Evening star., 1927-04-20
A National Library.

n y
In its evolution from mere collec-
ton Of books for the use of members
Of Congress to national institution
OF learning, the Library Of Congress
has progressed logically and in re-
cent years rapidly. The latest develop
ment, Just announced, is the endow-
ment Of two additional chairs" one
of history and one OF fine arts, in sup
plement of the chair of music endowed
by Mrs. Elizabeth Coolidge several
years ago. The former of these new
chairs is the gift of William Evarts
Benjamin, and the latter that of the
Carnegie Corporation, both endow-
ments being made through the Lii
brary of Congress Trust Fund Board.
of which the Secretary Of the Treas
ury is chairman.
The purpose of these chairs for en-.
dowment is, as Librarian Putnam has
stated. to utilize the mass of material
accumulated in the Library collec.
tions. These endowments are a nat.
ural evolution from the situation. fully
recognizing the efficiency Of the pres
ent organization, which covers COM
petently the needs of ordinary admin
istration. They assure the services in
special branches of persons who know
both the collections and, as Mr.. Put
nam states, the language of the ap-
paratus and also the problem, and
language of the inquirer, investigator
or connoisseur, and can serve as inter-
prefer.
The Library of Congress, establish
cd in 1900, has undergone many
changes and suffered misfortunes. 1t
was destroyed in 1914 by the burning
of the Capitol, was replenished by the
purchase by Congress of Thomas JEFF
ferson's library. Again in 1851 it was
depleted by the destruction of $4,000
volumes by fire. For many years 1t
was housed inadequately in the Cap
itol, where the collection gradually IN
creased by appropriations. by deposits
under the copyright laws, by gifts
and exchanges. To the general public,
shut out at night and on Sundays,
the Library was OF comparatively lit
tie use in those conditions, the books
being by force of circumstances large
Iy inaccessible, without an adequate
catalog save in the mind or Vet
eran Librarian SpoffordS to whose de-
votinn to the institution the growth
of the collection In this period was
largely due. It was not until the re-
movaI thirty years ago to the new
building and the provision OF facilities
for the proper handling of this mass
Of material that the Library OF Con-
eress became an institution of great
value to the people as source OF
research and study. Since then its de-
veIopnent has been rapid, especially
In recent years.
1t has been proposed that the title
of the institution be changed, that 1t
be known as the National Library. 1t
has long since passed beyond the
scope OF its original purpose of pro-
viding research and reading material
for members of Congress. 1t is ma.
tiona1 institution and its riches are
sought by students and scholars and
special investigators from all parts of
the country, who find only here the
materials they require.
Generous gifts have been made to
the Library in the past, collections
and special works, and notably, as In
the case Of the three endowments, by
Mrs. Coolidge, Mr.. Benjamin and the
Carnegie Foundation Of facilities for
Interpretation. Under the wise admin.
tstration of Librarian Putnam, whose
vision is broad, the Library of Con
gress, perhaps soon to become formal
iy a national library, has evolved more
definitely and more rapidly than here
tofore. The example of those who have
given so literally in this cause should
be followed by other Americans of
vision and aspiration for the cultiva-
ton OF the American people through
study and research and the fullest use
OF the materials which have been ac-
cumuIated and created during the cen.
tury and quarter Of Library growth.