Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-09

many new rules. In the opinion OF the IL
brarian. they should be based upon the
principle that the government property
known as the library should have as
many safeguards as the government prop
erty in the treasury vaults.
The law at present gives the privilege
of taking out books to the following per-
sons: The President, Vice President, sena.
tors, representatives. delegates in Congress
heads of departments, the justices, report
er and clerk of the Supreme Court. the
judges and clerk of the Court of Claims
representatives at Washington of foreign
governments, the solicitor general and as
Sistant attorney general, the secretary OF
the Senate. the clerk of the House of repre-
sentatives, the solicitor of the treasury
the disbursing agent of the committee on
library, ex-Presidents of the United States
the chaplainS of the two houses of Con-
gress, the secretary and regents of the
Smithsonian Institution. the members and
secretary of the interstate commerce COM
mission chief of engineers of the army
judges of the Court of Appeals. judges OF
the Supreme Court of the District of Co
lumbia.
This privilege as has been said exists
Under the law. BY permission of the Ii
brarfan-that is to say, by custom that
has almost grown into the force of law
the, following have sometimes received
books:
"Ex-senators living in Washington. ex-
representatives living in Washington, per-
sons who have held office, such as ex-
members of the cabinet; relatives of sena-
tors and members, families of deceased
judges of the higher courts, few persons
on orders from senators or representatives
more especially the library committee;
clerks to senators and representatives
clerks in the offices OF the secretary of the
Senate, Of the sergeant-at-arms of the
House, of the doorkeeper of the House, of
the architect of the Capitol, of the clerk
OF the Supreme Court and Office of the
marshal Of the Supreme. Court reporters
of the Senate and House.
AT the suggestion of the librarian there
nave been occasional loans to responsible
persons. By courtesy books of technical
character and for official purposes have
peen loaned to bureaus like those of the
bureau of education, geological and coast
surveys. There was a rule adopted in 1915
by which the librarian could loan books
to any person not member of Congress
upon deposit of the value thereof such de-
post to be returned upon the return of the
book or books to the library within two
weeks. AS this conf1icted with the Re
Vlsed Statutes. it was discontinued in 1895
and deposits returned.
In addition to those above enumerated
Is has been the custom to allow the privi-
lege Of taking out books to the members of
the library staff. 1t will therefore be seen
that the library might be called a circulat-
Ing library for about seven hundred read
ers. 80"
wv lille limiting the privilege of giving ont
BOOKS, their custody should be carefully
than protection. Recent unfortunate ey
rerlcnces in the library, showing the facil-
lty with which books could be stolen from
the law department and manuscripts from
t 60 reposltorles' must not pass UNDECIDED
so far as it is within the power of the
librarian, these rules viii be enforced and
whatever will increase their stringerc,, viii
be welcomed as an advantage to the library
administration.
A Circulating Library.
Inc question of a circulating department
mas been suggested as a further step in
library development. Modern experience
emphasizes the value of such an institution
1t brings home the advantages of a Ii, rary
TO those wanting in time for opportunity or
study Inc creation of such a library under
existing circumstances would be- largely n
matter or Observation-Disclosures as we
40, so much that is requisite for proper or
san1zatlon. TO be useful, however a circu-
latlng department should have many COMES
of current and popular books. Some circu
latlng libraries have as many as fifty on
their Shelves at the same time This would
IMPLY an expense not incumbent upon a
wise, be wear and tear of books. In a
population as small as that Of Washing
ton there would not be the necessity for
duplicates that exists in other cities, and
the loss from wear and tear would be con-
trolled by careful management.
Inc new library, SO far as the convent
ehceS OF the building are concerned, offers
the highest advantages for the proposed
circulating department. There could be no
question as to space and accommodation
Ihere should be a distinct organization
contemplating alone the needs of q circu-
iatlng library. That, however would be a
mater or administration. The books for
circulation could be housed in their own
stacks, and rooms now set apart for Other
purposes assigned to those in charge of
them. The reading room, especially in the
Perlooicai ana newspaper department, would
he open to all-those who came to borrow
as well as those seeking reading or re-.
search.
While. therefore, the circulating depart
men. coulu oe arranged upon lines corre-
spending with ether sections of the library
those, for instance, OF mans the law ar5
the graphic arts, 1t should be subordinate
to and in no sense invade the general idea
u s,e library as one of universal scope
nallonal treasure house of knowledge
Keeping this ever in mind and with
Juulclous arrangement, there is no reason
why with little expense, a circulating de-
PaI'iuehi OF manifold usefulness might
people. u INC
Opening at Night.
Inc question of opening the library at
night to the general public cannot he
urged with too much emphasis The re-
port OF lhe joint committee On the library.
made mad by Senator Hansbrough. March 2
1927, was express in it's advocacy. Your
JOINT committee on the library says the
report would suggest the advisability of
such further appropriations as NAV he
necessary Tor the employment of an addi-
tlonai force, in order that the library NAV
be opened at right for the general public;
The opening of the library at night
might be deemed a right, rather than a
privilege. While the books were in the
capitol there were valid reasons to the
contrary. The ever-present danger of fire
the limited accommodations, arising out of
congested conditions of the library. and
which made general reading announcement.
and IN various sections of research imnos
sible, all combined to make night opening
unwise. fs
Conditions peculiar to Washington life
suggest night opening as advisable. Here
dwell thousands of persons in the public
service, whose hours of labor are, as a rule.
from to 4. At O'clock tine library, un-
less Congress is in session, is closed, OF
this number there are many who would
welcome the library for purposes of study
or amusement: 1t is denied to them, and
during their leisure hours they are thrown
upon social and domestic. resources. Not
only is the library closed for reading. but
likewise. as a splendid public building, with
all the beauty and splendor of its decora-
tions. and as such worthy OF study
1--WE are free from the conditions which
made night opening inconvenient Now
there is building-none more auitable-fo-
study at>night. 1t is frelproof. There is