Evening star., 1901-10-17
Grafton of the provisions heretofore made
for the existing library.

Grafton of the provisions heretofore made
for the existing library.
To examine the estimates in detail. The
original estimate of salary Cor librarian in
1897 was $500. This recommendation has
several times been renewed. So much of
the library's public usefulness depends
upon the librarian, and the responsibilities
of this Office will be great in the new
building, that the trustees urge especially
at this time that the librarians salary be
placed at a figure commensurate with the
dignity and duties of the office.
Responses to inquiries have been re-
ceiyed from the following American libra
ries, which show the salaries OF their IL
brarians at the present time to pc as fol-
Minneapolis, $1,000; Newark. 81. 100; Provi-
dence. $4,000: San Francisco. $1,000; Bos-
ton, $5 1000; Pratt Institute. Brooklyn, ST.
500; Cincinnati, So, 500. Detroit, S.. coo.
The total number Of employees in these H.
braries is as follows: Brooklyn, 105 Gn-
cluding seventeen branches): Milwaukee g.;
Minneapolis, SO; Newark. 40; Providence,
Al; San Francisco. 40; Qncludtng sixteen
in branches); Boston, III; Pratt Institute.
Brooklyn, "a; Cincinnati 50; Detroit, u.
Some of these libraries nave numerous
branches, which increase the size of the
force beyond that required for Washington.
Examination in detail Of the lists of en-
ployes in the main libraries OF Newark,
Providence, Minneapolis and San Fran
cisco. whose conditions most closely aP-
proximate those of the Washington library
in its new building, shows that they differ
little in the size Of force employed, and
from comparison of their figures good
idea can be obtained Of what Wash.ngton's
library win require in this respect.
A tabular statement Is printed, comparing
in detail the figures OF the four libraries
above named with those proposed for WASH
ington 1t Is shown that Newarks pay roll
inclutles forty employees at $24626; Provi-
dence's forty-one employees at $50. $50; Min
neapolis, thirty-nine employees at $2O,525:
San Francisco, thirty-three employees at
S22 TAO, and Washington tproposed), thirty
four employees at SIC, 100,
OF Washington's (proposeD employees
three are temporary cataioguers to assist
in handling the anticipated large accession
of new books which are to fill the first floor
shelves OF the new building, thus leaving
a permanent force ~ thirty -one.
The Washington library building is larger
than the new homes nfifthe Newark and
Providence librariests sanduis believed to be
the largest of the above i4St OF nVe II COW
ers an area of 17.3N square feet. The cost
of its supervision ana ma,h.enancs thon =; e. would
OF the smaller buildings.
The number OF borrowers and the annual
issue OF books in tfie case OF Washington's
library indicate q view n, OF the compare. on,
in the library; q degree bf library activi-
ty and Of popular demand for circulating
books which Is not surpassed IN any OF the
other cities.
The average SALARIES Of. the Washington
library employees are estimated at some
thing less than the satisfies in the other
cities. This differences IS even greater IN
face for it Is recognized that the national
government which sets the pace OF salary
rates at the capital pays more for the same
service than the corresponding individual
employer in other cities Thus while other
employees are paid higher Ia Washington
than in other cities. the library employees
are paid less.
general are thus sbOWsi to be- reasonable