The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-08-26

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NEW CONGRESSIONAL LIBRARY Z
brary is about to be permanently
opened On the Saturday following the
recent adjournment of congress, the
new librarian, Hon. John Russell Young,
closed the old library for the purpose
of transferring to the new library
rios, it's Klondyke mines of golden in.
telligence.s 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 a
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 BIZ
aimed at. The number of readers grows
less as summer advances, and increases
again with it's end and the coming fall.
There are over 100000 volumes to be re-
moved and arranged in the new build
ing. 4. The accumulation of other ma
-terial is enormous. It is in different
rooms, alcoves and stories. Some is on
Oh al, - nh h,o
is classified, and much is unclassified.
The question how to safely and ex-
peditiously remove this matter from
these places, and retain it's classical
ton, 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.
q It was considered as an engineering
problem. A system of carding the books
as they start, and numbering the new
stacks, was finally settled upon. chutess
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 a diagram of
the seats of a theater. Each box of
books will go to a certain seat, so to
speak, and that seat will be crossed off
rs box is sent out, properly marked.
In this way no confusion can result. u.
AS the various classes of books in the
old library are widely scattered, it will
take some time to properly card and
number them. It is this work which in
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. t.l.-.:
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 /; 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 anu
confusion. i air ~
The removal Of the Boston public IL
brary, continuing 100000 volumes, &C.
cupied year. The library was opened
within two months, but it was crippled
for four months; and removing the IL
brary of congress is q much greater
task. 49,. 80 " II -r-i3. ~ 'sss5
Until the books are moved, no APP
pointments will be made by Mr.. Young.
There isl sufficient force now to do that
work, and although the applications
IRE still pouring in at the rate of over
so day. nothing can be done with
them except to place them on file.
After the library is arranged the list will
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 srequireiments that only those
adapted to the positions which they
seek shall be chosen It will be strictly
observed. zs ess q s<t
There are los, places provided for on
the library staff. OF these, 4S are filled
by. those of the old library staff, who
will be retained. They win, for the
most part. receive the higher salaries,
leaving only about 60 places with small
xalarissG t0b BE filled. aailaat
The removal of the national library.
from the capitol to the new library
building win result in the charging Of
the crypt under the great rotunda.
When the Toner objection was received
BY the library about l6. years ago. brick
walls were built just back Of the second
row Of columns, in the crypt, thus con-
veftiug the outer cir aImference into
apartments for the-temporary occupan-|
cys yths cole 9ion 9ivehby DR.. Toner.
The building Of these apartments COW
cred up the window OF. the crypt, and
yesterday they were uncovered to the
gaze Of the public for the first time II
1e years.
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