The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-30

lhey VIII De LOT the use OF the library Oh
fcials only, the public generally not being
allowed in tie rooms where the business
affairs of the library are conducted. The
administration rooms will include the pri-
vate office Of the librarian. rooms where
accessions viii be received and handled,
and where cataloguers will be at work.
The book stack forms the northern wing
OF The building. 1t will be found abso-
lutely essential in order to bring the cost
of the building within the amount avail
able TO reduce to q minimum the ground
space occupied by the book stack and TO
carry il up five tiers to the full height
of the building. The capacity of the book
stack, 100000 volumes, is, however, in con-
nection with the open shelf facilities, &C
commodating from $4,000 to $1,000 volumes,
believed TO be ample for the purposes Of
the library. The stack is so situated that
it can be extended and enlarged without
interfering in the least with the archi-
tectural effect of the building.
Inc delivery counter, situated as 1t
VIII be, will give the officials at work be-
hind 1t complete inspection facilities and
iuiI view and control of the public reading
room and the corridors.
In the East Wing.
I'm the east wing. to the right of the
reading room. 1t will occupy space Of
5000 square feet and will be lighted by
broad windows reaching to the ceiling.
The west wing Will be divided into two
departments. one-half being given over TO
open-shef accommodations for books and
the other half to the use OF the children.
The reception room will be in the western
section of the building This room will be
in cl0CH ion mi. ha Ip1
room and viii be provided with wall shelly
ing. The open-shelf room will contain
1890 square feet and the reception room
456 square feet. The children's room is OF
the same dimensions as the open self de-
paTtment and will be separated from the
latter by temporary Partition which MAJ
be easily removed. Thus, If the growth or
popularity Of the open-shelf facilities de-
mands it, this department can spread itself
over the entire west wing and occupy a
total space of 1856 square feet. In the
event Of such growth the children's room
would be transferred to the basement
wing reserved for that purpose, or it might
possibly be removed to the second hcor
The reading room in the east wing will
be fitted with wall shelves. The value OF
open-shelf provision rendering books cas-
lily accessible has not been unGar5stimated,
and arrangements have been made for the
occupancy Of every available space fer this
purpose.
ION the second floor the west wing will
be occupied by a lecture or class room OF
about 5000 square feet. In the east wing
will be situated the newspaper and peri
Cdical department The trustees room and
four special study rooms viii also be sit
uated on this floor
'Iu addition to the usual rooms pro-
videi in Easements. such as e.girs rooms.
boiler space, packing, delivery, binding.
and repair departments, and stock and
with ample toilet facilities
and quarters for jaaitors and charwomen,
viii be located in that portion
of the building. The bicycle room will
also have a place in the basement near
the front entrance.
"An entire wing in the basement, a room
well lighted and accessible, has been Ie-
served as a children's room whenever it
may be needed"
Books of the Library.
The question OF supplying the Washing
ton Public Library with books has been
considered by the trustees,
and several plans have been discussed.
This resulted year ago in a systematic
plan OF canvassing for subscriptions to the
which has already yelled large
accession of books The library now
housed on New York Avenue was estab-
lished in the latter part OF 1898. Congress
in an act approved June 30 of that year ap-
1920 for salaries of librarian
and assistants, and $500 to the contingent
fund. The building was then secured and
fitted up, and the Washington City Free
Library, transferred TO the Washington
Public Library by gift, was moved in. The
building was opened to the public Decem-
Der is. 1898. To the original collection
many volumes have been added and the
small force OF helpers who have been as
sisting Librarian Weston Flint have been
busily engaged cataloguing and shelving
the books received by way of private con-
,ributions.
Among these additions" says the IL
braian, lis the Anthony Pollok coll ction
Of over 1890 volumes, most of them finely
bound, which was received from the lega-
tees of the late owner of the collection, and
Is especially valuable, containing, as it
does, so large a proportion of French
works The Evening Star Company has
made contribution of some 1000 volumes.
besides large number OF pamphlets and
among others, Mr.. Will am
Gait has contributed 266 valuable works
from mis- private library; Gen. William Biz
Atfs ApJ yDOhss MI W dIu 1lDTOl, 30 new
books, besides gifts OF books from over $50
others.
"of the gifts of money for the purchase
IF books and periodicals, now amounting to
over $1,000, $1,000 was given by Crosby S.
Soyes, esq, 81 900 by Messrs. Woodward
e Lothrop, and $3.50 by Hon. John R. Nc
Lean, and lesser amounts by generous
friends OF the library.
Hon. James T. Dubois has proposed to
provide a permanent fund of IS 900, the
interest Of which is TO be used for the pur-
,hase of technical periodicals This fund
will pay fer about seyantyfive OF the most
valuable once. The l.terest on 81, eco of
his fund has already been received and
he periodicals placed in the library The
increase of the list of periodicals and of
duplicate copies OF some popular ones has
been provided for by the gifts of friends of
the library
Books From Other Sources.
In commenting upon the matter of Sc
curing the books needed for the library
Thea It shall have been established in the
provided by Mr.. Carnegie, mem
be- on he board OF trustees recently had
.hia tC say:
"Theie is a possibility that legislation
may be secured from Congress which will
urn over to the library the miscellaneous
books not necessary for reference and
official use in the departmental libraries.
These number between 10000 and 10000
volumes. Their withdrawal from the
300, coo volumes Of the departmental libra
-ies would not injure the latter as tech
lical reference collections for official use,
but would cause the Washington Public
Library 10 become a general departmental
library for the enjoyment and free cir
,ulating use of all the employees in all the
Departments. These books, accessible TO
hem only SO far as the fraction contained