The Institution and the Library of Congress 829 



manner of providing for the care and permanent preservation 

 of this treasury of knowledge, Congress is properly the sole 

 judge ; but should another session of that body be suffered to 

 pass without proper provision being in some way made for 

 its protection, Congress will hardly be held to discharge the 

 trust reposed in it as the custodian of what President Jefferson 

 called, with prophetic wisdom, " the Library of the United 

 States." 



The provision for a library building, a want so pressing 

 and so universally acknowledged, was deferred from year to 

 year by difficulties and dissensions about a site, about plans, 

 about architects, and about cost, until in 1886 an act was 

 passed for the construction of a fire-proof edifice of ample 

 dimensions, upon ground adjacent to the Capitol. The new 

 building, which is recognized as a model of architectural and 

 artistic beauty, and in its interior arrangements is adapted 

 to the highest utility and facility of administration, was 

 completed for occupation in the spring of 1897. In the final 

 and long- deferred result, Congress acted with praiseworthy 

 and far-sighted liberality, and erected a fitting home for the 

 nation's books in this noble temple dedicated to literature, 

 science, and art. 



In the new library edifice ample shelf-room is provided for 

 the Smithsonian Library collections, and a spacious room ad- 

 joining the eastern book-stack will be placed at the disposal 

 of the secretary for occupancy as an office, or record and 

 reception room. 



In its new and commodious quarters it is expected that 

 the complete and thorough arrangement of the Smithsonian 

 books upon the shelves, allowing an adequate space for 

 expansion, will be followed by completion of the catalogue 

 and by the binding for ready use of all completed serials 

 and other works in the collection. Thus the utility of the 



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