Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-18
Appropriation for Congressional Ii
brary Failed.
GREAT PRESSURE FOR PLACES
Librarian Putnam Says There Arc
No Vacancies.
tee HIN ICAL TRAINING

Congress did not deal as liberally with
the Library Of Congress in the appropr.a-
tions Of the last session as in former years,
consequently the growth of the library will
not be so great in the next fiscal year. The
appropriation for the purchase OF books
was cut down $4,000. and the necessary
clerical force estimated for the coming
year was cut down 25 per cent.
1t is regretted on every side that the ap-
preparation to keep the library open Sum-
days failed In the conference committee.
This was small item. only 900, to give
the public access to the library for reading
on Sunday, but It was bitterly contested IN
Congress and finally dropped. II is not pos
sible, lacking this appropriation. to keep
open Sundays. as the regular force ere
pretty thoroughly occupied with the pres
ent day and night service.
No Vacancy In the Force.
Librarian Putnam said today that, Juds-
ing from the applications for positions in
the library pouring in from day to day.
there must be erroneous impression
abroad concerning the size of the library
force. At present there are go people on
the rolls, and there is no vacancy. The
force contains an excess of unframed SER
vice, whereas the growing demand of the
library is for trained service and technical
skill.
July 1 next twenty-six people will be
added to the rolls OF these. seven have
been selected, leaving nineteen appoint
ments to be made, every one of which Will
be in the catalogue department, where the
highest training procurable for the salary
is demanded. The people who will fill these
schools and who have served in other
libraries handling material analogous to
that which is handled I'm the Library OF
Congress.
Tho p,,p,bar of onpIioatfop ,ou, nv, 6Ia
is ]. .149, and Mr.. Putnam said he no
prospect in the immediate future for the
employment of unframed service. save a
chance would occur from the infrequent
vacancy in the present force.
Technical Training Required.
Mr.. Putnam explained that the cata-
loguing of collection of books OF this kind
is a serious undertaking, requiring experf-
ence, skill and training, and that the work
Of the library would suffer by the introduc-
ton OF unskilled labor. For instance, he
said. many of the cataloguers must UNDER
stand foreign languages. Three-fourths OF
the purchased books are in foreign lam
guages and must be handled by persons ac-
quainted with them. He said that in the
catalogue department are found people
who severally are familiar with all the Lam
guages of Europe and with Arabic and
Chinese as we'll OF course. not every ern-
ploye Of the department is required to be q
linguist, but others are distinguished Ia
portant.
1t will be FIVE or more years. according
to the wisdom Of Congress in providing
money, before a comprehensive catalogue
Of the Library of Congress will be con-
cluded. At this time IL a person desires
to consult a book acquired by the library
prior to July 1, 1898, it is found in q
catalogue giving the name Of the author
only. For many years this was the only
catalogue owned by the library.
II one desired to consult the library
shelves by subjects reliance was placed
upon the suggestion Of attendants and the
rough groupings of the books which was
commenced at an early day and never
emerged from a comparatively crude con-
dition. Even this grouping will have to
be rearranged
By Subject and Author.
The accessions Of the library since July
1, 1898, have been catalogued by subject
and author both. The arrangement is by
card, printed and typewriter. the cards
contained in drawers in the reading room
and accessible to the public.
This arrangement is very satisfactory to
the public, as 1t enables the inquirer to go
through subject and ascertain at a glance
what new books upon that topic have been
received, and also enables one who is in
terested in a certain author to keep up
with his works. Ultimately the entire COLI
lection Of the library will be catalogued in
this way and the catalogues printed, con-
tanning also a reclassfication Of the books.
The reclassihcation is proceeding slowly.
Thus far It has gone only partially through
the subject of American history, but the
work as far as II has progressed is of the
highest and most complete order of cata-
loguing according to modern systems. Il
will also include the application of a num-
berins scheme.
The library is now having all its printing
and binding done in the main building. A
complete printing and binding establish.
ment upon a small scale has been estab-
lished by the government printing Office
in the library building in charge of skilled
employees and a competent foreman from
the main office. The most approved ma
chinery, run by electric power. has been
installed and the workmanship is of high
order.