Riggs in the 1930s

Peter J. King C'42 sent us these memories of working in Riggs Library:

The 1930s were lean years for Georgetown and for the library.

I worked in the Riggs Library from 1938 to 1942. Library operations were vastly different from those today, as was Riggs' appearance from the wonderful restoration it has enjoyed.

The staff consisted of a Librarian and three or four part-time students. The Librarian also served as an English instructor. The students earned 35 cents an hour in a New Deal student program.

I'm not sure the Library had any acquisition budget. I can't recall any new books or any periodical subscriptions.

The Library was sparsely used. We students manned a circulation desk for infrequent customers, did a little shelving and tidying up and typed Library of Congress cards.*

*Editor's Note: Preprinted catalog cards from the Library of Congress to which a library would add its own call numbers, subject headings, etc.