St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-02-15


THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.
lence, the library of the nation-the
great storellouse of information in every
stage and branch of the nation S devel-
opment. 1t should be to the United
States what the British museum is to
England and the Bibliotheque Rationale
is to France 1t should be its duty to
seek ont, gather mp and preserve all
material, whether documentary, picto-
rial or purely literary, which bears upon
the history, record and the progress of
the whole nation. Not alone should this
apply to politics and statecraft, but the
literary, scientific industrial and social
life of the country. 1t should be the
especial function of the National library
to preserve original documents and
primary sources of historic informa-
ton. THIS in a measure has been done,
but not as thoroughly as could be de-
sired.
Another suggestion has been made
which would enlarge the functions of the
library of congress and benefit the peo-
pie generally. This is in the direction of
cooperation with state and municipal Ii
braries. Each state has its library and
historical society which preserve the
records and documents of its section,
and what these state libraries do for the
various commonwealth the National
library should do for the country as
whole 1t is possible for the National
library to be the agency of state insti-
buttons in cooperative service, which
would benefit both. 1t could become to
them a medium of exchange, and in
turn utilize them as its own local agen-
cies.
The sentiment is expressed among
bibliologists, scholars and librarians
that there should be general bureau of
libraries, embracing the whole country.
The il "a is to institute cooperative
system. of cataloguing, indexing, bibli-
ography and reciprocal service in the ex-
cnange of books and information. For
such cooperative service central head
is required, which must be library
having the most representative collec-
ton of books and the title, the power
and the duty to render such service to
the country at large. Such central
head of bureau of libraries can only
be the National library in Washington.
In connection with the National Ii
brary there is also feeling that there
should be a more general international
cooperation. International conference,
association and interchange of views
are essential in the upbuilding of a
great national library. Important
schemes for such international co-opera-
ton are already pending. AS the Smith
sonian institution is for scientific bodies
the medium of international transac-
tions so in the communications between
the libraries of this country and those
abroad the National library should be
the natural medium.
The trouble with many great libraries
and the library of congress is no excep
ton, is the difficulty Of obtaining quick
1y and accurately information upor
special subjects. A great collection o.
books is not made useful simply by be
ing brought together under one roof, i
is not made fully useful by catalogues
however elaborate Above the cata
logues there must be the men, not mere
ly Of routine capacity who can hant
ont particular book in response to
particular demand, net mere bibliog
raphers but specialists in each depart
ment of knowledge, who have had par
ticular training in that department
and, if possible, who are experience
therein. The great majority of the dc
mands in any library of reference, an
certainly its most important demands
is not for particular books, but for I'll
best material on particular subjec
These demands can rarely be answere
directly by the catalogues, while an e,
pert can ordinarily supply quickly tt
sources of information desired. Some
the larger libraries of the country a
retaining in their service practical g
perts, who form corps of specialist
in addition to the ordinary attendant
They meet the inquirer on any subjeC
and without loss of time aid him in {
curing the best material OF all librari
in this country, and especially ON {
count Of its connection with congre
the National library should have at
command such special experts.
The special friends of the libral
both in private and public life, are e
pestly DESTROYS that the library shot
perform its fullest possible functi,
and there is little doubt that the E,
gestions now being quietly talked o
Dor broadening its scope viii in (
season be effected.
The library Of congress has now 81
600 printed volumes, in which is
eluded the law library Of 100, 900
umes. There are also $40. 900 pamphl
$4,000 original manuscripts, go,
graphic arts, 210, 900 pieces Of M
and Az (l00 houud vnlumaa ~ pauv,