Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-19
READING PRIVILEGES
EXTENT OF FACILITIES IN THE
CONGRESSIONAL LIBRARY.
Some Facts in Regard to the Contents
Of the Big Building Opposite
the Capitol.


which was formerly occupied by the Con-
| gressional Library, 1 could but contrast the
change and the elegance Of that quarter of
the historic building with the musty old
| rooms formerly occupied by the library"
said well-informed Capitol attache this
| morning, and this fact calls up a point or
two regarding the library concerning which
| We are almost constantly asked by the
| thousands of visitors who yearly make the
| transit between the old Capitol and the new
| library.
| when We tell our farmer visitors that
| the library building itself covers three and
| three-quarters acres, that the block OF
| ground upon which it is situated comprises
| ten acres and that the floor space of the
| structure they are admiring covers eight
| acres they seem inclined to doubt and muir
| muir something about the old ten-acre
| medder lot seeming twice as large. They
| really believe what say. however. that
| the library has the finest building devoted
! to that purpose in the world. and when we
| explain that the cost was s6,341.o0 they
| are almost unanimous in saying that Wash
| ington ought to have half a dozen more
| public buildings just as fine a sentiment
upon which Washingtonans are fully
agreed.
Il myself did not know how many printed
books and pamphlets there are in the L.
| brary until / made inquiry recently, and
| found the number to be about 100000 of
| which one-third duplicate copies. /
| supposed the total number to be even larger.
| but there are enough to furnish summers
| reading, and it constitutes the largest col
| lection of books under one roof on the
| western hemisphere. The law library Of
| Congress still remains in the Capitol, but ii
| Is part of the Congressional Library, and It
| comprises about 5000 volumes.
Reading Privileges Right at Home.
IF person is fond of perusing old manu-
| III
the task of examining over $4,000 manu-
| scripts, many most valuable and rare. If
you are of a geographical or nautical turn
of mind, you may find G0,00O maps and
| charts, while the thought of what would
| happen If the 100000 and odd pieces of mu-
| sic on file were to b. simultaneously played
| on pianos in Washington is quite appalling.
AN visitors are struck with the splendid
and well-arranged exhibition in glass
| In the corridors of photographs, etchings
| Autographs, engravinSs, prints, etc, but
| the public only fine specimens of
mammoth cole ction of approximately no.
| coo pieces. In fact in these cases on the
second floor are also many specimens of
rare and valuable old books. Priceless files
| of old newspapers at the disposal of
| those whose lines of literary work lie in this
direction.
I'VE astonish many visitors when we tell
them that the book stacks of the library
| contain about forty-five miles of shelving,
and will hold 100000 volumes. Not under
standing the plan of the building, many
| visitors first suppose. before they enter,
that the space allotted to the corridors used
for exhibition purposes is where the books
are kept. Were these wide, airy corridors
used for shelving books, the Congressional
Library would accommodate 1900 900 vol
umes.
1--WE are often asked how much the gov
eminent spends year on new books To
generaiize the question of expenditures. the
total appropriation for the fiscal year end
ing June 80, 1902. for the maintenance Of
the library was 1866, 345. of which S325 200
was expended for services of its various
employees, including the copyright Office
and also the care of the building The sum
of $1,000 was expended for books and peri
odicals, So, 300 for fuel, supplies and mis-
celianeous purposes, including contingent
expenses, 100000 for furniture and shelv-
ing, etc. and $4,000 for printing and bind
ing at the government printing office
Interesting Historic Facts.
The library proper, copyright office
disbursement and the care Of the grounds
and building give employment to approx
mately 3I5 persons. 1t was established In
1900, and destroyed in 1914, when the Brit
ish troops burned the Capitol. 1t was af-
terward replenished by the purchase by
Congress of the library of Thomas Jeffer-
son. consisting of 6760 volumes at a cost
of 500. $50. In 1851 the library suffered the
loss of $4,000 volumes by fire and in the
following year 1t was partially replenished
an appropriation of $4,000.
THE library has grown from various
causes. including the purchase of books
made under the regular appropriations by
Congress, by deposits of books under the
copyright law, by gifts and exchanges and
by the exchanges of the Smithsonian In
stitution, the library of which. consisting
of 10000 volumes was in 1865 deposite ed
with the stipulation that future accessions
should follow. The Smithsonian deposit is
strong in scientific works, and includes the
largest aSSemblage of transactions of
learned societies which exists in this coun-
try. Sixty complete sets of government |
publications are at the disposal of the libra
rlan Tor exchange with foreign countries, |
and this number may be increased up TO |
one hundred.
The other special accessions of books |
to the library have been the Peter Force |
collection of % 800 volumes and 370oo /
pamphlets. purchased in 1867 for 100000: |
the Count Rochambeau collection of manu- |
scripts, purchased in 1881 for $40. $50: the |
DR.. Joseph NJ. Toner collection consisting |
of 24,400 volumes and numerous pamphlets |
the gift in 1882 of an old and respected |
resident of Washington, and the fine Hub |
bard collection of engravings the gift in
1898 of Mrs. Gardiner G. Hubbard.
Incidental Facts of Interest.
I'VE are often asked about copyrights |
The copyright division is distinct division |
and is located on the south side Of the |
ground floor being under the supervision |
OF LNe register Oh copyrights. Copyright /
registration transferred to the library |
in 1870. since which date, up to the past |
year. the copyright entries numbered pa |
9SS. OF most articles copyrighted two copies |
and of some one copy must be deposited in |
the library to perfect the copyright Books |
maps. musical compositions, photographs |
periodicals and other articles deposited in |
the copyright office to complete copyright |
numbered during the fiscal year of 1901 |
162, 23S, a heavy increase over the preceding |
year. and the fees therefor, amounting to |
S6360 were turned into the treasury
I'VE are constantly asked who are enti- |
tied to draw from the library books for |
home use, and the following persons have
that privilege: The President. the Vice Pres
ident, senators, representatives and dele
gates in Congress, and no books may be
given out upon the orders of members i'm
favor of those who are not members; the
justices, reporter and the clerk of the Su-
pIeme Court of the United States; the
judges and clerk of the Court of Claims !
judges of the Court of Appeals of the Dis
trict of Columbia and judges of the Supreme