Evening star., 1901-10-17
The Public Library.

In a few months, considerably before the
close of the current fiscal year, the Wash
ington Public Library building donated to
the capital by Mr.. Andrew Carnegie will
stand ready for use. 1t Is desirable, in
order to establish at once in full dignity and
usefulness the institution for which the Dis
trict has so long waited in patience, that
the doors be thrown open upon respecta-
bic stock of books for Immediate enjoyment
through circulation and reference. There
should be no such parsmony or Indifference
on the part of Congress as to cause the
new structure to be put in service with the
present mere handful of books hidden and
lost on the commodious shelves There
should also be provided force sufficient to
care for the books, to catalogue them.
to distribute them to the library's patrons.
In other words, the library should enter
its new home under conditions calculated
to justify its existence in the mind of the
community.
The annual report of the board of trus-
tees which has just been submitted to the
Commissioners presents the detailed condi-
tions of the library today and its needs. A
way Is still open to profit by the lapse of
time between the convening OF Congress
and the completion of the library building.
An appropriation can be made Immediately
after Congress assemblies, to be expended
at once in the purchase of the books neces
sary to fill at least a fair proportion of the
shelves, in season to have them properly
cataIogued and arranged. If this is not
done. if the needs of the library are made
to wait upon the regular routine of Con-
gress, the probability Is that the District
appropriation bill will be enacted so late
as to render It impossible for the library
to enjoy the books purchased under the
terms of the act until long after the COM
pletion of the building and the date wnen
the public should begin to make use Of the
enlarged library facilities.
The new building is an inspiration not
only to appropriations but to donations for
the Iibrary's benefit. Already citizens of
the District have given many volumes
as well as money for the purchase of books.
1t has been. indeed, mainly through this
source that the shelves have received their
present meagre supply. In the new build
ing there will be full facilities for preserv-
ing the identity of such gifts, either by
alcove separation from the main collection,
or by the use of book-plates when the vol
umes turned into the general shelves
and classified. BY this means it is possible
in the contemplated plans to ensure the
fullest use to private collections turned into
the library without depriving the givers
Of the credit of their generosity.
The library building is fire-proof in con-
struction. 1t will thus afford the very best
assurance against the destruction of valu-
able collections which are now, in resi-
dences, constantly exposed to danger. In
the light of the donations which have al
ready been made in spite of the narrow
limits Of the library, it may be confidently
anticipated that the opening of the new
building viii see the transfer of a large
number of privately-owned books to the
custody of this central distributor.
With Congress appropriating the sums
now estimated for the library's maintenance
and for giving it a good start in books,
and with the book-owners of the District
recognizing the facilities which the build
ing offers for book care and the best book
use, the Washington Public Library will
soon become what 1t should be in every
sense, an ideal establishment for the diffu-
sion of