Law Library of Congress

From 1860 to 1897, the Law Library was housed in the former [[Old Supreme Court Chamber|Supreme Court Chamber]] in the Capitol Building. A spiral staircase connected this with the Court in the room above, and the Custodian of Law (the early title of the official later called the Law Librarian, the first of whom would be Charles Henry Wharton Meehan) climbed the stair to deliver materials requested by the Justices. The rules of the Law Library, set down by the Chief Justice, permitted the Justices of the Supreme Court, Members of Congress, and some "gentlemen of the bar having a case on the docket" to sign out up to three books from the collection. The Custodian of Law helped patrons to find the law by physically locating a book and putting it in their hands. A special collection of major texts and court decisions was reserved for the exclusive use of the Justices.

From 1860 to 1897, the Law Library was housed in the former [[Old Supreme Court Chamber|Supreme Court Chamber]] in the Capitol Building. A spiral staircase connected this with the Court in the room above, and the Custodian of Law (the early title of the official later called the Law Librarian, the first of whom would be Charles Henry Wharton Meehan) climbed the stair to deliver materials requested by the Justices. The rules of the Law Library, set down by the Chief Justice, permitted the Justices of the Supreme Court, Members of Congress, and some "gentlemen of the bar having a case on the docket" to sign out up to three books from the collection. The Custodian of Law helped patrons to find the law by physically locating a book and putting it in their hands. A special collection of major texts and court decisions was reserved for the exclusive use of the Justices.

The acquisition of the [[Louisiana Territory]] (1803) and of [[Florida Territory|Florida]] (1819), which brought property and inheritance systems based on [[Law of France|French]] and [[Law of Spain|Spanish law]], provided some incentive for the acquisition of books from the [[Civil law (legal system)|civil law]] tradition. The first systematic effort to collect foreign law came in 1848 soon after the conclusion of the [[Mexican–American War|Mexican War]], when Congress directed the Library to obtain all available [[law of Mexico|laws of Mexico]]. In the second half of the nineteenth century collections of laws of the major European nations were added.

The acquisition of the [[Louisiana Territory]] (1803) and of [[Florida Territory|Florida]] (1819), which brought property and inheritance systems based on [[Law of France|French]] and [[Law of Spain|Spanish law]], provided some incentive for the acquisition of books from the [[Civil law (legal system)|civil law]] tradition. The first systematic effort to collect foreign law came in 1848 soon after the conclusion of the [[Mexican–American War|Mexican War]], when Congress directed the Library to obtain all available [[law of Mexico|laws of Mexico]]. In the second half of the nineteenth century, collections of laws of the major European nations were added.

===Public service circa 1898===

===Public service circa 1898===

Although the Library of Congress was founded and funded to serve Congress, from the earliest years there was pressure to make its collections available to the public as well as to government officials. By the end of the nineteenth century members of the public were free to consult the collections, although only Members of Congress and a few other officials could borrow books. The Law Library had a few tables, which were usually occupied by students from local law schools.

Although the Library of Congress was founded and funded to serve Congress, from the earliest years there was pressure to make its collections available to the public as well as to government officials. By the end of the nineteenth century, members of the public were free to consult the collections, although only Members of Congress and a few other officials could borrow books. The Law Library had a few tables, which were usually occupied by students from local law schools.

The Law Librarian's Annual Report for 1898 described a room "about 50 feet square. This cockpit, dim-lighted and inconvenient, ... is expected to accommodate the justices, lawyers engaged in cases, the members of the bar in search of light, as well as law students." Service was limited by crowding, short hours, and a small staff who were obligated to serve Congress and the Supreme Court before anyone else. A law reading room with a limited collection was set up in the newly opened [[Library of Congress Building]] in 1897, and eventually the entire collection and staff moved to less crowded quarters in the new building.

The Law Librarian's Annual Report for 1898 described a room "about 50 feet square. This cockpit, dim-lighted and inconvenient, ... is expected to accommodate the justices, lawyers engaged in cases, the members of the bar in search of light, as well as law students." Service was limited by crowding, short hours, and a small staff who were obligated to serve Congress and the Supreme Court before anyone else. A law reading room with a limited collection was set up in the newly opened [[Library of Congress Building]] in 1897, and eventually the entire collection and staff moved to less crowded quarters in the new building.