Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-21
DEPARTMENTAL LIBRARIES.
Some of Them Are Quite Exten-
SiVe

Speaking about libraries" said an old
department official this morning, Il am re-
minded of the fact that there are several
libraries in Washington which are usually
left out of consideration when the subject
comes up for discussion. 1 refer to depart
mental circulating and technical libraries.
For instance, the Post Office Department
has circulating library of fiction of no
small dimensions, numbering about 5000
volumes, in addition to many thousands of
volumes of reports and public documents.
The volumes are at the disposal of the
clerks, in charge of a librarian, and the Ii
brary, which is situated on the eighth floor
of the big granite building opposite The
Star building, is well patronized 1t is sup
piled with old and current books from the
undelivered mail matter received in the
dead letter Office and about 800 new books
are annually added.
The nucleus of the Post Office Depart
ment library formed by an order from
Postmaster General Villas that such books
of fiction, etc, received at the dead letter
office which were not included in the regu-
lar annual sales of undelivered mail matter
should be retained in the department for
the purpose of circulation among the
clerks. There is no special appropriation
for the maintenance of this library, but in
the driftwood Of literature which is caught
in the mesheS of the dead letter office net
there is much which is and of literary
interest. This library is, therefore, unique
IN its character, and patrons of the mails
all over the country whose books have
never reached their destinations may con-
sole themselves with the thought that their
literary treasures have found their way to
the shelves of the Post Office Department
library, and there they will remain until
their usefulness has passed
The scientific library of the patent office
contains about 10000 volumes, and IT is
considered the best scientific library in the
United States. improvements have been
made in this library, and the sum of 5000
recently appropriated by Congress for the
installation of steel racks has been employ
ed Tor that purpose, the library having been
given new and enlarged quarters in the old
fashioned fortress of building al 9th and
F streets. The annual sum OF 81, 000 is pro-
vided for the purchase of books, but it is
considered insufficient to furnish all that
| is required for the purposes of this very
important library. and double the amount
would be more in keeping, it is estimated by
the officials, TO enable it to properly aid the
examiners in searching the arts in their
respective classes.
I'm addition the Interior Department
maintains a circulating library for the
of it's employees. the volumes numbering
about 10000. There is no appropriation
available for increasing this number.
The library of the Agricultural Depart
ment contains 14.000 volumes, nearly all of
which relate to agriculture and kindred
sciences, are books of reference useful
in the work of the department. 1t is
strictly a scientific reference library, in
tended primarily for the employees. Persons
outside of the department, however, are
permitted to consult the books, but they are
as rule not allowed to be withdrawn. The
last annual appropriation for the purpose
of the maintenance of the library was $16-
900
The Navy Department also has large
| library, numbering about 81, 900 volumes.
1t is technical and professional library
for the use of the department and naval of
| hcers, and receives an annual appropriation
OF 500 for the purchase of books.
THE Department of State also maintains
a large private library of reference but has
no circulating library. The Department OF
Justice has a very large and complete Ii
| hrary of legal works. The library of the
War Department contains many thousand
volumes. and it has one of the most COM
plete collections of historical works to be
found in the country. The Treasury De-
Partment also has good-sized circulating
library"