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Show 29:5/ / LIBRARY OF CONGRESS The Library of Congress, Capitol Hill, Washington, D. C, occuDies the • world's two largest buildings devoted exclusively to library work, an ornate Italian Renaissance structure, erected 1397, and a utilitarian Annex of white marble, erected 1939. They cover 13 1/2 acres, have 1,'563,189 sq. ft. of floor space, 2C0 miles of steel shelving. Exclusive of 2,274,000 unbound newspapers and parts of periodicals and serials awaiting binding, its collections contained on July I, 1950, an estimated total of 23,635,000 pieces. These included 8,965,000 volumes and pamphlets; 131,000 bound newspaper volumes: 11,970,000 manuscripts (pieces); 1,931,000 maps and views; 1,000 rricrocerds; 81,000 reels and strips of microfilm; 84-,000 reels of motion pictures; 1,349,000 volumes and pieces of music; 326,000 phonograph records; 2,033,000 photographic negatives, prints and slides; 579,000 fine prints; and 689,000 broadsides, photostats, posters and miscellaneous items. Since the Library was established April 24-, 1300, it reached its sesqui-centennial on April 24, 1950, and this promoted a series of exhibits and commemorative programs. The original library was burned by British troops Aug. 24, 1814, and reestablished 1815, Thomas Jefferson sold his private library of 6,437 vols, to the Government for $23,950. Two-thirds of it was lost in e fire in 1351. In 1366 science library of Smithsonian Institution was acquired and in 1367 the historical library of Peter Force, of "Washington, D. C. was bought for $100,000. The Library of Congress houses historical documents of great value such as the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States, ''Some 20,000,000 pilgrims have stood within the marble enclosure and looked forward toward the Declaration," reports the Librarian. The Library, during 1948-49, answered 22,852 inquiries from Congress; registered copyright for 19~',236 items at |824,585; distributed 25,500,000 printed catalogue cards to 3,000 subscribers at $908,596; photographed 114,553 items, sold 15,345 records, and distributed 65,540 books and 17,037 transcriptions to the blind. A gross total of $9,339,834 was available to the Library during the fiscal year 1949. Of this sum, 17,439,346 was appropriated directly, $1,129,637 was transferred from other agencies, $1,176,723 was derived from gifts and #94,173 was carried over from the previous year. Moneys used amounted to $8,936,470. The Library's annual maintenance for the year was the equivalent of a per capita tax of 5 cents on every citizen. A most important activity initiated in 1950 was the microfilming for the Library of over 500,000 pages of ancient manuscripts in the monastery of St. Catherine on Mount Sinai, which has existed since c. 300 A.D. The Library is engaged in microfilming books in Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japa#, Mexico and Spain for study here. Extensive cultural activities have increased the value of the Library to the Nation. These include forums, concerts, readings by authors and weekly exhibits of valuable books and manuscripts. By courtesy of the superior of the Syrian monastery of St. Mark of Jerusalem three of the ancient Jewish scrolls found near Jericho, containing the Book of Isaiah and believed 2,000 years old, were shown. |
