The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-08
Librarian Putnam SUBJ
mitS Statement Show
ing Great Accessions
of Material in All Divi-
SionS.
Interest in Municipal At
fairs Has Led to Ex-
change of Reports of
District Commission
erS for Like Foreign
Documents.

annual report Tor the year ended June
80 1903.
The report is. in part. as follows:
The progress of the Library, which
Is most significant. cannot be expressed
in figures. It consists in the gradual
perfection OF its equipment, and of its
service, IN a development Of its col
lections appropriate TO its purpose as
a library for research. and in a wider
advertisement and acceptance OF It's
functions as a national library, with a
duty TO the entire country.
Statement of Finances
Statistics on the finances of the library
and the copyright Office show the grand
total of appropriations for 1860 were
S56s.s14SS. and expenditures for the same
year. ss54.o41.25. Appropriations set aside
for 1904 aggregate SIS. Os4.Ss.
These figures include the balances
brought forward. and are exclusive or
$500 for new books in the Office OF the
marshal Of the Supreme Court. Copy
right fees covered into the Treasury
were $6S.sTA5o
The force under the control Of the
Superintendent OF the Library Building
and Grounds consists OF I20 persons
the report continues That under the
control Of the Public Printer. but located
within the Library building. consists of
> employees In the branch printing Of
nee, and So IN the blndery.
More Room Needed.
with the recent considerable aeces-
siOns of material the division Of manu-
scripts has outgrown the room on the
rain floor at first assigned TO il. II
viii now be removed 10 the second
floor. where il viii have for admins
tration and for readers the northwest
pavilion A considerable additional pro-
vision in furniture and equipment has
already been planned and ordered. 1t
includes a number Of additional metal
ss,fes OF simple design to be placed in
the alcoves.
Plans have been drawn FOR a stack
n shelving ultimately TO include three
tiers. in the south curtain. now occu-
pied by the division Of prints. on the
lower tier wiz be specially designed
ana constructed cases for the storage
and exhibition OF prints. as well IS for
ne literature OF ART and architecture
Number of Books.
Adopting the figures Of the count Of
printed books and pamphlets in June,
1892 as nearly accurate. the total con,
tents OF the library at the close OF the
past two fiscal years were: Main col
lection. 1.l0s. SS4; law library, Ice;
manuscripts 1rseces) JOs. rs; maps and
charts (pieces). ssSl4: music Cpieces).
U.s. s15; prints (pieces). 1881
The gain reported in Eross accessions
5y binding serials was offset IN 1892 by
a loss Of 5000 volumes and pamphlets
5y combination in binding: In 1908. BY a
loss OF 3.s17 volumes and pamphlets by
binding. and OF 1887 volumes through
exchange with other libraries. The 10.
tal for 1906 also includes 425 volumes
which came 20 the library and We're sent
To tho law library. The net accession
20 library was therefore 81. $50.
Miss Susan p. Anthony. Of Rochester.
y y. presented to the Library Of Con
gress In February 1913 her entire IL
hrary- n includes all Of the standard
works on the enfranchiseTnent Of woman
80 far as known. These are supple
mented by Official reports OF the Ma
tional Suffrage Convention. addresses
made at Congressional hearings since
1863. and the various reports Of SENATE
snd House committees on the suffrage
question
Other notable presentations are also
mentioned
Federal Documents.
Current Federal documents are being
received by the Library under the joint
resolution OF March ?. 1901, more regu-
iarly than ever before. No general leg
islation has thus far proved effective to
secure 20 tile library Of Congress all OF
the publications ordered to be printed
by Congressional committees. The Pub
lie Printer IS unwilling 10 assume the
responsibility OF distinguishing between
such issues as are strictly confidential
and those which may be communicated
70 persons outside OF the committee
rooms
i would again call the attention OF
Congress 10 The fact that there Is at
the present time no officer charged with
the preservation OF this class IF Gov
eminent publications, and would re-
spscuHlly suggest the propriety OF a
riIic OF Congress requiring the clerks of
committees 20 send two copies OF the
documents printed by their committees
10 the Library OF Congress. except IN
cases where the public interests tenn
porarily forbid.
System of Exchange.
The exchange system through which
The Library receives the Official pubu-
cations Of foreign governments has been
greatly extended in the past year.
In view OF the increasing interest in
municipal affairs Il has seemed desir-
able 10 collect the ohicial publications I
Of some Of the more important foreign
cities. for which the annual reports of
the Commissioners OF the District OF
Columbia are exchanged.
The ohicial gazettes Of the various
foreign countries are not generally in
Guided among the documents received
through International exchange. Dur |
Ing the past year special efforts have /
been made to- secure such publications 1
By gift and purchase. and there are now /
ON file the Official gazettes OF ffty-five !
foreign countries and colonies.
"A collection Of the statute laws OF 1
the several 5tateas beginning with the 1
year 1880. Is being formed for preserva-
;ion in the main building OF the Lii 1
5rary. This collection VIII relieve the