VISITORS TO THE LIBRARY BUILDING During the year June 30, 1908, to June 30, 1909, the count. of visitors to the building and users of the Library was as follows: DETAILS OF EXPENSES FOR FUEL, LIGHTS, REPAIRS, AND MISCELLANEOUS SUPPLIES The appropriation for these purposes during the year was the same as for the previous year, $32,500, and was expended for the following items: Watch and Housekeeping Department: Ice (370,633 pounds) Washing towels_ Painting supplies_ $963.65 248.57 522.89 FURNITURE, INCLUDING PARTITIONS, SCREENS, SHELVING, AND ELECTRICAL WORK PERTAINING THERETO The appropriation for these purposes was $40,000. Under a ruling of the Treasury an existing specific appropriation like this must alone bear all expenses pertaining to the class. No furniture therefore may be repaired or recruited from the appropriation for fuel, lights, repairs, and miscellaneous supplies. This makes the former appropriation somewhat larger and the latter smaller than it would otherwise be. The expenditures for the year were as follows: Steel map and atlas cases and framework__ Steel card tray cases and framework (Card Section) Adjustable stop blocks for steel card trays_ Miscellaneous furniture, including tables, desks, stands, wardrobes, cases, chairs, stools, window shades, hardware, etc__-. $13, 454.00 13, 051.00 I, 346. 30 3, 142.79 Card catalogue cases, file cases, and trays__. 2, 688.45 2, 685.77 Typewriters, and repairing. Partitioning of alcove in main reading room, including electric work and ventilation. Dumb waiter for north curtain book stack_ Wood and glass inclosure of book stack in north curtain, $1,523.36 681.89 450.00 345.00 296. 24 240.00 10. 51 39, 915. 31 Total_ The two larger of the above items—the storage cases for cards and the map and chart cases- -form in each class twotier stacks in steel, dust-tight, and of original design, conveniently accessible and fireproof. The whole outfit of steel map cases contains 2,752 drawers that are 41 inches long, 24 inches deep, and 3% inches high, and that of the storage card cases contains 36,096 catalogue card trays 191⁄4 inches long. NEW STACK IN SOUTHEAST COURT Properly to be classified as furniture, but, owing to its special magnitude and location, made the subject of independent consideration and appropriation by Congress, the new stack of shelving in the southeast court, mentioned in the last annual report, is approaching completion. Its purpose is the shelving of bound newspapers and books, and its construction and equipment are similar, though more complete and effective mechanically in this later day, to the original book stacks of the building. Since the end of the fiscal year the roof and the greater part of the interior structure have been finished. Full completion of the stack is expected by January next. Unanticipated delay of a few months has resulted from the unusual difficulty of working in a dark court with very restricted access from the exterior of the building. The cross section and typical plan of this stack which appeared in the last annual report are repeated herewith. |