Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-04

with tie result Of securing very soon two
wsfi-situated branches.
Needs Of the Library.
4The immediate urgent needs Of the
library are ~ an increase In its working
force, as set forth In the annual estimates
and CO an enlargement Of its supply Of
books, (a) by private donation. (b) by
congressional appropriation and Co by
securing for public use more Of the mis-
cellaneous circulating books in the gov
eminent collections in Washington.
"(a) In the appeal for private dona-
lions stress Is laid upon the need Of spe-
ctal and endowed collections of newspa-
pers and books. to which the names Of
donors may be attached, keeping them
forever In the grateful remembrance OF
Boston public library Is supplied from the
interest on fund Of $4,000 contributed
by William c. Todd for this purpose Who
will bestow a similar benefaction upon
the Washington library? Who will SINH
larly endow the children's library or pro-
vide special travelling collections for
school use?
"tb> an appropriation of $4,000 for the
purchase OF books Is asked by the trus-
tees in their estimates for the next fiscal
year."
Books From the Departments.
After quoting the law under which
books are transferred to the public IL
brary from the departmental libraries,
the report continues:
Under this law about 900 books came
to the Public Library from the Depart
ment Of Labor in the year ended June 30.
1908, and 258 volumes were received from
the patent office during the last fiscal
year.
These transfers are doubtless the fore
runners of others which will bring to the
PUBIC Library many thousands Of the
popular circulating books in the govern
ment collections, removing them from
places where they are accessible only to
the clerks in few of the departments
and accessible to them only SO far as the
fraction contained in their own library Is
concerned. and placing them where they
may be used by all the clerks in all the
departments and by the general public
as well.
The logical supplement of this law af-
fecting departmental libraries Is legisla-
ton which will utilize similarly for the
public benefit the duplicates of popular
circulating books now uselessly incum-
gress: Upward of 10000 of these volumes
are duplicate copies of uncopyrighted
works. the transfer of which to the Pub
lie Library. either permanently or as a
loan, is presumably within the power of
the Librarian of Congress without fur
Their enactment Of law. There are in ad-
ditton vastly larger number of copy
righted duplicates, for the permanent
ment may be requisite inasmuch as they
are in the custody of the librarian Of
Congress under the law regulating copy
rights.
Congress has full power over both the
Public Library and the Library of Con-
gress. and the responsibility rests upon 1t
of SO developing and utilizing each col
lection as to confer upon the people the
greatest possible benefit
The estimates for the next fiscal year,
which have already been printed in The
Star, aggregate $50, $50, as against a current
appropriation Of s3532O. Noting the resig-
nation of Mr.. Weston Flint librarian
and the election of Mr.. George F. Bower
man as his successor, the report says:
Development in Iibrary's Creative
Stage.
'The administration of the first librarian
covers what may be termed the creative
stage OF the library. 1t is gratifying and
encouraging to all friends Of the institution
to note what has been accomplished in this
period.
THE Public Library was opened for regis
tration December 16, 1898, and the first
books were issued January TO- 1899. The
growth in number of books In the library