Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-12-09
rarely secures more than one In four Of
the Items 1t bids upon.

rarely secures more than one In four Of
the items It bids upon. g.
Gifts to the Library.
'.The gifts have indeed been numerous,
and show gratifying increase over those for
last year. But they have consisted for the
most part Of documents or ordinary publ
cations, and they were gifts Of material
solely. Not q single gift of money has ever
come to the library; not single gift, there
fore, which added to Its collections by de-
liberate selection. The acceptance OF q gift
by such an institution implies that the
material given will be creditably supported
By other material which it Is within the
power of the library to buy. The library
three means: First, by building which
will house them safely and commodiously-
this It has, Second. by administration
which will safeguard them and render them
useful-this 1t Is developing. Third. by con-
siderable expenditures Of Its own in the ac-
QUESTION Of material which will bring the
material given into honorable company and
Will attract notice to it by increasing the
reputation Of the general collection These
expenditures 1t must be prepared to make
All three Of these factors have operated
in the case Of the British Museum. Price
less collections have come to 1t by Gift
They have come largely for the distinction
Of association and service with a collection
already the most distinguished in the world,
made so by the direct effort Of the govern
ment."
Mr.. Putnam devotes several pages Of his
report in detailing the nature and value OF
the acquisitions. both by purchase and gift
At the close Of the fiscal year the library
was receiving 1925 serials, an increase of
2,79O or SO per cent. over the number re-
ceived the preceding year. In this increase
the number of gifts is most noticeable, al
most all Of which are from American pub
fishers, indicating that the knowledge Of
the library and its facilities for the preser-
walton of current periodical publications Is
spreading throughout the country. Four
hundred and sixteen serial publications cur
rently received and filed in the documents
division are not included in the above.
Aiding the Readers.
The cataloguing system Is explained at
length in the report and list Of publica-
lions by the library is given. as we'll as the
contents of several large classifcatlons OF
books under topical headings. Commenting
on what the library can and does do for the
reader, Mr.. Putnam says:
Specific aid on its premises to a partdcu-
lar reader is but one form of service of
library such as this. Published photograph
les, such the various lists issued by the
Library Of Congress during the past two
years, based upon the expert use OF great
collection give aid to multitude of read
ers and add efficiency not merely to the
library which complies them, but to every
library which they reach. am disposed
constantly to emphasize this: That the
service of the Library Of Congress is little
to be estimated by the number of inquirers
who fred II 1t in person. 1t may render
services in llue immeasurably exceeding
its cost without issuing a single volume to
a reader within its walls"
In this connection Mr.. Putnam gives COM
parsons showing the number of visitors to
the library during the past two years. In
an increase over the preceding one, the
figures being, for 1901, S32,370; for 1900,
65;5, 439. 1t is explained that the great in
crease in the number of visitors was due
in part to the inaugural ceremonies. On
March last 72,572 persons entered the
library building.
The character of the use Of the library
has varied somewhat from last year.
larger percentage of scientific works have
been larger called for in the reading room
for reference use. and a larger percentage
of fiction for home use (by the few persons
privileged to draw books for home use)
marked increase has been observed in
the number Of reference readers from out
side of the District, and in the number OF
calls for books for official use by the gov
eminent departments bureaus and commits
sions, and by the members OF the diplomatic
corps
The purchase of an electric automobile
has enabled the library to make delivery
twice daily at any point within the ordi-
nary limits.
Readings and Music for the Blind.
There has been an increase in the num-
Der of blind visitors of $50 over the preced-
ing year. This is due to the kindness Of
some fifty ladies and young girls, who have
acted as escort to the blind to and from
theIibrary 1t is due also to the generosity
of various persons who have contributed to
the fund for car fare, which alone enables
many Of the blind residents of the District
to avail themselves of the privileges of the
room.
One hundred and lightweight readings
how crfu nv
including many Well-knoWn authors and
others who showed generosity in sparing
the time from their professional or social
duties. In addition to the readings, there
have been, as usual, muscales ION Wednes-
day afternoons), forty-fiVe in ALL to which
one hundred musicians have contributed
their services.
These readers and musicians have made
this room, for an hour of every day
throughout the winter, paradise Of inter-
est and enjoyment for the unseeing, whose
emotion in music and whose Imagination in
literature are only the more keen because
Of the one sense which they lack.
The collection Of books in raised type has
been enlarged by the purchase Of eighty
eight volumes and the gift Of f1fty-seven.
The exhibit of prints from the Gardiner
Greene Hubbard and other collections has
continued, and has led to the loan to the
library Of other valuable material whose
owners were willing that it should give
pleasure and instruction to the public, and
felt confidence that 1t would be properly
safeguarded while In the custody Of the
library:
Mr.. George Lothrop Bradley Of Washing
ton has lent his collection, containing ,488
carefully selected prints of all schools.
Mr. Thomas F. Richardson Of Washing
ton has lent a collection Of cuttings from
richly Illuminated manuscripts Of the
twelfth to the fifteenth century.
Mrs. T. Harrison Garrett, Mr.. John W.
Garrett and Mr.. Robert Garrett Of Balti-
more have permitted selections to be made
without limit from their superb collection,
which comprises over $1,000 prints.
The generous public spirit Of these owners
enables their contributions to reach over
1900 persons day, coming from all parts
Of the United States
All the use and enjoyments of these ex-
hibits. Of the interior architecture and deco
rations Of the building, and Of the books
themselves are absolutely forbidden to the
public except on the six secular days Of the
week. For one-seventh Of the year the
entire institution, this great plant, with all
its energy for good. lies idle.
Sunday Opening.
At the last session Of Congress, while the
appropriation bill was pending, an amend
ment was offered in the Senate by the