Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-07
NJ Street. 3S2: Central. 21s: Eastern, les:
Western, 3s; Manual Training, is,
Settlement Stations.

4
Thus far no provision has been made for
establishing the branches SO much needed
to supply books to readers remote from the
central library. Meantime advantage is
being taken, so far as possible of the OPP
portunities offered for circulating books
through the various social settlements This
work Is done at the settlements entirely by
volunteers. so that the expense to the IL
brary is practically limited to the cost of
the books and their preparation for circula-
| tion.
The Neighborhood House station, 46s N
| street southwest, was opened the latter
part of December, 1908, so that II Is now
possible to report for full years work
there Although the library was open for
| PERIODS OF only one and one-half hours on
one afternoon and one evening each week
In winter. and for a similar period on one
| evening In summer, yet 2,6Si volumes Were
| circulated.
In the latter part of the year 1t was de-
e1ded to grant the applications for books
MADE by three other settlements-Noel
House, I245 Sth street northeast; Rochfort
Hall, 9Th street and Georgia avenue south
east, and the Peck Memorial. Georgetown
The policy that has governed the choice
OF DOCKS Tor purchase is always that of use
or demand, provided the books sought are
worthy of place in the library. Expensive
or highly specialized reference books are
at once eliminated as falling more properly
o. the District Popular works of refer
ence are of course purchased and are much
used. The bulk of the accessions are books
IN active demand for circulation. Washing
TOR readers are catholic in their tastes and
interests and there Is also a surprisingly
large demand for books above the average
| IN literary merit, With increasing circula-
.ior. there is a necessity for much duplica-
ton. especially of moderately expensive BIZ
ographies and scientific works. The de-
mand for technical books. already referred
to Il adequately met will require much du-
plication. Technical books are of course
expensive and soon need to be replaced
with more recent editions. All OF which
means that an increased book appropriation
is necessary to meet large present and rap
idly increasing demands.
Gifts and Endowment Funds.
'3There were received as gifts 2,s43 bound
and AL unbound volumes, 2,O98 pamphlets,
l,62S numbers Of periodicals, 6 maps / at
las, 1000 book marks, 80 leaflets and 2S
pieces of music. The library wishes to Sc
cure all government publications which con-
Germ the affairs of the District of Columbia
Other books and pamphlets published In or
about the District are especially desired.
since this library as tho local municipal
library should strive for completeness in
this field.
mfr. James T. Dubois has continued to
transmit the interest (S1C0) on the endow
ment fund of $1,000 established by him in
1898. This fund, known as the Henry Pas
tor Memorial. is ultimately to be increased
to $4,000. The income is regularly devoted
to the purchase of scientific and technical
periodicals. The income of the Woman's
Anthropological Society fund of 81, 900, men-
toned last year, has now become available
and Is being expended for anthropological
periodicals. 1t is greatly desired that sew
eral similar endowment funds be established
by other citizens. Mention has already
been made of the fact that the library is
striving to collect everything about Wash
fngton city, Georgetown and the District of
Columbia generally In several instances
during the past year rare items have been
lost because 1t did not seem wise to pur-
chase them from the book fund, already in
adequate for current needs. The great de-
mand for technical books (known to be ex-
pensive) points the way to an endowment
of tnestinable value that should appeal to
some citizen interested in the industrial ad-
vancement of Washington. The work for
children and the chronic shortage of books
in that department calls for fund for
plenishing the childrens room.
Apprentices and Staff Training.
1.-The frequent changes in the library
staff, the need for larger force and the
possibility that Congress might by appro-
rriation authorize such increase and the
recognition, now universal among progress
i've librarians of the need for trained serv-
ice. enforced the necessity for looking for
ward to the filling of possible vacancies
The trustees adopted the plan by which all
senior positions Chose paying annual SAL
aries of 5000 and upward) should unless
filled by promotion, be filled by candidates
who are college and library school grad
yates; and that junior positions (under
5000 unless filled by promotion, should be
filled by candidates who have served an
apprenticeship in this library. This APP
prentice course. finally begun in January
IS designed only for those who seek posi-
tons In this library who at least high
school graduates, who pass examination
conducted by the library, and who appear
to have personal qualities that will lead to
success in library work. The course Is six
months in length, during which time can
didates. have instruction and practice under
supervision In all parts of the work of the
library.
There were twelve persons admitted to
the first examination; of the seven who
passed six presented themselves Two Of
these were dropped, one obtained a posi-
ton in another library, and the other three
were appointed to the staff at the expira-
ton of the apprentice period. on July 1.
Recommendations.
ut has already been pointed out that
the Public Library Is now established on q
firm legislative foundation, but 1t Is also
true that. SO far as appropriations are con-
cerned however firm that foundation, 1t is
not sufficiently broad to enable She library
to do the work that may reasonably be
expected of public library which seeks to
minister to a population of $4,000. The IL
brary Is only seven years old as a munich
pal foundation; this municipality therefore
started its public library far later than
most other eastern cities. The President
in his messages. the Commissioners in their
reports and speeches and many members Of
Congress have expressed their wish that
the District of Columbia should be model
municipality. Such wish cannot be taken
otherwise than to include the development
of public educational agencies like the
schools and the library. Even to bring IL
brary activities here to point where they
will equal those of other progressive cities
OF the country. to say nothing Of enabling
them to assume some of the functions of
leadership, will require, not simply gradual
increases in the appropriations. but that
immediately there be such an increase as
will enable the library rapidly to enter the
fields of activity that the libraries of other
cities have long since occupied. The fol-
lowing are some of the most important
particulars in which the library is deficient:
Il. The library has not yet occupied the
whole of its central building: without do
ing so 1t is unable to do the work that