Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-08
THE WORK PROGRESSING
Many New Features at Congressional Library
Proposed.
Better Facilities for Looking Mt News
papers - Periodicals From
Every City Wanted.

The labor Of moving from the old library
into the new one has progressed So far
that the copyright department has settled
down to work III the section allotted 20 it
on the south side of the building All Of
the desks and fittings have not Yet been
transferred, but the place is fast assum-
ing shape, and everything there will be in
active operation By the first of next week
There are about thirty persons employed
IN the place.
1t Is expected that under the dire, tion of
Superintendent Slauson of the periodical
department, all the bound volumes of mag
azines and papers will be transferred by
the end OF the week, unless rain or storm
prevent. Library experts gave it as their
opinion that the matter could not be moved
vert to work, employed additional force
and 1t appears now that the volumes will
occupy the places intended for them when
the sun sets Saturday night.
Mr.. Slauson is developing number of
plans which will make his department one
OF the most complete in the entire library
building. 1t has been the custom hereto
fore for two daily papers to be secured from
each state by subscription for the benefit
OF the library. These are paid for by SUBJ
scription. provision being made for the
purpose. In the larger cities the more
prominent dailies are also subscribed TO-.
Mr.. Slauson will send out circulars later to
the newspapers all ever the country ask
ing them for their issues, which will be
bound and filed in most convenient form
and preserved for future generations. he
VIII by this have copies of the principal
journals IN every state not only two diff
ferent ones, as has hitherto been the case
He feels that he will meet with a hearty
response from the publishers to whom he
will address the circulars.
Some New Features
III connection with Mr.. Slauson's depart
ment there will be a room which, it is
thought, will be great boon, not only to
newspaper men. but to the public in gen.
eral. When visitors from outside come
here to the capital they will have the
privilege Of looking at copies of two pa
pers published in their states without hav
ing to inquire for them, and lose time In
having them brought. A room will be
given up specially for this purpose. and
the papers, in files. will be spread out
ready for reference on specially construct
ed desks. The chamber brought into requi-
sition will be the south room In what is
known as the east curtain" with d.
mersions of about o3Ox35 feet. There will
be provision made else in either that room
or another by which correspondents of
papers or others desiring to refer to old
files can do SO without trouble and inter-
ruption.
In order to look at a current magazine 1t
will not be necessary to call an attendant
and have it brought. They will be spread
out on desks made for the purpose, and
may be read and examined at the will of
the visitor. Mr.. Young is of the opinion
that the salary of an attendant would be
two or three times as great as the loss of
books by the proposed system, or the wear
and tear of the volumes.
The newspapers and periodicals will COW
er seven stacks of the nine in the south
stack. The third deck will be reserved for
volumes mostly called for in the reading
room. and the lower one will be given over
to the copyright department for storage
Mr.. Slauscn is classifying his matter by
subjects. and Ahen alphabetically under the
subjects, so that the asked-fcr volumes can
be readily reached.
1t is the intention of Mr.. Young, when
the library is in full working order, to
make 1t circulating one for residents of
Washington. He sees no reason why the
books in the library should be kept any
more exclusive there than elsewhere. AL
though it Is called the Library of Congress.
1t is really the national library, whose con-
tents are intended for the use, instruction
and pleasure of the American people and
he is determined that 1t shall be so.