The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-12-12
The Congressional Library.

l. ton departs without an eN.
randed pride in American
institutions and in the multiiorm ;seni.
us which they stimulate and develop
Not only is this great store of human
wisdom and learning housed in the fin.
est structure of its kind in the world
typifyng Americas material suprem.
Hcy and forecasting its not distant
primacy in the world of ar, and letters
ii is in itself fast becoming Il model tt
all mankind for intelligent library
classification and arrangement.
In his third annual report. jus, is
sued. the accomplished librarian. Mr.
Herbert Putnam. reviews interestingly
some of the progress in administrative
details recently achieved. When the H.
brary moved into it's present home four
years ago last spring. the physical
equipment was incomplete, the organi-
aZtion was but partial: the collection
itself. though large in mass, was in
organic. Indeed. the work to be done:
the development to be sought. the SER
vice to be rendered. the apparatus to
be provided. had not yet fully been
defined" However. the past four. and
| in particular the past two years. "have
seen the collections. formerly indiscr-
inmate divided into certain main
groups and in large part arranged and
digested: most OF these groups con-
| veniently located: and the physical
equipment and personal service appro-
pirate to each determined. and in part
provided. They have seen determined
also and initiated in each group. Il sys-
| tenn of classification which not merely
| recognizes present contents. but pro-
vdes elastically for future develop
| ment: and catalogues which. also elas-
! tic. when brought to date will exhibit
| adequately the collections as they
| stand ana be capable of expansion
| without revision. The larger appro-
| priations OF the past four years have
! nabled the imperfections in the cOllac-
| tiOns themselves in Il measure to be
| remedied. Particular progress has
been made in the completion of stand
ard sets and bibliographies. which are
| the tools of the ClaSsiiicr and cata-
| loguer. and guides in selection: and
considerable progress in the acquisition
Of miscellaneous material important 10
serious research but impossible of ac-
QUESTION with the small funds formerly
available. The library begins the new
century. therefore, in a condition far
| advanced over that in which ii began
its career i'm the new building
The current expenses of tn" library
last year slightly exceeded $5OO.OO0 in
volving. among other items. the pay Of
| 256 employees. For the year an increase
| OF 81 in the administrative force was
| asked for. and congress granted 2G
| Mr.. Putnam now urges that the omis-
| sion of > new places greatly needed in
| the catalogue department be repaired
| by congress authorizing him to employ
| ~ additional assistants for the uneX-
pired half of the present fiscal year.
| From the copyright division revenues
| amounting to S63.GS7.50 were derived.
Last year 16,4Sl printed books and
pamphlets We're added to the library.
| Many were new issues. but through
was made in the completion Of sets
and in the acquisition of standard ma
| terial But The present appropriations
of congress Mr.. Putnam says, lis be-
low that requisite if the library is to
become Il collection comprehensive in
! emergency fund, absolutely no re-
sources for purchase say" the appro-
priation for the current year. The MA
telal which it lacks is, if manuscript,
unique; If printed, existing only in a
small number of copies. constantly di-
minishing through absorption by other
libraries. For this it must compete, at
auction or private sale, With institu-
lions ana individual collections either
already further advanced than the Ii
brary of congress toward completeness.
and thus able 10 concentrate cNpendi-
lures upon a few items, or special in
scope, and thus similarly free to do so.
II is not now competing successfully.
Al sales of important material it rarely
secures more than one in four of the
items ii bids upon.
THE gifts have indeed been nunl4r-
Gus. and show gratifying increase over
those for last year. But they have
consisted for the most part of docu-
ments or ordinary publications, ana
they We're gifts of material solely. Not
II single gift of money has ever come TO
the library. moi a single gift therefore
which added to its collections by de-
liberate selection. The acceptance of IA
gift by such AN institution implies that
the material given viii be credilablN
supported by other material which ii
is within the power of The library To
buy. The library can indeed hope to
attract gifts only by three means:
First by a building which will house
Them safely and commodiously,-this il
has. Second, by administration which
will safeguard them and render them
useful-this il is developing. Third.
by considerable expenditure Of its own