The Washington herald., 1907-10-06

George F. Bowerman, librarian, and the
board of trustees Of the District Public
Library yesterday submitted TO the Com
missioners their reports for the fiscal
year, accompanied by their estimates for
the next fiscal year ending June 80. 1903.
An appropriation Of S7S,960 is asked, an
increase Of $24.320 over that of last year
Included are the following new Offices:
Chief, circulation department, $500;
chief. order department. s., 200; chief cdta-
logue department, $3.50; cataloguer, $40;
two assistants at 500 each; three assist
ants at $50 each. two attendants at $500
each, and a library guard at S720. The
following increase Of salaries is recon-
mended. Librarian. from $3.000 to $4,000;
assistant librarian. from Sl,50O to $l.S00:
childrens librarian, from Si,009 to $1,200
librarians secretary. from $500 10 $1,000:
reference Librarian, from $1,000 10 $500;
five attendants, from $3.50 to $3.50 each;
1--WE attendants from $3.50 TO $40 each: twa
messengers, from $3.50 to $3.50 each, and
one engineer, from $500 to $1,000.
Other increases asked for are for the
book fund, $3.50; for binding. 500: for
contingent fund S,0cO. and for Sunday
/ opening. $500
Library Resources Increased.
The report shows that the library has
grown in resources from S4.557 volumes 10
92.9y7 volumes, q gain OF 10 per cent.
that the registered borrowers have in
/ creased from $500 10 i5.23l. a gain Of
Is per cent; that the home circulation
advanced from 43S O96 to 4Sl. .462. an in
Der OF visitors to the reference room
grew from n442S TO l23O59, or an in
crease Of 16 per cent.
Among the other improvements of the
year especially noted by the librarian
are the changing Of the hours of open
ing TO a. ms .. m. instead of 10
a. MO p. m, as heretofore: the as
slgnment Of an assistant to the iuforma-
tion bureau practically every hour dur
ing the day, the publication for free dis
trbUtion of a monthly bulletin Of new
/ accessi0ns: the establishment Of a col
lection Of pictures devoted to geography.
history, and art objects for use by schools
and clubs, and the display Of several
I tAllltlLLtiS III illt HtN tAHlulllOH cases
on the second floor
The reduction in the percentage Of fc-
tiOn, says the report, has been substau-
TALLY maintained the percentage this
year being 81 as against 6S for the year
previous. A marked increase is shown
also ia the use of magazines devoted 20
engineering and technology generally.
May Collect Trade Catalogues
Tt is proposed, FOR the information Of
merchants. manufacturers, engineers. and
mechanics. TO gather a collection of typi-
cal trade catalogues covering every i'm
portant manufacturing Industry, such as
catalogues of Office supplies. desks. furni-
ture, safes. automobiles, plumbers sup
plies. printing and binding machinery.
machine tools, &c.
Congress Is asked to accept the offer
Of Andrew Carnegie to donate whatever
money may be required from time to
time to build all necessary branch libra
res on the usual maintenance terms upon
which his gifts are conditioned. II the
| legislation fails in this Congress. il is
stated that the proposed donation (esli-
mated az &350OO will doubtless lapse.
In addition to more books, more assist
ants, and more branches. the improve
ment TO Mount Vernon Square is also
recommended.