Evening star., 1900-12-06
Mr.. MR.PUTNAM'SREPORT
Work Of the Library Of Congress
During the Year.
PREPARING CATALOGUE OF THE BOOKS
Interesting Statistics Regarding
Use of the Reading Room.
TASTES OF THE HABITUES

The annual report Of the librarian of Con-
gress was submitted to the House and SEN
ate today. The total cost of maintenance
for the fiscal year 1900 was 1881 .0i0. AZ, Of
which $226, $40. .46 was for salaries, increase
Of library, contingent expenses, printing
and binding, and the remainder for care
and maintenance of the building and
grounds, fuel, light and miscellaneous ex-
penses connected Herewith and for 'furni-
| ture and shelving. The appropriation for
the current fiscal year is $513.55S.
The report shows that 123,S44 readers
availed themselves Of the privileges of the
main reading room during the year. OF
these 62, IA came between the hours of 3
am. and pm, and 81, 100 between 4 and
10 pm. The highest number Of readers In
one day was 752, on March 3, 1900; the
smallest 50, on August 10. a half holiday.
The average was 4O3. The number Of books
and periodicals supplied was 364 396. as
against 297, ,662 Of the previous year. The
greatest number of books was supplied in
January, the smallest number in July. His
tory was the topic that was most in de-
mand, 1852 volumes on that subject be-
ing supplied. Next in order were periodi-
Gals, while fiction ranked third, but far be-
low history, less than half as many works
of that class being furnished.
The readers between am. and 4 pm.
| called mostly for historical works. periodi-
| Gals, belles-lettres, fiction, biography. gen
ealogy and science following in the order
named. OF the readers between 4 and 10
pm. periodicals were more in demand than
any other one class of literature history
and fiction following as named Books
were issued for home to Il, ,Ss)S persons.
Over So per cent of them called for fiction
and a little over ID per cent for history.
Periodical Reading Room
The periodical newspaper reading room
| was opened January %, 1900. From that
date until June 4 the hours were from 8
| am. until pm; since June they have
been extended through 10 pm. The pur-
pose of this room Is to give the public di-
rect access to as large as possible a num-
ber OF the magazines and newspapers for
merly to be had only upon specific call. Two
thousand three hundred OF them now
displayed in this room on tables. racks and
open shelves, where they may be handled
by the reader without the Intervention Of
an attendant.
The very informality of this use precludes
accurate statistics as to its amount. The
average number Of readers at one time ex-
ceeds sixty; but 1t Is steadily increasing,
and in the evening hours the maximum al
| ready reached has been 211, although the
| seating capacity Of the room is at present
but 175.
| The total number Of entries of titles for
copyright was a. 79S, and the fees amounted
to $65.2O6
Congregational Reference Room
Regarding the proposed congressional ref
erence room in the Capitol, Librarian Put
nam says.
For this service there is indispensable a
room on the level of the main floor con-
venient to Senate, to House and to the
| terminal of the book railway (Which cannot
be extended). A large room is not neces-
sary. One OF the two adjacent to the old
library space and the inner courts might
answer. These are not light otherwise
attractive for use as committee rooms. I
earnestly recommend that of them at
this service.
Describing the work done during the year
the Librarian says:
'since July l. 1889. out of the 1900 ap-
preparation Of $4,000 and the 1901 appro-
priation Of $4,000, the following progress
has been made: The catalogue shelf, the or
der. the map, the mail and supply divisions
and the division of photography have been
permanently located and in the main equip
ped for present needs. The furniture tshelv-
ing, stands. tables, files and chairs) has
been secured for the newspaper-periodical
reading room also; and that room opened
and brought into full use. Shelving has
been installed in the south wing of the
basement for the storage of copyright de-
posits and in the north wing for documents,
duplicates and less used files of newspa-
pers. The stack for the Smithsonian Sc
rials has been contracted for: also certain
additional storage cases for maps. and an
inclOsing partition for the administrative
work Of the print division. with provision
for the shelving of certain of the larger
reference books in the fine arts to be con-
suited there UT tr supervision. Lockers
have been provided for the additional en-
pioyes recently taken on; and the most
| necessary furniture (benches. etc.) for the
work of the printing office and bindery-
not. of course. the machinery itself, nor the
| tools, which are furnished by the govern
ment printing office the plant in the library
| being simply detail from that Office and
| operated by It.
| A List Of Maps and Views of Washing
| ton and the District of Columbia in the Lii
brary of Congress" prepared in the divis-
| ion during the past year. was printed. and
has proved of especial interest in connection
with the approaching centenary Of the cap
| ital.
Increase of the Library.
The following is a summary of the acces-
sions to the library during the fiscal year
and Of the total contents at its end, as accu-
rately as these may be Stated. The copy
| right deposits, so far as retained in the
files of the copyright Office are not includ-
! ed: nor duplicates not accustomed There
| are included, however. the contents of the
| law library and its appendages:
Total Access Total
1SD9 1S89-19OO. 1900.
Printed hooks (al ana
pamphlets tvOls). .95l .058 SS llO Sso, lo0
Manuscripts (piecesl. $500 17S 21.I1S
Maps and charts
(pieces) ........ 50. 1S1 3536 55. III
Sssis ssss osss 1858 1858 s+s
Six hundred and sixty-six newspapers
| and magazines are now subscribed for. as
| against sixty-nine a year ago. The total
| of gifts from publishers has increased from
! $50 to 1850.
CataIoguing and ClassincatiOn.
There are forty-six assistants engaged
in cataloguing and classification. The
catalogue division has been relieved of the
ordering. receiving and binding, for which
| a special force has been provided. There
| is a public catalogue in the reading room
with 30 oO0 cards, official catalogue for
the staff with 10000 cards, and a third
thn otaln wit