New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-03
EDUCATIONAL AFFAIRS.
COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY NEWS
NOTES OF INTEREST.
THE LIBRARY OF CoNGREss-ITs PRESENT
CONDITION AND NEEDS. ACCORDING
TO Mr.. PUTNAM.

CONDITION AND NEEDS, ACCORDING
TO Mr.. PUTNAM.
The first report Of Herbert Putnam. who became
Librarian of Congress April 8. 1899. has just
been issued from the Government Printing Office
simultaneously with the report. which from its
very nature must be more or less formal. The
Atlantic Monthly publishes in It's current number
article by Mr. Putnam in which he treats the
whole subject of the library its history, its present
conditions and the defects which exist in its collec
lions and organization Mr.. Putnam points the way
to remedy these defects, and unless some such
methods as he suggests are adopted they will In
terfere with the development of the library into
which will be worthy of the Nation and will
meet the demands that scholars have right to
make upon 1t. There reason for satisfaction
in seeing the finest library building in the world
put up for the National Library the friends of edu
cation greatly gratifed when year ago the
President and Senate secured one of the foremost
librarians of the country to administer the Library
of Congress, and there is reason for congratu-
lation that the librarian has. as Is shown by
the reports and in the article under review, not
only firmly grasped the situation of the existing
conditions, but has set forth these defects so
definitely.
first blush from the fact that these statements
largely taken up with defects 1t might be
supposed that there is implied criticism Of previ-
administrations of the library a lack of
appreciation the part Of Congress. Such is not
the Cordial testimony is given to the energy
and perception of former librarians. Cramped
quarters and the task of the reorganization of
enlarged staff in the new building largely
sponsble for existing conditions. That Mr.. Putnam
in his report states frankly to Congress the
deficiencies in his force and the imperative needs
of the library, and asks for the necessary relief
with so confident a tone, is sufficient show that
he believes that Congress will respond The fact
is that never before have the conditions and needs
OF the library been set forth clearly, and II may
be assumed that Congress Will welcome such
statement.
In mere mass the Library of Congress exceeds
that of any other library the Western HamI-
sphere. It consists nominally of OO0O printed
books 10000 pamphlets, $4,000 manuscripts 80 900
maps, 2IL~O pieces Of music and above 900 prints
But when the law library of l03 900 volumes the
copyright record volumes and the deposit Of the
Smithsonian Institution of 90OOc volumes are de
Quoted, the collection numbers about 800 900 bound
volumes. This would leave il not much greater
than either the Boston Public Library, the Harvard
University Library of the New-York Public Library
The Library of Congress is first of all legislative
library, but in the field of public documents issued
by the United States Government it is exceIed by
other American libraries in State and municipal
documents II is still more defective while in it's
inter ao9si exchanges it gets very adequate
Ra ne law library falls behind that Of the
valuable collection OF American manuscri3ts ;'"i but
'IT ne!u covered IS limited and covered but thinly
chases copyright deposits. gifts and EXCHANGES 9
rOr dIrect purchase the appropriation for 1899
over previous years Contrast with this sum that
available for the British Museum. which since
lSij averaged not less than 10000 annually for
the purchase of books. besides having received AT
ment for the purchase OF great collections as
they have been thrown upon the market More
book funds considerably in excess OF that OF the
Library e ,; OF Congress It's fund is so small that
desirable current publications II would be- too
IL hoy car he oh
tanned ct all, are held at enhanced and steadily
The library is classified on the Baconian
system, which is inelastic ana Anticipated; it is
caata!ogued lby authors only on large loose
sheets a modern expansive classification is i'm
",i ana the wl4ie LorarE smould De c9ta-
ogued on cards according to the dictionary plan
such as is now being applied to current accessions
library so as to MAKE ifs collections ayauabie
would require force OF four hundred and forty
R h one Putnam at od soi OF @
mends addition of twenty-four assistants and six
messengers in this department. Under the law
for the reorganization Of the library provision
was mace Tor an ordering iacceSslohl department
don The work sf these departments Is nov; be-
ing done by persons borrowed from other depart
menta, the cost OF gripping their efficiency.
No provision has been made for A library bindery
printing Observation-Disclosures which are
provided as matter Of course In most libraries
These are only some of the purely negative Feat
ures in the situation. which Is thus summed up
The Library of Congress Is not now. col
lection organic collection 1t is not yet
CLASSIFIED nor equipped Win mechanism
sary to its effective use the present organization
is but partial; and the resources have yet to be
the collection, but for the work of bringing the
existing material into condition for effective ser
vice"
For the coming year the librarian recommends
that his staff increased from the present force
of 1874 20 23O persons; for the increase OF the
library he asks $4,000; as contingent expenses.
s6645 is needed, and for printing and binding ne
sdduces good reasons for naming $4,000 as
minimum requirement 1t ia reasonable to expect
that having provided the most magnificent bulid-
ing at the service of any library Congress In
tends that the library itself should take rank &C
cordngly Obviously to accomplish :that emu
aden1late annronriations are necessary