The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1912-06-14

this magnificent building was kept down to
such comparatively reasonable figure is ex.
planned by the fact that many Of the artists
and sculptors, in spirit Of patriotic loyalty,
gave their genius and their art free of cost
to the nation. 1t is said that twice the sum
expended could not duplicate the building I'M
der ordinary circumstances.
As to the practical features Of the institu-
ton. its capacity, facilities for serving the
public. and its various activities, only brief
outline can be given. Including the main
reading room, the room for periodicals, the
senator's and representatives reading rooms,
and the special reservations in the alcoves
and galleries, the library can comfortably &C.
commodate 1000 readers At any one time.
The main reading room, which contains the
issue desk, has seating capacity and desks for
200 readers and 60 tables in the alcoves and
galleries. which are assigned to scholars max
ing extended investigations. The issue desk
Is connected with the stacks, the Capitol,
Smithsonian division and librarians Office by
pneumatic tubes, while electric book carriers
connect the desk with the stacks and with the
Capitol
When book is called for at the desk the
slip Is sent by pneumatic tube to the clerk
In the proper stack. He places the book into
a receptacle. from which it is taken by one Of
the brass book baskets eighteen Of which are
AAOoACou VI al euulSSS uOuDl9 CQaln forming
the book carrier, which travels continually be-
tween the stacks and the issue desk The bas-
ket carries the book down to the reading
room and automatically deposits it into q
cushioned box at the central desk, whence It
Ii taken out by the attendant and delivered
to the desk selected by the reader The books
can also be returned to the stacks in the same
manner. II member Of congress desires a
book delivered to him in the Capitol. the
pneumatic tube carries the slip making the
request to the issue desk and another electric
DOCK carrier conveys the book through an un-
derground tunnel over a quarter of a mile in
length and delivers it to the waiting states
man In about three minutes
Inc DOCK stacks, which radiate from the
main reading room, consist of series of cast
iron frames, supporting tiers and shelves to 4
height of nine and ten stories to the roof. tho
largest stack being 65 feet high. The shelves,
OF cold-rolled steel, are polished smooth, and
since the addition of the last stack have ca.
pacity of about 100000 volumes. The ulti
mate capacity, when other stacks are added,
will be over 1000 900 volumes-a row of books
which would extend over 100 miles.
According to the report of Mr.. Herbert Put
nam, the librarian, just submitted to congress,
the contents Of the library at present are:
BOOKS ..................... 1,S91,729
Maps and charts (pieoes) ........... 123.56S
Music (volumes and pieoes) ........ $4,000
Manuscripts "a numerical statement not feas-
ible).
The library proper is strongest in bibliogra-
ply, public documents Especially those Of for
eign governmental, Americana, economics, polit-
ical science, public law and legislation, geneal-
ogy and newspapers. Through the Smithsonian
institution extensive dles Of transactions Of for
eign learned societies are received. BY virtue
of tho copyright law it has received the most
complete collection in existence Of the prod
ucts Of the American press. American local
history and biography are represented with
unusual fullness. The Yud1n collection Of
some $4,000 volumes Of Russian works. pur-
chased in 1907, is particularly valuable for the