Evening star., 1936-07-30

How many WaShlngtonianS take
full advantage of the library resources
Of their city. or even begin to COM
prehend that some 13000,0 900 volumes
are available for use by responsible
individuals?
In his much-needed survey, "Ihe
Libraries of Washington" DR.. David
Spence Hill, staff associate Of the
Carnegie Foundation for the Advance
ment of Science, has compiled STE
tistics showing that early ir 1885 the
collections in governmental libraries
alone totaled 10,830,900, while non-
governmental libraries reported l.
1928 volumes. Allowing for normal
libraries among governmental agen-
cies, DR.. Hill estimates the present re-
sources at easily 13,000,000
Begun as a survey Of Washington
libraries in relation to their collec-
tions in the field of education, DR..
Hills work was expanded to cover
more general aspects of the 166 gov
ernmental and 103 non-governmental
libraries which answered his original
questionnaire or gave information
and assistance in compiling data about
their collections. The primary pur-
pose was not forgotten, however, and
throughout the work emphasis is
placed on the educational resources of
the various libraries. Another factor
has been kept in mind-the relation
of the library to the organization in
iot, f,,~, i
picture of the usefulness of libraries
as auxiliarieS of governmental service,
and component parts of non-goveru-
mental institutions, is obtained. The
library, as DR.. Hill observes, does not
function in vacuum"
Survey Lists Three Groups.
Guided by the formula familiar to
all students of political science, DR.
Hill divides his survey of governmental
libraries into legislative, executive and
judicial groups. The vast collections
of the Library Of Congress dominate
Library of the United States In every
thing except the name" contained A.
815,646 books and pamphlets; 1,319,-
697 maps and views; 1,116,895 volumes
and pieces of music and a manuscript
collection too extensive for numerical
statement, in June, 1884, and is build
ing an annex capable of holding TO-
100000 volumes.
Among the executive departments
the Department Of Agriculture holds
first place for library facilities, main
tanning about a score of differently
located and specival collections OF
books and documents in Washington"
two-thirds Of which are filed at the
main library, and the remainder in
large branches, such as the Weather
Bureau, Bureau Of Agricultural Eco
nomics, Bureau of Chemistry and
Soils and other departmental agencies.
DR.. Hill refers to the biblio-film serv-
ice inaugurated by the Library in 1884
for the purpose Of decreasing inter-
library loans Of books by supplying di-
rectly to individuals "flmstat" copies
of scientific articles.
Other libraries in the executive
group are covered at some length. It
may be noted in passing that the
Department of Justice has more re-
strictions than any other in relation
to its use by the public, owing to the
fact that every book In its collection
must be constantly available for Off
cial use. DR.. Hill has placed the judi
ciary libraries Of the District of Co
lumbia and those of the Federal Gov
ernment in single grouping, as local
courts are under Federal control.
These libraries, too, are intended pri-
marily for the use Of judges and court
personnel.
Smithsonian Agencies Cited.
A considerable section Is devoted to
the libraries of independent establish
ments Of the Federal Government
and of institutions having national
Affiliations. The Smithsonian Insti-
tuition rivals the Department Of Ag-
riculture in number of agencies, out
classes it, in fact, as DR.. Hill esti-
mates the Libraries under its control
at more than twoscore, "if the spe-
cial working collections of books In
the National Museum are counted
separately as libraries" They are
equally diversified, ranging from the
estheticism of the Freer Gallery Of
Art to the practical researches of the
division of radiation and organisms.
The section on the District of Co.
lumbia and Its publicly owned libra
ries Is Of major interest. DR.. Hill
shows a comprehension Of the local