The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-03-01
Need Expressed for a Liberal
Circulation of Books.
PEOPLE SHOULD BE REACHED
Assistant Librarian Spofford Believes
Great Care Should Be Exercised in
Proper Selection of Literature TO Be
Distributed.


Proper Selection of Literature TO B.
Distributed.
The annual report of the board of trus
tees of the Public Library. made yes
terday by Mr.. Theodore W. Noyes, presi
dent of the board of officers. to the Dis
trict Commissioners, explains the neces
stiles of the institution. 1t contains alst
much information upon the Relationship
between the institution and the Library
of Congress.
In regard to the use of duplicates from
the collection of the Congressional Lii
brary. Mr.. Noyes says that such books
might be kept legally in one building
as in another. He makes plea for econ
omy In the vast library treasures OF
Washington. Such an arrangement, he
declares. will save Washington the hu-
initiation of being the one city which of all
the others boasts the highest per capita
of books and confesses the opportunity
to make the smallest use of them.
Appropriation Secured.
I'm 1885," says Mr.. Noyes, IAN appro-
priation for the maintenance of this Ii
brary on the half and half basis, as a
part of the local educational system. was
secured. II 1899 Mr.. Carnegie made his
offer OF money to erect a building for the
public library if Congress would furnish
site and suitable maintenance. The
way was already prepared for acceptance
of this offer.
The maintenance condition did not dis
turb Congress. since that body had. after
protracted elaboration, made provision
of tax support for public library.
But for the campaign. however, which
had terminated only after several years
of unsuccessful effort in the establish
ment of municipal library. Washington
evidently would not have been able to
avail itself with the necessary prompt
ness of Mr.. Carnegie's offer. In 1899 the
legislation was secured accepting Mr. Car
negies offer, designating the library site,
and inferentially pledging suitable main
tenance.
Books Always Available.
"On another line of library develop
ment a distinct advance has been made.
The treasures of the Library of Congress
have become available for reference use
by night as well as by day. The farce of
maintaining reference library accessible
only at hours when the mass of the peo-
pie are unable to enjoy it is no longer
performed.
The nation, having thus developed at
the Capital its reference library facilities
so that they accomplish the most possible
for the public good, will doubtless pursue
the same policy of enlarging the useful
ness of its books adapted for general cir
culation. To this end it will, in fulfill
ment of the Congressional pledge, supply
adequate and creditable maintenance for
the Capitals lending library on Mount
Vernon Square, and through this medium
will place before the people OF the Re
public for their enjoyment and educa-
tional improvement all of the circulating
books at it's command, whether in the Lii
brary of Congress or in the departmental
libraries.
Would Remove Stigma.
Thus will the Library OF Congress and
the public library perfectly supplement
each other as reference and circulating
collections. respectively, for the public
benefit in the manner dictated by sound
economy and practical wisdom, and thus
will the reproach be finally and COM
pletely removed from Congress that it
has buried the talent of the nations Ii
brary treasure in the earth instead of
actively utilizing it to promote the gen.
eral welfare"
Weston Flint. the Librarian. also makes
a report. in which. discussing the ques-
ton from the point OF view Of an ex-
pert, he says:
Perhaps in no city is there so great
a contrast between the number OF books
and the lack of facilities for their use
TO the general public as in Washington
and this condition of things cannot be
avoided except by having a large, we'll
endowed public library. In this Capital
of the nation many large special libraries
must be maintained and used only by
limited number of people. The Library
Of Congress is national library and
for a specific purpose, and of necessity
only be used as provided by law. not be-
ing intended for general circulation.
The accumulation of books in Wash
ington is large for a city of its size.
There were in public libraries of the
whole United States in 1900 ffty-nine
books to every 100 population. The Dis
trict Of Columbia has in its various Gov
ornamental and other libraries $50 books
to every 100 population. Now the great
and people together in the most efficient
way.
There seems but one answer to the
problem. Those who have the leisure to
go to the Library OF Congress will find
most of the books waiting for them;
those who must do their reading at home
or at odd moments snatched from other
occupations-and these are the majority
cannot go 20 the books; the books must
20 to hem. These are the people who
will be best served by a free circulating
library"
According to the bare statistics with
ont exclamation, the residents of the Dis
rrict Of Columbia should find it about if
teen times as easy TO secure appropriate
reading matter as the average citizen of
the country enjoys. But the facts are that
the peopie Of Washington have hitherto
had very limited facilities for enjoying
the full benefits Of free libraries and
caiiLot expect TO have them until the col
lections OF books in the public library is
increased 4 hundredfold. and this alone
can be accomplished by very large appro-
pFiations for books for the new building
as soon as possible. so that arrangements
may be made for branches or stations
for the distribution OF books in different
uarts Of the city"
Report on Books.