Evening star., 1922-06-25
History, Mythology,
Literature, Science
and Art Have Con-
tributed Their Best
to the Making of the
Famous Congress
sionalLibrary,Vis
tied by People of
Washington and
Crowds of Tourists.

one hundred and two miles Of shelly
ing. There are five main book stacks
consisting of nine tiers.
Tho most famous collection Of
DOCKS comprises the John Boyd
Thatcher collection of Incunabula.
printed before 1900. and the Yudin
collection of Russian books.
The presidents Of the United States
are represented by printed books and
pamphlets, and all but two. John
Adams and John Quincy Adams. are
represented by manuscript collections.
There Is apparently no way of COM
puting the number Of people who
visit the Congressional Library each
year. and the number of books. pam
phlet, etc, furnished to the members
OF the Senate and House of Represen-
tatives Is held as a confidential mat
ter by the librarian. However. IL il
known that works consulted by the
lawmakers will run into the thou
sands each year, and in order that
they may receive the books as speed
lily as possible there is an under
ground tunnel running from the liz
brary to the capitol. and a telephonia
request from either house of Congress
results in the desired volume or VOL
umes being placed on a carrier and
Immediately dispatched from the Ii
brary to the Capitol, and a telephone
the laws are made.
PARTICULAR emphasis should be
placed upon the excellence of the
card-index system that is employed.
By this modern method it is possible
to locate any desired book in a very
short time. The system has been
pronounced by experts to be the best
in the world.
Previous to the erection OF the
| present edifce books OF the Con-
gressional Library were housed in a
section Of the Capitol Just west OF
the rotundas and owing to the lack
Of space it was indeed difficult to at
tempt any system Of arrangement
This handicap, however, was over
come to a great degree by the won
eating any books. Spofford proba-
who, with one or two of his assist
ants, seldom had any trouble in To-
eating any books. Spofffford proba-
bly, had a greater memory than any
other librarian who ever lived. Hun
dreds, yes, thousands Of times, he was
asked where such and such a quota
ton could be found. and he never
failed to give the senator or repre-
sentative the correct answer. This
accomplishment on his part brought
him in close contact with the ma
tion's lawmakers, and he never fail
ed to advocate the erection Of suita-
Bile building, with the result that
finally money was appropriated for
this purpose.
| In the great rotunda thousands
every year sit at the circular desks
and read the books they have sent
for The readers are young and old
You will find the young student dill.
gently endeavoring to secure infor.
nation that will assist him in his
studies. Next to him may be a gray.
haired man who for years has been
student, while across the aisle 10
the typical bookworm who lovei
books for the benefit they confer upon
mankind. A few seats distant yoy
will find two young girls reading
book. 1t may be the latest piece oi
fiction, a volume of ancient history
or work On the fashions OF years
ago. Here they sit afternoons ane
nights some students, some readers
and others who are in search Of ideas
that will help them in their daily oc.
cupations.
IN the section devoted to PERIODICAL
are men and women from every
state, eagerly scanning columns OF
the home town paper"
The Congressional Library is ne
tplace for those who are courting, be-
cause great signs bearing tho word
silence are placed in numerous
!parts of every room, and while oc.
casionally there may be a hurried
hand squeeze between beau ant
maid, the majority Of visitors to the
Congressional Library reserve theil
manifestations of affection for othei
lplaces.
The library 10 open from 9 am. tS
10 pm. every day in the year except
the Fourth Of July and Christmai
day. The library is also open on Sun.
days from to 10 pm.
I The present librarian is Herbert
Putnam, who has as his assistant Ap.
lpletou P. c. Griffin. These gentle.
mon receive valuable assistance from
H. H. B. Meyer and Miss Florence
Hellman.
| The Congressional Library is not
circulating library. 1t is used for ref.
erence. 1t Is not possible to measure
| in dollars and cents the value of the
knowledge secured from this mag,
nidcent institution. 1t is a nationa
ssset.