LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. (Capitol Hill. Phone, Main 2727.) The Library of Congress was established in 1800, destroyed in 1814 by the burning of the Capitol, afterwards replenished by the purchase by Congress of the library of ex-President Jefferson, 6,760 volumes (cost, $23,950); in 1851, 35,000 volumes destroyed by fire; in 1852, partially replenished by an appropriation of $75,000; increased (1) by regular appropriations by Congress; (2) by deposits under the copyright law; (3) by gifts and exchanges; (4) by the exchanges of the Smithsonian Institution, the library of which (40,000 volumes) was, in 1866, deposited in the Library of Congress with the stipulation that future accessions should follow it. One hundred sets of Government publications are at the disposal of the Librarian of Congress for exchange, through the Smithsonian, with foreign Governments, and from this source are received about 12,000 volumes annually. The collection is now the largest on the Western Hemisphere and the third in the world. It comprised at the end of the fiscal year (June 30, 1914) about 2,253,309 printed books and pamphlets (including the law library of 164,382 volumes, which, while a division of the Library of Congress, still remains at the Capitol), 141,712 maps and charts, 663,474 pieces of music, and 376,812 photographs, prints, engravings, and lithographs. It includes various special collections eminent in their respective fields. The collection of manuscripts, touching every period of American history, includes the papers of nine of the Presidents and the records of the Continental Congress, with numerous other important groups-political, military, naval, and commercial. The Smithsonian deposit is rich in scientific works, and includes the largest assemblage of the transactions of learned societies which exists in this country. In 1897 the main collection was removed from the Capitol to the building erected for it under the acts of Congress approved April 15, 1886, October 2, 1888, and March 2, 1889, at a cost of $6,347,000 (limit by law, $6,500,000) exclusive of the land, which cost $585,000. The architects who furnished the original designs were John L. Smithmeyer and Paul J. Pelz. By the act of October 2, 1888, before the foundations were laid, Thomas L. Casey, Chief of Engineers of the Army, was placed in charge of the construction of the building, and the architectural details were worked out by Paul J. Pelz and Edward P. Casey. Upon the death of Gen. Casey, in March, 1896, the entire charge of the construction devolved upon Bernard R. Green, Gen. Casey's assistant, and under his superintendence the building was completed in February, 1897; opened to the public November, 1897. The building occupies 34 acres, upon a site 10 acres in extent at a distance of 1,270 feet east of the Capitol, and is the largest and most magnificent library building in the world. In the decorations, some 40 painters and sculptors are represented--all American citizens. The floor space is 430,255 square feet, or nearly 10 acres. The book stacks, including the new stack built over the southeast interior court, contain a total of about 100 miles of shelving, with capacity for 3,540,000 octavo volumes of books and 84,000 volumes of newspapers. The Library is maintained by annual appropriations by Congress for various purposes, including the purchase of books. For the year 1914-15 these amounted to $649,665 (not including allotment for printing and binding, $200,000), as follows: $525,665 for services and contingent expenses (including the Copyright Office, and including also the care of the building); $98,000 for books and periodicals; $16,000 for fuel, supplies, and miscellaneous purposes; $10,000 for furniture, shelving, etc. The Librarian of Congress and the Superintendent of the Library Building and Grounds are now appointed by the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate (act of 1897). The employees of the Library are appointed by the Librarian under the act of 1897, which provides that they shall be appointed "solely with reference to their fitness for their particular duties." The President, Vice President, Senators, Representatives, and Delegates in Congress are entitled by statute to draw books for home use (though no books can be given out on the orders of Members in favor of those who are not Members). The same privilege is extended by statute to Justices of the Supreme Court, the heads of the executive departments, and certain other officials. Inter-library loans.-While not a lending library, but a reference library primarily and essentially, the Library of Congress maintains an inter-library loan system, by which special service is rendered to scholarship by the lending of books to other libraries for the use of investigators engaged in serious research which it is not within the power or duty of the library in question to supply, and which, at the time, are not needed in Washington. Library service-Library proper, 255 employees; Copyright Office, 91; legislative reference, 20; distribution of catalogue cards, 31; disbursement service and care of building and grounds, 128. Total, 525. The publications issued by the Library are numerous and include: Bibliographies, exhaustive statements of the literature of certain subjects, e. g. Philippine Islands. Reference lists, containing principal references to questions of current interest, e. g., trusts, subsidies, railroads. Catalogues, lists of special collections in the Library of Congress, e. g., Hubbard collection of engravings, Washington MSS., John Paul Jones MSS., maps of America, newspapers. Special publications on library methods, e. g., catalogue rules, classification, etc. There is but a limited free distribution of publications. The reports and other administrative documents are sent to a large number of institutions, and, on request, to such inquirers as can not be reached or adequately served by them. Publications which are costly and permanent contributions to knowledge are priced and placed on sale with the superintendent of documents, Government Printing Office. Copyright Office.-The Copyright Office is a distinct division of the Library of Congress and is located on the ground floor, south side; open 9 to 4.30. It is under the immediate charge of the Register of Copyrights, who, by the act of March 4, 1909, is authorized, "under the direction and supervision of the Librarian of Congress," to perform all the duties relating to copyrights. Copyright registration was transferred to the Librarian of Congress by the act of July 8, 1870. Of most articles copyrighted two copies, and of some one copy, must be deposited to perfect copyright. Books, maps, musical compositions, photographs, periodicals, and other articles so deposited, numbered, during the fiscal year 1913-14, 220,001 articles. Copyright fees applied and paid into the Treasury for the fiscal year 1913-14 amounted to $120,219.25. Hours. On week days (except legal holidays) the library building, main reading room, periodical reading room, and law library are open from 9 a. m. to 10 p. m.; other parts of the Library, from 9 a. m. to 4.30 p. m. On Sundays and certain legal holidays the building, main reading room, periodical reading room, division of prints, music division, and maps division, are open from 2 to 10 p. m., the Librarian's office and the office of the chief clerk from 2 to 6 p. m. LIBRARIANS SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE LIBRARY. 1800-1814.-The Clerk of the House of Representatives (for the time being). 1815-1829.-George Watterston. 1829-1861.-John S. Meehan. 1861-1864. John G. Stephenson. 1864-1897 (June 30).-Ainsworth R. Spofford. 1897-Jan. 17, 1899.-John Russell Young. 1899 (Apr. 5).-Herbert Putnam. LIBRARY STAFF. GENERAL ADMINISTRATION. Librarian of Congress.-Herbert Putnam, The Woodward. Chief Assistant Librarian.-Appleton P. C. Griffin, 2150 Florida Avenue. Secretary.-Jessica L. Farnum, 1604 Newton Street. DIVISIONS. Superintendent of reading room.-William Warner Bishop, Montgomery Avenue, Kensington, Md. Chief assistants in reading room.-John G. Morrison, 1230 Irving Street; Hugh A. Morrison, 2302 First Street. Reading room for the blind.-Mrs. Gertrude T. Rider, The Portner. Representatives' reading room.-Lawrence Washington, 216 A Street SE. Bibliography-Hermann H. B. Meyer, 2608 Tunlaw Road. Card. Charles H. Hastings, 3600 Ordway Street, Cleveland Park. Mail and delivery.—Samuel M. Croft, 316 Tenth Street NE. Maps and charts.-Philip Lee Phillips, 1707 H Street. Music.-Oscar G. T. Sonneck, 3030 Macomb Street, Cleveland Park. Semitic.-Israel Schapiro, acting chief, 318 B Street SE. Legislative reference.-James David Thompson, in charge, The Ontario. COPYRIGHT OFFICE. Register.-Thorvald Solberg, 198 F Street SE. Assistant register.-Ernest Bruncken, 1724 Kilbourne Place. Superintendent. BUILDING AND GROUNDS. Chief clerk.-Wade H. Rabbitt, 1523 Lamont Street. |