Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-14
LIBRARY ESTIMATES
Appropriations Required for
the Ensuing Year.
THE SALARIES PAID
COMPARISONS WITH EXPENSES
IN SIMILAR INSTITUTIONS.
Increase in the Number Of Attendants
Amount for Books Placed
at $3.50
THE SALARIES PAID


placed in the hands of the Commissioners
the estimates of the appropriations required
for the library during the fiscal year be-
ginning July / next. The estimates fol-
low:
Librarian. $1,000: assistant librarian,
$1,000; assistant. $500 (new); two assistants
at S12O, 81, 440 two assistants at $500, 81 200;
three assistants at $540 $3.50 Zone new;
cataloguer, 5000: cataloguer. $40 (new); cat
aloguer, S72o; cataloguer 5000: three cata-
loguers at Sj4O 81 ,620 (same as special ap-
preparation last year,; stenographer and
typewriter. S720; four attendants at $460
$3.50 ttwo new): four attendants at $500.
81. 40 Cwo new); four messengers at $500,
LAO Uhree new); eight pages at $240,
81, 920 new; two jantors at $3.50. $500;
engineer $780,; fireman, S54O: workman,
$3.50; Waterman. $3.50 (new): four charWo-
men at $50. $720; for binding, 5000; for
fuel, lighting fitting up building and other
contingent expenses, $1,000: for purchase of
books. $4,000. to be Immediately available
Especial appropriation last year, 100000.
Salary of Librarian.
The present salary of the librarian is
$500 The estimates of this year, like
those of last year, put this salary at s., 600.
The present salary of the assistant libra
and of last year put this salary at 81 200,
which Is itself too low pay for this position.
AN assistant for the reference ROOM at
$500, is proposed in the estimates this year.
This assistant was asked in last years estf-
mates but no appropria ton was made. The
libraries with which that Of Washington
was compared in last years report of the
trustees all have reference room assistants"
A table is included in the estimates, show
Ing the salaries paid to library officials in
number of other cities compared with
those proposed for Washington. In New
ark. N. j.. the salary of the librarian Is
1920: In Providence 81 900: In Minneapolis,
5000; San Francisco, $1,000; Washington
(estimated), $1,000. The salaries of the as
sistant librarian in these cities range from
81 900 to 81 800, while the public library esti-
mates are for 81, 200.
Additional Force Needed.
Continuing, the statement accompanying
the estimates reads:
The present appropriation provides two
assistants in the issue division. third as
sistant, at $40, Is asked for this year, fol-
lowing last years estimates. Newark has
nine employees in the issue work; Provi-
dence, .; Minneapolis 3, and San Francisco,
6.
AN additional cataloguer at $40 is
asked. making the permanent cataloguing
force consist of four. Continuation of the
temporary cataloguing force of three, at
$40 each, is asked for another year. The
heavy cataloguing work incident to the in
stallation of a large new library will not
be finished during the current year.. ~
Low Salaried Attendants.
THE estimates for last year did not make
sufficient provision of low-salaried attend
ants, pages or messengers to meet the
needs OF the library in so large asbuildng
as that to be occuDied and in consideration
of the crowds of readers and book borrow
ers who are sure to be attracted to It, The
estimated number. originally too low, was
cut in the appropriations. For this year
the trustees estimate of an adequate shelf
and messenger force calls for two new at
PENDANTS at $3.50. two new attendants at
$3.50, two new messengers at $500 and eight
new pages at $40. The salaries of these
proposed employees are 50 small that the
aggregate is not largely increased IL they
are provided The precedents of other IL
braries suggest that they are essential to
the satisfactory operation OF a library.
In the building force Waterman, at
$3.50, Is asked for.
THE current appropriation for binding
Is 5000. The estimate calls for 5000 for
next year. The wisdom and economy of
liberal provision for binding are set forth
in the trustees and librarians reports
The estimate for contingent expenses is
the same as last years appropriation In
view Of the increased price of coal some of
the contingent expenditures OF the current
year may be forced over into next year
mo appropriation for books was made
for the current year in the District bill, but
$4,000 were appropriated for that purpose
by the urgent deficiency act of last session.
the money to be available until expended.
This years estimates for books Is $4,000.
The expenditures for books in the first years
of a library's life are necessarily large, until
a rounded working collection Is secured"