcod OF each class
In the removal this arrangement viii be
Approximately preserved. A large num-
ber OF light pine boxes with handles have
been provided and each box VIII con-
tain the books OF one or more shelves and
viii be numbered and ticEeted a il leaves
the old building.
While the work OF transfer is actively
in progress firty men VIII be employed
all day in the manual labor simply. The
boxes vii! be carried cut OF the Capitol
and put in large wagons, each of which
wsH contain dozen or more boxes. The
wagons VIII carry them through the
grounds 10 the new building, where they
win be received and carried 10 the stacks.
1t would not he possible, as some have
thought to transfer any large part Of the
books by the underground book conduit
from the Capitol TO the new building This
is constructed only for the light work OF
sending the occasional books TO the Capitol
that the Congressman may need when Con-
gress is in sessaon, and is entirely untitled
for heavy work
The books viii be located in the new
building, as they are transferred. In the
| iron stack rooms, and the arrangement viii
keep them perfectly classified. so that
when the transfer is complete they viii
be permanently in place. ready for use
up three or more OF the halls in the CALLER
les for exhibits in glass cases of the most
rare and Interesting early printed books
\ in America and rare and early engravin es
| This viii b6 illustrative of the progress Of
| the art Of printing from its early sta ges,
the changes and improvements in the arts
Of design, as applied to pictorial illust "a ton
and the cJrlosities of early American dis
covery and exploration
The denartmeIlt of maps and charts,
| which is 10 occupy the north gallery, is
one of great interest and value, comprising
many unique maps OF camps. marches and
! battles Of the Revolution and an extensive
collection Of engraved maps. atlases, etc,
of al periods The art gallery, occupy
ing the corresponding south wing Of the
upper floor, is 10 contain vast asserihlage
or etchings, line enerarings, photogrageurs,
photographs, Autographs, half tints and
chromos. illustrating every form Of the
! graphic arts as exhibited in this country
and in Europe.
During the whole period OF the transfer
the LihIary building viii be open for in
| spection. only those rooms, including the
| book stacks, which are TO receive the great
collection being closed.
Inc Boston PUBIC library which is
about two-thirds the size OF the Con-
gressional Library, and the second largest
in the United States, was transferred to
its new building in seven weeks. The
plan used was similar to that contem-
plated in this case. There is one other
way OF transferring books 1t is speedi=r
| but has It's objections Twenty-Five years
ago the Royal Library OF Prussia, st Berlin.
containing million volumes, was trans
| ferred from one building to another In
one day. regiment OF soldiers with
| shallow baskets marched all day between
the two bEil dings laden with books.
When night came the old building was
| empty and the new one filled. The feat
shows how well-disciplined the Prusslan
soldiers were, for the books were kept in
order too.