Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-01
LIBRARY NOW READY
Opening of Big Congressional Institu-
ton on Schedule Time.
VOLUME FIRST CALLED FOR NOT THERE
Successful Operation of the Sys-
tenn of Carriers.
THE METHODS IN DETAIL

hailed with delight by d certain class of
persons when they arose this morning.
They were not human ducks, either, for
the affair in which they wished to par
ticipate was sufficient evidence that they
were intensely human, and of an intellec-
tual type. In other words, they knew that
this was the day on which the Library of
Congress. or, more strictly speaking, the
reading room, was to be thrown open to
the public. Several hundred thousands OF
books to draw from. rainy day and such
accommodations as are furnished in the
new library building for readers, form
combination which cannot be beaten.
So the rain did not come amiss to the
bookworms, but rather served to heighten
their enjoymen for the literary feast pro-
vided for them
The reading room was opened at o'clock
this morning, as had been announced, with
everything in readiness. Librarian Young
with Assistant Librarian Spofford, Superin-
tendent of the Reading Room Hutcheson
and Superintendent Green of the building
inspected the edifice yesterday from top 10
bottom. from bookstack to basement There
are about 10000 volumes at present on the
shelves.
Departments in Readiness.
All the departments, with the exceptions
Of the fine art and music departments
'sAN AN1Ny' anu "Oih IL bclHS on III
the two exceptions no:ed as fast as possi-
Bile. The copyright department is in full
blast. and occupies the rooms intended for
l., in the south and north curtains of the
basement. One of the chambers is for stor-
age. and the other for the working force
of the department
The reading room was guarded this morn
Ing by a watchman, who made injuries
OF visitors whether or not they intended to
divert and at the same time improve their
minds by delving in the volumes of lore
which are available by applying at the
desk of the superintendent of the reading
ICOm-
III the answer was in the affirmative. ad-
mattance was gained-otherwise it was re-
fused The reading room is no longer in
tended to satisfy the curiosity of strangers
In the capital. No conversation is permit
ted there.
Outside the door was a sign which road.
For Library Readers Only" On the right
OF lhe entrance was card on which was
printed In bold. black letters the admoni-
ton. Keep quiet"
The old familiar faces known to any one
VINO mas ever been in the Capitol Library
were seen in the reading room today They
Wet were present. for business, too There
the oid gentleman. with the long white
Whlshers, who read his favorite volume
through gold-boved glasses Another was
the 1a1r. young girl, tailor-made with a
taste for gliht literature and caramals
sandwiched. The scholarly looking man.
with the high forehead and long black
hdir. with other characteristics which
marked MN as the theological student
was in evidence. These were three types
but there were all the others.
The First Demand.
The first volume asked for about three
minutes after the door was opened was
Roger Williams Year Book" of 50 re-
cent a date that it had rot been received
The krOE
was Martha Lambs History of New York
City," and the gentleman who had the
honor OF receiving the initial volume SUBJ
United TO the great American public, or
ane representative. bore the name of Max
West A lady next asked for Lady East
lakes Memoirs, which was furnished her
After that the Carriers began to bring
their grist of books instead of pouring out
the golden grain as do the thresh hing ma
chimes. which the apparatus resembles
The old hands. who had previously been
chary of the new-fangled arrangement
crowded around, got in the game as it
were, and the attendants were kept busy
supplying the volumes.
The method of procedure to obtain a book
Is simple enough. There are slips furnish
ed called readers tickets. on these is print
ed. Title Of works wanted" and "Au-
thor This is filled out by the would-be
reader. and the name signed at the bot
tom II is handed to one of the attendants
who slips il in one of the pneumatic tubes
and it is whirled swiftly to the stack where
i; shelved the volume wanted
At the same time button is pressed,
which notifies the attendant in thf. stack
that an order is on the way The order
is received at the other end and noted
and the volume secured. a button at that
end being also pressed TO notify that the
DOCK Is In the hands Of its friends SO to
speak The volume is placed on one of
the shelves inside of the carrier appa-
Iatus- II remains there but a short while
hGfT h
irE been pressed in the meanwhile the book
is lifted of of it's resting place and started
on its journey To the reading room.
Inc carriers followed one another IN an
endless fashion, they being on revolving
chain The action of the whole is auto
matte and most complete. When the book
arrives at its destination it is showed On a
shelf-hke arrangement. ready for the at
tendant and reader. II is returned to the
stack from which ii came in much the
same manner.
The Solitary Mfshap.
The only mishap which occurred this
morning was the bending to one side of the
fingers of a carrier. which caught or be-
came interlocked in those of a shelf in
one Of the decks. This was remedied in
few minutes. and everything went ON in
excellent shape.
Superintendent Flawson of the periodical
experiment has worked his force SO well
lhdt. IN spite OF many obstacles, the mat
ter in his charge Was IN such shape today
that ii could be delivered as asked for
owing TO the force there being smaller
than elsewhere, orders for magazines and
Papers are no; received on every deck"
of the south stack
The calls are received on the eighth
deck where they are attended to NV As
slstants Van Ness Ingram ana George Al
fred Townsend. jr. One call this noorn;n,
was for the periodicals.. about a dozen in
number. Containing articles on lynch Law
The person asking for them looked in
Poole's directory. in which all of these n r.
Kept. and the whole number was furnished
him. There Were frequent calls for fbe
monthly magazines which were sent on,
On this eighth deck are kept the curren,
periodicals. which number about coo each
NORTH By the first of the year the daily
newspaper files will be kept spread out foy
inspection in the rooms intended for them
The files are arranged alphabetically as re-
CARDS the states from which they come.
Periodical Department..
The periodicaf department is under one
disadvantage. which Is ttat the carriers
are intended only for quarto volumes. The
big newspaper volumes, of eight or nine