El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-10-16
By
Rene Rache

est DullQlnS Tor library uses existing
! anywhere in the world. The book
stacks are of iron, the shelves, of the
same material (poIished and lacquered
to render them rust-prooD, being OF a
grldirOn pattern, TO help ventilation.
, Books, like human beings, need fresh
air, deprived Of which they are liable
to be attacked by mold. Ii is desira BILE,
also, that they shall be kept cool, be-
cause heat affects them inJuriOusly.
They VIII not catch fire, and cannot De
burned, unless surrounded by very dc-
tive cOmbustibleS- condition I'M
possible in metal racks, in a building
OF brick and marble.
A rather curious circumstance in re
lation TO the library IS the Jealousy
which congress-not so much OF late
as fOrmerly-has shown in regard 10
it. Originally il was understood 10
be disunctively the library OF con-
gress- As it has grown, congress has
accepted with much reluctance the Idea
that il was to be looked upon as be-
longing TO the public. Members have
protested time and time again against
any such Development OF its utility, as
serting that it must be considered as
possessing no other important function
than that of q collection for reference
by representatives and senators only
within very recent years, indeed. mas
congress come 10 realize that the de-
velOpment of this great book collec-
lion a4OA6 IlNGEIA INES must ALN HlNAlAA
upon the recognition Of II as ma
tOnal institution, for the benefit and
use Of the people at large
The peoples money pays for IL, con-
gress making an annual appropriation
Of about s65O.OeO- OF this amount APP
proximately 100000 is spent for the
purchase of new books But the net
expenditure is not much over half a
million dollars yearly, inasmuch as the
copyright office turns i'm more than
100000 per annum, derived from ices.
and the profits yielded by the card
section" tthe function OF which viii
presently be described run hey Ond
$4,000 IN a twelve month.
Only Members May Borrow.
Some comfort from the Congress
mems point of view, may be derived
from the fact that they. and nooody
else. have a right unuer the law TO
borrow books from the librarN-thOuEn
volumes may be lent at the dissertation
of the librarian. 10 other people
Furthermore, quite eNtraor binary
lection conveniently at their disposal,
a tunnel for the purpose, 1900 feet Ions
having been made to conect the library
building with the capitol At the cap
itol end, in a room adjoining the old
house OF representatives, Is recelF-
ing and delivery station for DOCKS
When q member wants book, he need
only write the title of it on a scrap
OF paper, and il is shot in a Jifty
through pneumatic tube to the read
ing desk in the library: whereup0n
the volume IS promptly fetched through
the tunnel on a tray swung from an
endless cable, and placed on the mem
ber's desk by a livery messenger me
process OF transportation requires only
three minutes.
Perhaps the most striking feature OF
the library of congress today IS the
automatic character Of the service IL
affords. Everything possible is rele-
gated TO machinery. Thus, lOr eX-
ample, the books are delivered 10
readers, and returned to the book
stacks, almost wholly by mechanical
means An endless chain, carry lng a
series of wire trays. transports from
the stacks and dumps at the readlns
desk Gin the center Of the great cir
cular ROOM the volumes that ane
called for. When a book is to De re-
turned 10 its shelf, the attendant utl-
Lies the same mechanism, aGJ ing
a pointer at a number on a dial CORE
spending with the deck IN the book
stack for which IL is destined me
machine drops It off quietly At Inat
deck. All Of this work IS accomplished
nOiseleSSly, and as If through opera
ton of magic, by concealed electric
motors
Lends Books to Libraries.
The library Of congress now makes
a business Of lending its books 10
other libraries all over the country.
This is new departure OF great prac-
teal usefulness Only relatively lew
persons are so situated as to be able
to visit the national library; but with
the aid Of the cheap book post, It's IA
cilities are extended TO every corner
OF the nation Scholars can turn TO the
library OF congress for help as natural
" as farmers turn TO the department OF
agriculture; books are even mailed 10
them direct under certain conditions
Even newer, and promising indefinite
future extension, is system IN inter
now freely lent by the library of con-
gress TO the national libraries OF oJner
countries When this work has been
fully developed, II Will be possible tof
q reader anywhere in the world 70
avail himself of Information existing
in any great library OF the world
the plan as viii understood, beng
reciprocal among all the national IL
braries-
The library OF congress. as at pres
ent conducted, regards itself not mere
y as a center Of research, but as an
Institution for the diffusion Of knowl-
edge on the widest possible scale one
Of its functions is that of a bureau OF
information. and in this capacity IL
is always ready to respond by mail 10
Inquiries as to what printed material
exists on a given subject. and where
this material may be found
Another branch OF its work is the
supplying of printed catalOg cards
TO local libraries everywhere in this
country. The local library sends a
list of its own books. furnishing IN
each case the title. the name of the
author. and the edition In return. IL
receives printed cards, which are
copies Of the national collections own
cards covering the same books, and
a Eici; furnish all sorts Of details, IN
.luding the contents Of the volumes, ,
Jew Biographical words about the au-
hor in each instance. etc. This saves I
research which minor libraries could Z
not afford 10 undertake. such is the I
work Of the card section" already +.
mentioned. Fifteen hundred Libraries f.
regularly purchase these cards. get
ling them for fraction of cent I
apiece.
Books Printed on Wall Paper.
4 collection Of books printed on +
wall paper in southern cities during
he civil war (for lack of more suit b
ible materially is one Of the curiOsitles 3
# the library of congress. Among the T,
heaviest volumes of its shelves are T
Bibles printed in the middle ages, I