The Washington times., 1903-08-31
Reading Propensities Proved
by Undiminished Attend
ance at Carnegie Institu-
ton in Summer Months.
Not Nearly as Many Readers
at Library of Congress
During Hot Season -Ac-
counted for by Absence
of Representatives.

The high appreciation in which Wash
ington's great public libraries are held
by the people of this city and the in
terest felt in them by sightseers within
the gates Of the National Capital has
been fully shown throughout the sum-
mer months now ending. Notwithstand-
ing heat or rain the attendance both at
the Library of Congress and at the
Carnegie Public Library has been prac-
ueally the same as in the winter. al
though the increased population here
then and the more comfortable weather
might be supposed to induce a larger
attendance under those conditions than
In midsummer. That this is the case
seems to argue we'll for the character Of
Washington's ali-the-year-round popu-
lation and its library using habit
AT the Public Library the number Of
books given out in the course of the
month of July, which was approximately
the same for June and August, was &c.
600. In the early winter and on through
the spring season the number was only
$1,000. AS this is at the rate of a thou
sand books day. excluding Sundays,
the call for literature was the same in
June as in March, for instance, and
greater than it was in February.
Officials Gratifed.
The steady nature of this public pat
ronage is pleasing to the officials of the
library, who believe that the inference
TO be drawn from these figures is that
next winters business viii greatly sur
pass that of the months since the new
building was first occupied. This cere-
mony took place on January II last. The
number OF books loaned in the remain
ing days of that month was 5000, and
this average of 1000 books for each
secular day has continued ever since.
The total "home circulation" as this is
called, for the fiscal year ending June
30. and including the records in both
the former and present building, was
200. 900 books.
The popularity of the spacious reading
room in the great marble building in
Mount Vernon Square has hardly been
Affected at all by the summer weather.
Every evening at least fifty persons
are there, and the total number in the
course of a day is invariably over $50.
On August Is there were 1S8 visitors to
the reading room, large number for
the hot weather season. A week later
there were 1S5, a few days afterward
ISL. and so on, only falling as low as
14S. Judging by such a record in the
season when. everyone is supposed to be
seeking the coolest place outdoors. it is
believed that the coming of winter will
run the average daily attendance up to
perhaps 300 readers.
Library of Congress Records.
Hot weather has not been able TO af-
feet the attendance at the great Library
en- Capitol Hill, so far as sightseers go,
: but the number or books called for and
loaned out has been much smaller than
In the winter. The reason for this is. OF
course, obvious. The Library is used in
1.-The season not only by members of
Congress and by their wives and fami-
lies. but by their secretaries as well.
In summer time this official patronage
comes down TO only a small proportion
OF the secretaries.
The visitors to the building as sight
seers average 1900 daily for the eight
months OF the present year This equals
the average for the greater part of last
year-that is. with the exception OF the
Grand Army week last October That
great event caused 20O. 900 extra visitors
to crowd the building, raising the aver
age for the entire year to 3,042
-
Attendance in the reading room of the
Library OF Congress shows some curious
facts in comparing the records OF last
month and Of January. Between the
hours OF In the morning and in the
afternoon there were 1850 readers last
month, while In the same hours in Janu-
airy there were 6.166. From to 10 p.
m. $3.50 persons read books there in
July. TO 5.s35 in January. This is con-
sidered an unusually big record for
warm summer evenings, as compared |
with the opposite conditions Of the win !
ter. There were no Sunday hours in |
January. but in July. from to 10 p. m,
e47 people used the reading room.
That the visitors mentioned did not |
read as many books, or, as may have |
been the case. did not remain as long
In the library, is indicated by the
smaller number OF books called for in
the course of the months. 192 before 4
o'clock and 6.277 after that hour. as,
compared With 23.s16 and 16, 400 in Janu-
AIRY. This total Of over 40, 900 books |
placed in the hands Of readers in the |
Library is considered high-water mark.
The number OF books issued for home
consumption" was 2.208 in July and 1850 /
in January; SO. considering the absence
OF members of Congress. their secre-
taries seem to be devouring good litera-
ture at splendid rate.
oo..,n NOV oou-,.t,,ro