Evening star., 1922-12-24
N. pu;ld;no Nsad of Aims worth
r. Spofford.
Library of Congress. in his an

New Building Need OF a w.,
Library of Congress. in his an
nual report called pointed attention
to the urgent need for additional
quarters for the great book collec-
ton. This report is summarized III
The Star Of December 81, 1872, in
part. as follows:
THE subject of providing an en-
larged space for the library. now
numbering a quarter OF q million
volumes, and for the copyright busi-
ness and archives, now very mad
equately provided for. demands the
early and careful attention of Con-
gress. In my last report the leaoing
facts of this necessity were brienS
recapitulated and 1t was stated tnat
all possible accommodation which
might be provided within the Capitol
would be exhausted In from three 70
Ave years, while the utmost space
obtainable by building q projection
of the western front OF the Capitol
would be filled in twenty years
ordinary growth Of the library.
From the nature Of the case, the
evil and inconvenience now expert
enced of contracting a. great Nprar.
into a space too crowded for proper
Arrangement is constantly growing
The wooden cases, 100 in number.
reluctantly introduced year ago 10
accommodate the overflow OF the al
coves. are approximately filled. There
is no space for the arrangement or
filing of the current periodicals. many
of which, therefore, remain compare
lively useless for reference until
bound
"The library has no packing room
and the heavy receipts OF books from
wise. the bindery business. the cata-
loging Of the books. the correspond
ence Of the library. the direction OF
assistants and the extensive daily
labors of the copyright department.
are all constantly going i on In hIcs thGse
Should be kept free for readers.
Masses Of books. pamphlets. news
papers, engravings. etc. in the course
Of collation., cataloging: labelling ana
stamping, in preparation Tor their
proper location in the library. are
almost under the feet of members OF
Congress and other visitors.
.Cnder these adverse circumstances
il must not be wondered at that the
Library Of Con-
( Dbl. of Silence sress. with all its
Often Violated. "a pr res az the isrres,
and one OF the most progressive OF
American librariee, is comparatively
an unfit place for students. The ex-
irencies of its current business in
yolve an amount OF verbal directions
and consequently interruption to the
studie. of readers. which are incom-
patible with that rule Of silence which
should be the law of all great libra
ries of reference. With the excep-
ton of one narrow reading room IN
the north wing. capable OF seating
| oniv twenty readers. the entire
library Of Congress affords no place
for the uuiet pursuit OF study. but
ia subject to the constant annoyance
Of compulsory violations OF Its rule
Of silence by It's smt own @cero nrocessioDs snI ny
"The addition to the functions OF
the librarian Of the whole copyright
business of the United States. tnvolv-
ing the custody Of q vast number OF
amount of clerical labor. makes the
present library apartments yet more
nnat and inadequate. The extensive
character of this business. with itl
constant increase and the inconveh-
ience and obstruction attending It's
transaction in the midst of the much
frequented reading room of the
library, add q conclusive argument. II
such were needed. to the demonstra-
tion Of the absolute necessity OF
erecting q separate building for the
new library and copyright department
! conjcined.'
Mr. spofrord proceeded to susges
means Of relieving the congestion ant
recommended the construction Of 6
building separately devoted to the libra
ry uses, sketching the important feat
ures Of such q structure He noted thu
fact that in 1850 there were $1,000 vol
umcs in the collection. in 1866 ther'
were 100000 and In 1879 there wer'
5000. and he estimated that by 1870
the library would consist Of 100000 vol
umes. 1850, 900 by 1925. and 2.50o. 900 b.
1875. That his calculations. howeve
! impressive as to the urgent need o
! more room, were inadequate 10 ehowl
by the fact that at present the Librar.
of Congress contains no less than 1000.
900 books and pamphlets. besides 3.ooe.
900 other items. .-