Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-31
Senate District Committee Will Re-
port Favorably.-
BOARD OF TRADE PROJECT INpORSED
interesting Statistics Contained ir
the Report.


the Senate the bill introduced by him to
establish and provide for the maintenance
of a free public library and reading room
in the District of Columbia. The commit
tee approved the bill as introduced by Mr..
Mcmillan, with several minor amendments,
one of which authorizes the Commissioners
of the District of Columbia to receive as
component parts of said library collections
of books and other publica tions that may
be transferred to them. Another amend
ment provides that the board of trustees,
who are to have charge of purchasing
books. etc, shall appoint not only libra
rian, but also such assistants as they
shall deem necessary" A third amendment
provides that assistants to the librarian
shall be selected after competitive profess
sional examination"
The report on the bill, which will be pre-
sented to the Senate as soon as an oppor-
tunity offers, contains much interesting
data regarding the needs of Washington
city Of library facilities. The report says:
Interest In the Bill.
''The public interest in the library bill
may be measured by the fact that the pro-
ject of a free public library and reading
room in the District of Columbia has been
recommended by the District Commission
ers, by the trustees of the public schools.
Labor, and by public-sp.rited citizens, who
have subscribed upward Of $1,000 for the
purchase of books.
so far as the committee is informed
there is no city in the United States of half
the size of Washington that has not free
public library, and on the other hand go
towns and villages have free public Ii
braries supported by local taxation. Every
where the free library is recognized as the
adjunct of and the supplement to the pub
lie schools. With the example OF the Bos-
ton public library and its magnificent build
ing and complete equipment occupying SO
prominent a place in the attention of the
public, it is unnecessary to enlarge upon
this point.
How efficient a public library may be
rendered by intelligent management can he
learned from the report of the New York
free circulating library for the year end
ing November l, 1885. This library Is now
exceeded in point of circulation only by the
public libraries of Boston and Chicago
With but 81, ,TsJ volumes on its shelves the
New York library circulated Go4,4ol BOOKS.
and its reading room privileges were USED
by 1S1,153 persons The library maintains
six branches in various sections of the city.
OF these branches the one in Harlem with
but 1900 volumes paid rent and circulated
963i9 books at an average expense or VA
per volume. The entire cost of the six
branches was S43O 600, of which amount S2S,-
600 was appropriated by the city, So,op
came from invested funds, $4,000 from do
nations and the remainder from fines, etc.
Work in Connection With Schools.
''The New York library paid special atten-
ton to work in connection with the public
schools The report of the chief librarian
says:
Ito the end that the scope of the library
as an educational institution may be WIDEN
ed, both in itself and in connection with
the public schools of the city, ali the aid In
pt.-r~c
in the schools r. furnishing them with
catalogues and bulletins, by making Tor
them lists OF books on special subjects in
the curriculum and by lending books in lots
undertake to become responsible for their
proper use by the scholars and for their
safe return to the library, with statement
of the number circulated
'If the great city of New York can ac-
complish so much with SO limited expen-
diture, the city of Washington should be
able to support an efficient library for
comparatively small amount of money.
Nor need it be feared that the library, once
established will not receive financial en-
couragement from the sums already raised,
and the miniature library already establish
ed show a degree of public spirit and en-
terprise worthy of such a backing as will
rake the project thorough success"
Appended to the report are the indorse-
ments of the project for free public libra
ry and reading room for this city by the
Commissioners, the trustees of public
schools and the Federation of Labor, which
have heretofore been published in full in
The Star. There is also appended a letter
from Gen. Greedy, president Of the Wash
ington City Free Library, indorsiag the
project. Gen. Greely says:
1.-The Washington City Free Library
stands ready to merge its entire library into
any municipal library that may be estab-
lished for the District, under the sole pro-
vision that it shall be for the use of all resi-
dents of the District free, and it asks that
the powers Of the Commissioners to accept
this free library, or any other that may be
opened, be clearly set forth"
Aid to Other Libraries.
There is also appended to the report
statement showing public library laws in
the various states, together with appropria-
tions for their establishment and support
This statement shows how generally
throughout the United States public Ii
braries supported by appropriation. 1t
shows appropria tions for public libraries OF
cities, follows:
Boston-Annual appropriation for support
$15O.0cO; for new building. s1,50O,OOO.
Chicago-Public library; 1893; appropria-
tion by city council, $121,SS6
MISUNDERSTANDING library; act of 1892;
one-quarter mill on dollar for library fund
for maintenance and increase of library
alone.
St. Louis-1s91-92-96 rate, one-fifth of
mill on a dollar, gives $55, 900; from school
board, $1,000; total income, about $50, 600
Cleveland-1S94; income for maintenance
of public library, $46,022.
Cincinnati-1S94 appropriations for public
library, $41,2I1; expenditures, $53,307.
San Francisco-1S93; for support of public
library from taxes, S40,O75.
Detroit-1S94; for public library, city taxes
received, $38, S.15; fines, etc, $11 395 9S;
other items about 81, 800; total, $5266413
Minneapols-1s95; taxes; levy of 1894, s42,-
12O; other income, about $4,000; total, s52,-
120; expenses, $4S511.23.
st. Joseph, Mo-1S93; city appropriation
$69S1.3G; balance on hand, $SS9.7O; total
$7,S71.06.
Worcester, Neutrality-suspicious., s17,6OO;
dog tax, ETC., $4,1S3; library fund, s1,715;
other sources, about 81 600; total, $23, SOS.
Salem, Mass.-Appropriations, annual
$4,000.
Appropriations in Different States,
A statement showing the public library
laws in the various states shows that in
Idaho 25 per cent Of the school fund may
be used for libraries. In Illinois any school
fund may be used for library purposes after
all necessary school expenses have been
paid and the school board is empowered to
make provisions for the purchase of Ii
braries in the annual tax levy. In Massa-