The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1897-04-21
A GREAT LIBRARY.
Most Magnificent Building of Its
Kind in the World.
Covers u Block, Cost $6.OOO.OOO.
and Contains 100000 Books.

Ten wears after the United States of
America came into existence the Ii
brary of congress had its beginning.
Congress wns about to move from
Philadelphia. The seat of govern
ment was TO be transferred on two
sloops to the District OF Columbia.
There was fine collection of town
lots. but not much else, in Washing
ton. So long ns they remained IN
Philadelphia tho senators and repre-
scntntivcs mndc use of the Loguninn IL
brhry. When they came to considcr the
needs ol the new location they nppro.
priated 5000 to buy books, aud or
dcrcd n room set apart for them IN the
capitol. Tho grandfather of Amlns.
sndor Bhynrd was one ol the committee
which carried out the provision. Two
vents later congress employed IL
brnrinn Mt 81 day to take care of the
books, hut stipulated that the pay
WIS Tor only such time ns he was net
uully u. work. The early apprOprin-
,,ons for tue library were ;Si5j year.
1t took fourteen years to get together
5000 books. Then came the British
under General Ross, entering Wush
mrton IN 1914. They burned the
rnptui aud the library went mp IN
II mcs. Inc next year congress mndc
another start by purchasing the 6toD
hooks of Thomas Jefferson for S23,-
$50. In 1851 the library of congress,
~ 1t is officially known, mad grown 10
about 90, 900 volumes. A fire on
Christmas day destroyed 81, 900 books
and n part of the capitol. From 90
900 volumes in 1852 the library hls
renchcd its present collection of SOO.-
900, and now takes possession of the
finest library building in the world,
which cost SO, 00O, 0)J, and was nine
years in course of construction.
\ public building covering "A bIocS
of ground and without II dark corner
is something novel in architecture.
Yet thut is what the new library Is.
Such II result is made possible By
1900 windows aud 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
tho golden dome. 1t is mn eight
sided room, with the elevated desk of
the Librarian in tho centre, and all of
the apparatus for communicating with
assistants around aud beneath. The
desks for readers are in circles facing
the librarian. Tho distance across
this octagonul room is 100 feet. r.
,undn is II better description than
room, for the ceiling is the vallltud
interior of the dome. Tho walls Of
|
this rotuuda for forty feet from the
floor are of nlnbcr.tinted marble, rich
enough in polish and color to be mis-
taken Mt first glance for onyx
Opening into the rotunda on the
eight sides are alcoves, where ency-
clopcdias, books of reference, dictioa-
aries and works for which there is al
most continuous use will be kept.
These nlcovcs are on the level of the
floor. Readers will be allowed to so
, into them and consult such books rs
they may need. Sitting on his high
perch in the centre of the rotundn, the
librarian or his immediate representa-
tive occupies position much like the
lookout's in modern penitentiary.
He not only has every occupant of the
reading room under his eyes, but he
can see into every one of the alcoves
which are open to the public. These
reference alcoves will he the only
parts OF the library containing book,
to which readers will have direct nc,
cess. The book racks are completely
isolated.-Globe- Democrat.
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