The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-01-28
AMERICAS GREAT
NATIONAL LIBRARY
Potent Factor in Higher
Education.
PRIVILEGES FREE TO ALL

Closely related to the work OF the coll
Ieges and universities OF the city OF
Washington are the great Libraries TO
which the Nation. as well as the Capt
tai city. Points with love and pride
| The Congressional Library, facing the
National Capitol is from an artistic and
| architectural standpoint probably the
/ nnest edihce in the new world The
| greatest statesman Of Russia, upon the
occasion OF his FIST visit 70 America,
declared the Congressional Library was
the most impressive structure he has
| seen IN America This is the consensus
OF opinion. The visitor 10 Washington
now looks upon the Congressional Lib
rary as tne most interesting building in
| the city, Tor IL Is Americas Vatican. In
| 1t are displayed the masterpieces OF ma
/ tive mural decorations The whole
scheme OF architecture Is impressive ana
! eieVatlng. II Is an education ana q
| stimulus 20 search Tor knowledge mere
/ ~ 10 walk DeneaIh the yaulted roof Of
the corridors ana gaze upon the bronzes
anu paneied We 10 De hound on al
| sizes.
here is 10 be found the great treasure
| tfOfe OF knowledge IN The new world.
! livery copyFi6QIeu book Is TO be found
| upon Ine sneife5 OF the Congressional
| library ana the leading periodicals OF
| ali nations ere 10 be found IN the reading
Eooms. The privileges or The Library are
| free 70 ali, and from the moment that
the doors are thrown open IN the morn
lag until The evening Closing hour there
| Is constant stream OF sightseers and
| students going in and out.
| Ihis Library ranks as one OF the great
est book repositories in the world. Con-
gress has been lavish in making the Ii
brary that bears its name a matter OF
| national pride as we'll as one of the
| greatest educational factors IN the cOun-
| try. For many years this institution
/ was needed It's usefulness viii continue
| TO grow with the Nation, and the pro-
visions that have been made for secur-
/ ing new publications VIII always insure
its remaining in the forefront OF the
worlds great Libraries. While this
american Library Is the youngest
/ national institution OF its kind ia the
/ world, II mas, nevertheless, leaped 10 q
place OF prominence with the DOldness
ana assurance that CnaTacJeriZes So
/ many of our actions.
OF no less Importance. so far as the
District OF Columbia and Washington
city are concerned. Is the Public Library.
l located At the cOIler OF Seventh and h
streets northwest
f, The building OF the Public Library is
/ the lift OF Andrew Carnegie, while the
| Library was created by an act OF Con-
/ sress, approved June 3, 1885 This Pub
L lie Library has been rightly named the
peoples University. It meets a need en-
| tireiy beyond the sphere Of the Congress
/ S4DlAd1 l<HJa atE ldANEE dAAOlG5 TIC
use or its volumes only TO those who
care Use them in the reading room,
while tha Public Library is a free, cir
| culat-ng institution.
| The eighth annual report of the board
| of trust eAs and the seventh annual report
/ OF the i 5rarian, George +. Bowernaan,
are just from the hands OF the printer,
/ and to all those who are interested in
| the cause OF education in the District
! these repO-t Is viii prove not only of IN
/ usual interest. but most gratifying in
IeVery respect, for they show conclusively
that the Public Library is doing monu-
mental work in furtherfng the intellect
| ual development of the Capital CITY
| One OF the many notable statements
made in the report OF the board or tTus-
tees, of which Theodore W Moves - the
president is the following significant
| passage:
/ ''The people of Washington learn mors
and more each month the value OF their
/ Library. aud in steadily increasing num-
bers take advantage of the benefits or
/ the peoples university During the
/ year there was an increase in the reg
over p per cent. brin ging the total num-
/ Der OF borrowers TO 3S,I19. The total cir
culation OF books SC. the year was 800 4sSs
an increase of 75,S0S volumes over last
year, or a gain Of z per cent. The aver
age daily home circulation was 1,l+o
| against sos last year. Not only more
but better books We're called for. There
was a decrease OF Y per cent IN the nc.
4
/ books in the children's room there was
/ a gain over last year OF 50 per cent ac-
| cornpanied by a reduction In the cIrcui-
lation of fiction OF Is per cent
| 1.-THE average monthly attendance IN
the reference room was 6.191. as against
| 4379 last year, q gain OF over forty per
| cent. Those notable gains IN the prac-
teal usefulness of the library have been
due. not only to the enlargement already
noted of the book resources, but also 10
/ a series of progressive improvements,
small and great. IN the nbrary's methods
| of facilitating access TO its book treas
/ uras."
/ such an authoritative statement. show
I ing the vast increase in the interest
taken in this great institution, IS one Of
the most hopeful signs for a greater
| Washington. It gives evidence OF grow
| ing intellectual activity. especially
/ among the younger people. The incuf-
| cation of the habit OF reading by the
Young is not only great factor in the
| mental DEVELOPMENT OF the future citizen
| of the city, but IL is likewise great
moral force. IL gratifying to note that
! Mr. BOwermap and his assistants
are doing such a great work In a.fording
4 stil more opportunities TO the children
! who visit the Public Library. An IN
! crease OF 50 per cent In the at
| tendance in the children's room during
| the past year is truly remarkable. and
/ the indications are that the report for
| 1906 will likewise show most grati-
| flying increase.