Evening star., 1921-12-04
IN CHARGE OF THIRD GREATEST
COLLECTION OF BOOKS IN WORLD
Herbert Putnam, Librarian of CONGRESS.
Sees Realization Of His Dream
In Prospect.

For nearly a quarter Of . century
Herbert Putnam has been working
persistently and efficiently to develop
the Library Of Congress. whose
original purpose was limited to serv-
ing the legislative department, into
a national library. equal in facilities
and scope, If not in the wealth OF rare
old original manuscripts. to any in
the world. Today he is ready for
III nrnational service, with the treas
~ Of specialized authorities placed
at the disposal OF the chosen dele
gates from the great nations of the
world gathered here to formulate
lprogram for limitation Of armament.
DR.. Putnam was the first to bring
to the position Of librarian prac-
tical experience in library work. With
extreme modesty and considerable
financial sacrifice he has submerged
his own personality into the library
making it a great utilitariaA monu-
ment to his genius that stands today
as a model for the entire world and a
corner stone of education for future
/ generations.
Service to Entire Country.
! DR.. Putnam clearly distinguishes
| the functions Of the municipal IL
brary, the state library and the uni
| versity library on the one hand from
that of the national library on the
| other. Each of the three former
| serves a constituency not within the
| purview Of the national library.
His great plan>>was to make the
national library serve the entife re
the following ways: % By the sale
and deposit Of catalogue cards. OF
| which there are now in stock. 60.0oe,.
600 (2) by interlibrary loans so that
any person. in however remote part Q.
the country. can secure through the
ilocal library books from the natlonal
library, provided the book called Tor
is the unusual book for the unusual
need and the purpose for which II IS
required Is not merely diversion or
personal information. but for purposes
lof research; (3) by distribution Of the
publications, including it's bibliog-
raphies. and ca by cooperation In
publication.
In this way, he points out, the re-
search investigator Is not limited to
the books on the shelves in his local
library. In every library center can
be found a card catalogue OF the
National Library. which informs
the attendants and patrons OF the
various centers of the collections Of
the national library. This organizes
the library centers into one STU
pendous library system with the
National Library, washington. as
formation throughout the nation.
1t thus serves the general reader.
who is not limited to the authorities
found in the National Library,
enormous as are the present sources.
numbering in the collection 2.sS1.3SS
books and pamphlets 16S.44s maps,
sS4,227 volumes and pieces OF music
and the 41S.976 prints.
! Naturalization Of the Library.
The conception of a great national
library was announced by DR.. Putnam
soon after he was brought to
washington from the Boston public
library to take charge Of the newly
erected home for the Library of
Congress. completed in 1897. This
library had grown from $4,000
volumes in 1864 to 100000 when it
was, moved into its new home: In
1905 DR.. Putnam set out the iunc-
tions of the national library IN a
report in which ne re referrse ,sn-a e q tne foe
srnment: (s) a library of record for
the United States: t3) a library of
research, supplementing other re-
search Libraries: tD library Tor
shall respond to demands from any
part of the country in the aid Of
research. This ambitious program
has already been carried out by
DR.. Putnam.
Holds Precious Documents.
Very recently DR.. Putnam has had
Ia new distinction and evidence of con-
fidence placed upon him. He has
been made custodian Of this nations
most priced documents-the original
of the Declaration of Independence
and the original Of the Constitution
OF the United States.
Facing the Capitol building, thou
sands of visitors to the nations capt.
tai behold what they are told Is the
"most beautiful building in the world
the creation of the genius OF the
architect, sculptor and painter; u
was to make the best use OF this
building that DR.. Putnam was called
to the nations service. Within its
walls are now found a collection OF
publications which is rapidly over.
taking the Bibliotheque Nationaie OF
i
/ don-the only other libraries which
exceed in number Of books the Ma
In this library are found the world s
greatest collection of musical compo-
sitions, and it also takes first rank
in the number of maps. Its arrange
ment for practical use is superior to
that of any other library in the world.
The building covers three and q half
acres and has eight acres OF floor
space 1t has 100 miles of shelving
to accommodate 3,500,000 volumes
which may be extended to at least
twice that amount.
Some Notable Collections.
In the National Library today
can be found the richest collection Of
Russian books outside of Russia.
This includes certain manuscript
records of the early Russian settle
ment in Alaska In pure literature
the library includes the best edition
of every important Russian writer.
Even the fine arts are represented,
especially notable being set OF the
Rovinski publications, perhaps the
most nearly complete In existence
In the National Library also may
be found the finest collection OF
Chinese books to be found anywhere
outside Of the republic Of China. This
collection commenced with with BOOKS 3ks
| first United States minister to China,
under President Tyler. It contains
volumes that cannot be duplicated.
THE Choo He History. 100 and 11o
volumes; the History Of the Eight
Banners, 314 volumes; three sets OF
and q dictionary of classical express
I sion .120 volumes ara among the