Evening star., 1898-01-18


brary in another place even temporarily
then l suggest that SO far this bill is
concerned the provision for room rent for
the municipal library might be omitted and
provision inserted that it be authorized to
occupy temporarily quarters in the Con-
gressional Library building, designated by
the joint committee on library and the Ii
brarian of Congress. If the provision for
c1rcula ting department of the Congress-
al Library goes through on the Legislative
bill, everything referring to the free public
library in the District bill could be dropped
in conference. If it does not go through. an
approximation and a preliminary to the
realization of the recommendations of Lii
brarian Young on this subject would be at
tanned by the enactment of the suggest ed
provision in the District bill. The public
library organization would serve the pur-
poses of a circulating department of the
Congressional Library until such time as
Congress should create the latter depart
ment and merge into it the free public IL
brary. There would be this advantage at
the outset in utilizing distinct, semi-local
organization for starting the circulating
machinery. Private subscriptions of money
and books, already promised to the public
library, would be enjoyed, and one-half the
maintenance cost would be met from local
taxation, resources impossible in the case
G! a mere department of the national
library.
The suggestion of the housing of the
free public library in the new congression-
al building Is not new one In their
first report, in 1894, the library committee
of the board of trade said on this point:
If this library can be enabled with GER
tafnty to preserve its distinct existence
While housed under the same roof with
the great national library, contingencies
might arise which would render a location
in some unused portion of the new building
for the Library of Congress extremely de-
sirable. There will be abundant room in
that structure for at least quarter of a
century An extensive reading room and
fon r,,;II H. IL
The disadvantages of locati not suffi-
GENTLY central may be overcome by the
establishment of branches in different parts
OF the city, like those of the Boston pub
lie library.
The law establishing the library, while
1t provides permanent quarters in the mu-
nicipal building hereafter to be erected,
authorizes the Commissioners on recon-
mendation of the trustees, to designate
temporary quarters. If Congress should
authorlZe the use of any part of the Con-
3resslonal Library building for this pur-
pose the Commissioners could promptly
utsisliate these rooms as the quarters Sc
lected under the law.
Il he librarian OF Congress, I am able
TO say, is heartily in favor of the pro-
posed arrangement. If the circulating de-
pitrtment project should not be approved
at this session. We fear that the free
library appropriation may he successfully
resisted In this committee by reference to
the proposed circulating department of the
CohsIcsslonal Library, and that the ao-
Preparation for that department may he
successfully resisted on any one of sey.r.l
plausible grounds, so that it will be n
case not OF either of two desirable things
but CT neither. The House has already
refused or failed this session TO take ad
vantage of the opportunity to make tho
proposed Congressional Library appropria-
ton in the legislative bill
Ihls community should not be permitted
In the matter of circulating library faci,i
a tvyn
not he required by repeating legislation or
by refusal of maintenance to abandon
the free public library until the propoSed
substitute actually exists and is available
for use.
The LAW In the Case
Inc Following is the act establishing the
free library:
An act to establish and provide for the
maintenance of free public library and
reading room in the District of Columbia.
BE 1t enacted by the Senate and House
OF Representatives of the United States
Oh america in Congress assembled, That
Tree pubic library and reading room is
herepy established and shall be maintained
III the District of Columbia, which shall be
the property of the said District and a
supplement of the public educational sys-
TEN of said District All actions relating
penalties lawfully established in relation
thereto. shall be brought in the name OF
tie District of Columbia and the Commits
sloners of said District are authorized on
behalf of said District to accept and take
title to all gifts requests and devises for
the purpose OF aiding in the maintenance
or endowment of said library: and the
commissioners of said District are further
authorized to receive as component parts
of said library collections of books and
hat :,
to them.
Section 2. That all persons who are per-
Tanent or temporary residents of the Dis
trict of Columbia shall be entitled to the
privileges of said library, including the
use Of the books contained therein. as a
lending or circulating library subject to
such rules and regulations may be law
fully established in relation thereto
Section 3. That the said library shall be
in charge of board of library trustees,
who shall purchase the books, magazines
ana newspapers, and procure the necessary
ap2endages for such library. The said
board of trustees shall be composed of nine
members, each of whom shall be a tax
payer in the District of Columbia. and shall
serve without compensation. They shall
be appointed by the Commissioners of the
District of Columbia ard shall hold office
for six years: Provided That at the first
meeting of the said board the members
shall be divided by lot into three classes.
The first class composed of three MEM
second class composed of three members,
shall hold office for four years; the third
class, composed of three members, shall
hold Office for six years. Any vacancy oc-
curing in said board shall be flied by the
District Commissioners. Said board shall
have power to provide such regulations for
its own organization and government as
ii may deem necessary.
Section 4. That the said board shall
have power to provide for the proper care
and preservation of said library, to pre-
scribe rules for taking and returning books
to fix, assess and collect fires and penal
ties for the loss of or injury to books, and
to establish all other reedful rules and
regulations for the management of the
library the said board shall deem proper
The said board of trustees shall appoint a
librarian to have the care and superin-
tendence of said library. who shall be re-
sponsibe to the board of trustees for the
impartial enforcement of all rules and
regulations lawfully established in rela-
ton to said library. The said librarian
shall appoint such assistants as the board
shall deem necessary to the proper conduct
of the library. The said board of library
trustees shall make an annual report to
the Commissioners of the District of Co.
lumbia relative to the management of the
said library.
Section 5. That said library shall be