Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-05
NEW PLAN AT LIBRARY
EXTENSION OF THE OPEN BOOK
SHELF ARRANGEMENTS
Readers Express Appreciation of Meth
cd Making Volumes More Readily
Available-The Study Clubs.

Readers at the public library are express
ing their appreciation of the new arrange
ments by which many attractive books 9TH
er than fiction now displayed on open
shelves. The books are thus made avail
able for circulation without the formality
of handing in call slips, and now only need
to be taken to the desk and recorded there.
In the main lobby there have been placed
two large cases containing some of the
newest books on biography, history and
travel. Before each of the cases is broad,
comfortable settee on which readers may
sit while glancing through the books on
exhibition and select at leisure volumes
for home use. That this privilege is en-
joyed is best shown by the fact that every
morning these shelves have to be replen-
1shed with books from the stacks.
1t is stated that when the library finally
secures more adequate force, the chill
drens department will be moved to larger
quarters provided for it in the basement.
Then there will be two large rooms on the
main floor, in both of which will be shelved
a selection of the best books from all
classes of literature. One of these future
open-shelf rooms is occupied as d ch:.-
drens room. The other open-shelf room
until recently contained only books of &C.
ton. AS a result fiction has, in a measure
been forced on the public. In order some
what to shift the emphasis, provision has
been made to show in this open-shelf room,
in rotation, a selection from the various
classes of books in the library.
Arrangement of Books
Books of fiction will be retained and TIE
stock of fiction will be diversified and re-
plenished, but fiction will hereafter be
shelved on the wall cases of this room; On
the two center cases will be shelved the So
called classed books All books in these
CHI -
culation
The classes of books selected for first
display in this southwest open-shelf room
are those on the social sciences, games and
sports and music. Those will remain there
few weeks or few months-until readers
nave chance to become somewhat familiar
with the library's stock on these subjects
Then they will be replaced by books on
tail the classes of books in these groups.
they contain books on the following SUBJ
jects: Political economy, capital and labor
slavery, railroads, money, banking taxa
uon, tarin, temperance, poverty education,
political science, constitutional history,
municipal government, law and women in
games and sports are included fishing and
hunting, boating, Workmanship chess,
whist, magic, physical education and the
theater; with music is also included musical
biography.
1T is designed to offer to the various study
clubs of the District opportunity to register
at the library and place on file the lists of
books needed by them for the seasons read
ing. Already several clubs have registered
their lists of wants. This plan has obvious
advantages both to the library and to the
club members. If the requests for books
are brought to the attention of the librarian
IN a systematic way, systematic effort
can be made to meet these wants By this
means club members are less likely 10 ask
In vain for the books bearing on their
courses. Every effort will be made to meet
the needs of such organized requests either
out of the present stock of books in the
library, or by new purchases, SO far as the
book funds will permit.