El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-02-09
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN

, are further divided into sections. The
catalogue division includes 81 persons
and deals with printed books and pam
I phlets only. 1t includes the work Of
classification. shelf listing. labelling
the prepare LlOn Of copy for catalogue
cards for the printer. proof reading
and filing cards in the various cata-
logues- Besides catalOguing and classl-
Tying the current accessions, which
amount to over 100. 600 volumes an
nualIys this division has been engaged
since 1888 in re-classifying and re-
catalogulng the entire library. The
greater part OF the re-classificatiCn is
now complete and new catalogue
entries have been made for over three
1 hourths OF the collection
The re-cataloguing Of the Library of
congress has been most important
matter, affecting TO a greater or less
extent all the large Libraries OF
America The cards printed for this
catalogue have been available to all the
libraries Of the country at the cost OF
printing and have assisted them to a
large degree in the preparation Of
their own catalogues, relieving them
Of a very considerable expense The
main catalogue OF books and pamphlets
Is IN the form OF printed cards arranged
~ the dictionary order; T. g, author,
title and subject entries in one al
pnabeL The rules followed are those
or the american and British Library
associations Besides these there are
special catalogues in book form for
many OF the special collections, such
as prints and manuscripts
The Catalogue DivIsioE.
The catalogue division. through its
card distribution section, handles the
accumulated stock OF printed catalogue
cards and their distribution and sale
me stock now numbers over 80 600 600
cards which are stored BY serial
numbers in steel cases. Complete sets
OF one copy Of each card published,
are on deposit in the principal library
centeFs OF the country. enabling in
curriers' In those places to ascertain
whether book is in the Library OF
o3hsF ess- These cards are sold under
ne Jaw governing the sale OF public
documents at the actual cost of manu-
Iacture plus 10 per cent. the maximum
price oelng Two cents per card and
over 1900 libraries and individuals pur-
CHASED cards regularly in 1910.
Is Center OF Library Progress.
The Library Of congress acts as the
real center Of the library progress OF
the country In other ways than the is
suance OF these cards. helpful though
they are a very important part is
played in the training il gives TO
library experts The assistants IN the
Library or congress are usually men
and women OF the broadest education
and culture, but unfortunately. the
salaries paid IN this great Institution
are low IN proportion TO the ability de-
Consequently, the heads Of the
AAA Al- EAAL 4E LAAAE44Ao ana the assist
ants are frequently called to take /
charge OF Libraries in the country az
larger income The experience and
training they have gained IN the great I
national library thus stands IN good /
stead and in this way becomes OF beue-
lit TO the whole nation. The method OF 4
work Of the Library OF Congress IS 4
generally conceded to be the best AL 4
around system in the world and each /
year it is being more widely copied I
Next TO the main reading room. the 4
periodical room receives most public I
attention. This division handles ali I
the periodicals received and prepares /
he completed volumes for binding The
Total number received annually ex-
seeds $4,000 volumes. Over 1000 news
papers are currently received includ-
ng 2T5 foreign papers OF this number
rs are bound and shelVed. Half OF the !
pace IN the new stack room in the
Ioutheast court is fitted up with shelly
ng designed especially for the Ameri-
an newspapers The file OF American
lewspapers is very extensive, while the
Collection OF the newspapers or the I
eighteenth century IS the largest in,l
america The periodical reading room
as seats for 20Q persons, and 400 news
apers and $500 magazines are kept in 7
ne room Strangers in Washington are
onstantly visiting the periodical room
There they have access at all times TO
he newspapers OF their home sections.