Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-01
REPORT OFSL|BRAR|AN
Mr.. Putnam Tells Congress
of the Years Work.
INCREASED%USE NOTED
AN INDEX OF COMPARATIVE Leg
IsLATIoN TO BE COMPILED.
Authority Asked to Open the Library
on Holidays-Sunday Opening
Decided Success.

The annual report to Congress of Mr.. Her
bert Putnam, its librarian, was presented
to both the House Of Representatives and
the Senate today. As stated by Mr. Putnam
the report is largely limited to a staten emit
chiefly statistical. Of the operations of the
Library of Congress during the past fiscal
year, with a somewhat full description of
the Redistribution and the catalogue and of
the distribution of the printed catalogue
cards, which he regards as the most notable
of the present service of the library, to
other institutions
During the past fiscal year the fees from
copyrights amounted to s64 6S7, leaving
balance over expenditures for that work of
$2,91S.37. During the year the copyright
bureau received 1863, 726 articles as acces-
sions to the treasures of the library, the
value of which Mr.. Putnam does not under
take to fix.
The Library Force.
On July l, 1902, the library service con-
sisted of 2S9 employees. 231 in the library
proper and So in the copyright office.
OF the 231 in the library proper, 81 are in
the catalogue division; 80 of the 231 fill
the more subordinate positions of messen-
gers, attendants in cloak rooms, etc, and
III of the remaining ;195 fill positions at
salaries ranging from $3.50 to $780, inclusive.
Nearly one-half Of the force is composed of
women, at salaries ranging from, $500 to
81 400. inclusive.
The force under the control of the super
intendent of the library building and
grounds consists of lit persons. That under
the control Of the public printer but located
within the library building. consists Of
20 employees in the branch printing Office
and 40 in the bindery. 80
Mr.. Putnam refers to the experts in vari
Gus branches of library work that have
hon, 20 NV rir CT
year by means Of the increased appropria-
lions granted by Congress Referring to the
value of this class of expert assistants he
says:
IA library is not itself a laboratory either
of science or of the arts. But a great
reference library handling the advanced lit
erature of science and of the arts requires
for the classification and cataloguing of this
and especially for itsT Interpretation, be-
sides mere photographers. certain mum.
Der of men who have had specific training
and actual experience In the methods and
operations of science and of art. Such ex-
perts alone can realize the need Of the
inquirer, can assume for the time being
his point of view. can translate the Ian
guage of his sciences or art into the Ian
guage of the Classification and catalogue
The particular branch Of science or Of the
arts which they haye lpprsued is of less
concern, an education sound and thorough
in one branch being an education in method,
applicable to all branches"
the northeast curtain,. second floor, has been
completed, and the Smithsonian serials to
the number. of over go, 0e9 volumes moved
into it. 1t will accommodate about 100000
volumes of this type. The stack for the
north curtain on this foef, room 35 feet
by IS feet is now In process of construction
Like the Smithsonian stack, 1t will be OF
three tiers and of metal throughout with
adjustable shelving. But 1t will reserve
much more open space in aisles and al
coyes; and it's lower tier Will be especially
guarued by sgrills and glassed doors Tor the
accommodation of rare books; OF DOCKS IN
fine bindings, and of special collections
The upper tiers will be >usedsS for time at
least for legislative documents and the
literature Of statistics HH -,'si.s%]
Accessions During the Year.
During the past year there were acces-
sions to the library as follows: Printed
books and pamphlets, S1,971; manuscripts,
G. 913; maps and charts. 500; music. "a. 491;
prints, 2O.676; law library, 1851.
Account of the books in the library was
made in June, 1902, showing Lila, III vol
| umes in the library, Of which number IT,
7JO were duplicates. OF the total number
Of volumes 6S7, 437 were bound books. 49,
LOO, $50 unbound books, II, 4S0 serials I'M
bound but complete, and 314,6l4 pamphlets
The total contents of the library at the
close of the fiscal year were as follows:
Printed books and pamphlets lvolumesl-
$50; manuscripts Cpieces), 1852: maps and
charts (pieces), 64321; music (pieces), 345,-
511; prints (piecesl, 127 COZ.
1.-The gifts have been numerous put IN
general of but ordinary material, says MI.
Putnam. There has been no gift OF a
collection of value, nor any gift OF money,
save the sum of s140 for copying books for
the blind. A most interesting addition has,
| and rites of China. in 1871 volumes, pre-
| scented by Mr.. w, w. Rockhill. The col
| lection of Orientalia, due chiefly to him.
| reaches now nearly 10000 volumes. 1t Is
| believed to be the largest representation
| In this country of the literature of the far
east. ,.::. -..-
Documents Acquired. .-
| The documents acquired by the library
| during the past year have been almost
wholly the result of gift or exchange. The
accessions during the year Of volumes and
| pamphlets are as follows: Received by v1r-
tue of law, 925; gifts Of government of the
United States In all branches. 4.Si5; gifts of
| state governments, 2, 162; gifts OF local gov
| ernments, 1OS; gifts of foreign governments
| international exchanged $3.50; gifts Of cor
| porations, associations and individuals, 9i2;
| total to be recorded, IA, S32: by purchase
| and deposit 219; total handled, 1861.
| mo general legislation has proved eff
| fective to secure to the Library of Con-
| gress publications ordered to be printed by
|
rian, the public printer being unwilling to
| assume the responsibility of distinguishing
| between such issues as are strictly con-
| fidential and those which may be eommuni-
| Gated to persons outside of the committee
rooms I would call the, attention Of Con-
| gress to the fact that there Is at the pres
ent time nobody charged with the preserva-
ton of this class Of government publica-
tions, and would re3pectfnlly suggest the
| propriety of rule of Congress requiring
the Clerks of committses to send two copies
| of the documents printed Spy their commit
| tees to the Library Of Congress, except in
cases in which thereois an express order
| from the chairman Of the committee to the
| contrary. Existing legislation fails to Sc
| cure to the library snf the conf1den-
tial executive documents Of the Senate from
which the Injunction Of secrecy has been
removed. This defecf might be met by an
| order of the Senator n e1r-';@tt - -
Among the aecessi5fssi issan almost COM
plete set Of the proceedings of the Spanish
| cortes, being comprised siri 1888 volumes. re-
ceived as a gift from gtffe government OF
| Spain. During the past7 year the collec-
| lions of the divisionilef manuscripts have
been increased by 62,9f3 manuscripts. 2,112
| (printed) broadsides and IL fac-simile repro
ductions-a total of GO. e36 pieces, as against
9.34l pieces In the previous year.
Increase in Readers. =,
The increase over the number OF readers
NJ red writ ka oya