Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-03

during the last fiscal year was:
Whole enrolment Of pupils:
Night schools. Observation-Disclosures. 3,14a
Total. ........................ $3.50
Night schools. ......................... 81
Total. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 1,65s
Public Fairgrounds.
Congress at its last session having APP
propriated $4,000 for the purchase Of mu.
nicipai playground sites. the Commission
ers, acting upon the advice of the citizens
committee on Fairgrounds. which has
done such admirable service with its
time and money in this behalf, have puf-
chased certain sites. The Commissioners
nave adopted recommendations of the
CITIZENS committee that $4,000 should be
expended next year for purchase Of addt-
ttonal land for this purpose. It Is believed
that the purchase Of the necessary land to
give additional sites in different parts OF
the city Is q wise measure of economy, in
view OF the increase in price Of real es-
tate, and that 1t Is q measure of neces-
silly. in view Of the fact that sites hereto
fore loaned are gradually being built
upon.
The Commissioner have also recon-
naended an Appropriation OF $2S5oO for
tenance Of municipal school playground
sites.
While these amounts seem large. they
are relatively small when compared with
the large expenditures made in other
cities fer playground purposes. IT Is now
generally recognised that this is a form
Of education as important as any COM
monty employed In the public school sys-
tenn. aad that It deserves generous sup
port by ths municipalities. n.
The Pubnc Library.
The report Of the trustees Of the Public
Library Of the District Of Columbia with
which 10 included the report of the libra
RAM shows that each year the library
greatly increases the quantity Of its serv-
ice. and likewise better adapts Its service
to the needs OF the reading public. The
library. through its juvenile department,
is giving valuable aid to the schools, and
tmplanting in the young love OF books;
through It's reference department It en-
courages serious study; through its new
useful arts department 1t aids the profess
sional engineer. the skilled mechanic. the
artisan ambitious to rise. and the business
man who wishes to keep abreast of the
literature Of commerce; and through its
circulation department and settlement
stations It sends the best literature on
all subjects into the homes of all citizens
who apply. 1t Is. In fact. each year prov
Ing its increasing value as an efficient
instrument In the educational system of
the District.
During the year the book collection
grew from 1857 volumes to 92.9S7 VOL
umes. gain Of nearly 10 per cent; the
registered borrowers increased from SO, :
the home circulation advanced from
433. O96 to 4s1 463. an increase Of more
than II per cent, and the reading room
attendance rose from ia. 429 to 133,O59, an
advance of more than 10 per cent over the
previous year. Comparisons between the
record of the past year and that of 1904
1.-THE first full year that the new building
was occupied) show that during that time
1.-THE home circulation has nearly doubled
and the reference room attendance more
than trebled
The increasing quantity Of library work
has been accompanied by steady improve
ment in quality. One evidence of this Is
the fact that the large reduction In the
percentage Of fiction circulation recorded
in the last two years has been substan-
TALLY maintained A constant effort is
made to increase the assistance to readers
In the reference room and at the fnIorma-
ton desk. monthly bulletin of new ac-
cessions and reference lists has been pub
tished for free distribution. The OPEN
shelf facilities have been extended in or
der to bring readers into direct contact
with the best books. OIner new features
are a collection of pictures devoted to
geography, history and art objects for
the use by school and study classes, and
several educational exhibitions.
Substantial increases in the library staff
available on July 1, 1907, made 1t posi-
BILE to open the large children's room at
the west end Of the basement This pro-
mands Of the throngs Of children who
come to the library. The children's de-
partment has also been able to make a
beginning at more effective cooperative
relations with the public schools. A few
books are being sent in bulk to schools
most remote from the library and a
library assistant has begun to visit
schools nearby to invite pupils and teach
ers to use the library. The reference work
for schools. done in the main reading
room, is also increasing.
The removal Of the chffdren's depart
ment has made it possible to use the room
formerly occupied by 1T as q useful arts
and science department. Books. magazines
field of pure science, engineering, trades
industries and commercial affairs have
been made directly available to readers
on open shelves. This department, only
recently opened. promises to become one
Of the most popular parts of the library.
During the year the deposit, stations
were increased to seven. The home circu-
iation from these, numbered 1G-339 vol
umes, as against S,265 volumes circulated
from five stations during the previous
yeaF. lHeSe StdtiOHS naQ newer tNan OUU
books each: all are open but two or three
brief periods a week. and. all the service
is rendered by. volunteers.
More Money Needed.
The library has received certain small
Increases in it's appropriations almost ev-
cry year. 1t is evident. however, that
larger and more substantial Increases are
needed to put it on a good working basis
In view of the record the library has mads
and is making, it is apparent that its
work is carried ON and Increased in spite