Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-12-24
VISITED BY MANY.
Congressional Library at Washington Which Cost More Than $7, ,OOO, ,OOO

l Washington. D. C.. Dec 24.-No
 consulting library ill this country and
 none, perhaps. in the world, except
 that of the British museum, is visit
 ed by so large number of peop'c
 as the library of congress. The mag
 nificent marble pile on Capitol bill,
 which was erected by the American
 people at q cost of more than $7,O0O,- GOO. contains Il collection of works
 that has no equal in America, as ! reference library, although, at pres ent, the collection of books is not so great in number as is possessed by q few other libraries of this country
 and Europe. It does contain, how
 ever, an immense number of rare and valuable works both in printed form
 and in manuscript and they are
 utilized daily by scores of historians.
 scholars and students. in addition to
 the members of congress.
 During the past year. the congress
 sional library was visited by S12,OO0
 people. daily average of more than
 2.200 for the 363 days the institution
 was open to the public. The library
 Is open every day and evening of the year except on the Fourth of July and Christmas. On other legal holi- days and on Sundays. the library is open from to 10 D. m.. and on week days from a. m. to 10 D. m., except on Saturday afternoons In July, Au- gust and September. Practically double force of operatives and clerks are required for the work in the library.
 The largest number Of visitors in any month was in April, the daily average being 3.1O1: March was sec ond with an average of 2,449. The greatest number of visitors on aiiy one day was in April when the total reached 5.2Si: and the smallest. in July. HI.
 Librarian Putnam says that the book collection is increasing at a normal and healthy rate. The in crease In the number of volumes during the past year was 34.626. This brings the total number in the stacks up 10 1,319,244. In addition 10 the number of bound volumes added to the library during tile year, charts, maps. pieces of music and pamphlets increased the number to ST. 1885. The collection of music is regarded as Of particular value. It numberS now 2S.917 volumes and separate pieces, many of them being manuscript cop- les and originals of compositions by eminent composers.
 Members of congress make use or the library every hour of the day. Facilities recently have been installed between the library and the capitol by which any member of either branch of congress may obtain. with in a few minutes. a copy of any work which he desires to use. If. for in stance, a representative or senator Is delivering q speech on the floor ot the house or senate and wishes to refer to n book which he does not happen l to have on his desk, he merely in- dicates to q page the book he wants and in two or three minutes II Is placed in his hands from the con gressional library. A book trolley runs between the library ard capitol buildings. The assistant librarian Is notified by telephone that the book | is wanted and practically instantly if is dispatched to the capitol. So I admirable Is the system on which the library is run that work called for may be had with the least possi- bIe delay.
 One of the best divisions of the . great library is that in which is kept 1 inc bound newspaper files These files accumulate rapidly and U will l,a necessary for congress. either at inc present session CT in the near future. to make adequate provision for their care. They are consulted more than any other works tn iise library. In the library may be f"sind the files of every newspaper in Amer Iea. of any importance at all ziSi sf many newspapers of other countries
 It i< the view of scholars anHi statesmen that. within the next aatf ss.psury. the library of eonSr~>. ia s.tsE;tfssi fo being the most HlaznsIl- ceut i.aiEding of its kind in the world. will contain the greatest and most valuable ever accumulated hy any nation