Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-04
Annual Report Of the Board
of Trustees Submitted.
GROWING PUBLIC USE
MORE BOOKS AND MORE ASSIST
ANTS ARE NOW REQUIRED.
Expanding the Value Of the Institution
Growth Shown by Figures.

In the annual report Of the board OF truss
tees Of the Washington Public Library. sub
mitted to the District Commissioners by
Mr.. Theodore w. Noyes. the president of
the board, emphasis is laid on the desira-
bility Of enlarging the usefulness Of the
library to the public, now that 1t has sue
cessfully passed through the stage OF
formation and initial expansion. Statistics
are given to show the rapid increase in the
use of the library by the people and sug-
gestions are offered as to the means where
by the institution may reach the maximum
of value to the community. The report be-
gins thus:
1.-THE year which ended June 30. 1904. has
been one of activity and steadily increas-
ing usefulness for the public library. though
its record Is not marked by any notable
events like those which have characterized
stage Of the library's life, a period now
just terminating
1.-THE total number of books issued dur
ing the year was 27S. 1888. an increase of
63,927 over last year. The increase in the
number of books on the shelves during that
period was II, 404, causing. the total collec-
ton now to exceed 10000.
THE library, based on the firm legisla-
tive foundation OF permanent tax-main-
tenance, reasonably well equipped with
books, housed in commodious, well-ar-
ranged and attractive building, and provid-
ed with an efficient. if small library force,
Is prepared to move forward and to expand
along the lines of greatest public useful
ness. bestowing constantly enlargfng
measure of benefit upon the residents Of
the national capital
The New Building.
"The additional donation of s25, 900 made
by Mr.. Andrew Carnegie for the purpose
of furnishing, decorating and completing
the equipment of the new building has been
expended during the year. with the ex-
ception of $3.50, which amount Is to be
applied to the purchase of furniture and to
certain minor improvements. The main
items of this expenditure were the COM
pletion of the book stock to it's full ca
pac1ty OF five tiers by the addition Of two
tiers, the provision of a dumb-waiter oook-
lift in the stack, the general decoration of
the interior walls and ceilings of the build
ing, inclosing the basement flight of the
rear stairway and the electric elevator ma
chinery in the sub-basement provision of
a pipe system of filtered drinking water
coolers, installation of slop sinks, reinforc-
ing exposed plaster corners and provision
of an excellent outfit of apparatus for the
book bindery.
Approaches and Park Environment
During the fiscal year which ended June
10, 1903 the sidewalks along the south side
OF Mt. Vernon Square were laid by the
District and tine approaches to the south or
main entrance of the library as they now
stand were constructed by the public build
ings and grounds office Of the War Depart
ment, which has charge Of the square.
EARLY in the last fiscal year the APP
proaches of the rear or north and east en-.
frances Of the library were nearly COM
pleted by the same Office with the balance
Of $4,000, the only part of the original
estimate of $4,000, which Congress has ap-
propriated.
These two sections of the approaches
are part of simple design of walks and
stone curbfngs needed to complete the
square and unity it with the building. I'm
Ill this is done the present naked and
east and west of the building must re-
main; and It Is earnestly hoped that Con-
gress will this year grant the small sum
of $4,000 with which 1t Is found practical
cIudes provision of the two special two
lamp electric light standards, intended for
the two pedestal blocks at the ends of the
steps at the south sidewalk. to appropriate
ly illuminate the wide entrance platform
and the doorway Of the building.
1.-THE Office of public buildings and
grounds asked this appropriation last year
and has included the item In its estimates
for the next fiscal year.
Branch Libraries.
.In the last annual report of the library
trustees, after discussing Mr.. Andrew Car
negie's offer to supply the buildings for any
needed branches of the public library, 1t
was said: Legislation will be required from
Congress accepting Mr.. Carnegie's branch
library offer, directly or implicitly pledging
suitable maintenance and authorizing IL
brary commission to erect branch libraries
from the Carnegie donated fund. as these
buildings may from time to time be au-
thorizad nv Congress- "
The text of the bill which was introduced
in Congress in furtherance OF this plan Is
given. and the report continues:
1.-THE House of Representatives. after
striking out the preamble and the words
.on the conditions aforesaid passed the
bill. But 1t was unfavorably reported from
the Senate District committee and defeated
in the Senate. The opposition to the meas
ure in the Senate was based upon an In
disposition to authorize by implication any
underlined branch library expenditures
which might by any possibility under the
10 per cent maintenance condition Of Mr..
Carnegies donation impose an onerous bur-
den upon both local and national taxpay-
ers The fact that the primary need of the
present is the proper development OF the
main library, and that branch building ex-
pansion with the accompanying burden of
maintenance must, even if authorized, be
postponed in execution until the future.
has been and is thoroughly appreciated by
the Commissioners and the library trus-
tees: and 1t is not believed that. If the
power to specify the time of branch IL
brary extension had been confided to them;
any evil could possibly have resulted from
the general acceptance of Mr.. Carnegie's
offer of funds to be available for the erec-
ton of branch library buildings at any
date or dates in the future when the Dis
trict could afford to maintain them Con-
gress has, however. indicated its unwill-
ingness to authorize broadly this general
acceptance of the offer, and 1t will be nee
essary to seek authority separately in every
instance to accept the exact amount re-
Quired to build some specified branch IL
brary building, If and when the District
feels that 1t can afford to pay or guaran-
tee In that particular case the 10 per cent
maintenance.
Meanwhile the library can expand mex
pensively through the development of SUBJ
stations like that now In operation at the
NeighbOrhood House, as described in the
librarians report.
ut may also be possible in special cases
to secure acceptance by Mr.. Carnegie Of
the 10 per cent maintenance pledge from
some other responsible guarantor than the
District OF Columbia. For instance, the
Y. M. C. A. of Washington will donate the
site of a branch library building adjacent
to Its new building and pledge itself to
suitable maintenance of the same, IL Mr.
Carnegie will erect the structure. Tho
George Washington University offers site
for branch library as part Of the group
of buildings to be erected on the new uni
yersfty grounds and will meet the er-