Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-30
IA BRANCH LIBRARY
Hearing by the House District
Committee.
FOR TAK0MA PARK PEOPLE
Arguments by Commissioner Maofar-
land and Others.
LIBRARIAN BoWERMATs PLEA
Reasons dvanced Why Authority
Be Granted the Commissioners to
Accept Site and Building.
LIBRARIAN BOWERMATs PLEA


The bill pending before Congress author
izing the Commissioners to accept dona-
ton of land from the people Of Takoma
Park and $4,000 from Mr.. Carnegie for
the purposes Of public branch library in
Takoma Park was today fully discussed
before a subcommittee Of the committee on
the District Of Columbia Of the House Of
Representatives. The subcommittee con-
sisted Of Representative Morrell, acting
chairman, and Representative Greene OF
Der of persons interested In the success Of
the branch library project present. repre-
senting the District government. the Public
Library and the town of Takoma.
Commissioner Mcfarland was the first
speaker, and he said the Commissioners
strongly recommend the passage of Senate
bill 64O6, which provides for the accept
ance OF the money for the library building
and for the site, and practically for its
maintenance by Congress when completed.
He referred to Mr.. Carnegie's original offer
to donate $4,000 for branch libraries in
the District of Columbia Such branch IL
braries, he said, are valuable additions to
the facilities of this city. Takoma, he said,
in which it is now proposed to provide such
W
ington Public Library, and 1t Is desirable
that the citizens there should have the ac-
commodation this proposed branch library
will give. He strongly favored the bill and
Of Takoma who had made 1t possible.
Questions of Mr.. Morrell brought out
the information that the lot purchased by
the people of Takoma for the proposed
been said that as Takoma Park is in COM
munication with the Public Library by
means of electric cars, there Is no great
necessity for library at the park. Mr..
that argument, as the town is remote
from the city, has population of $500
and the library facilities will extend to
1900 or 1890 people. 1t would accommo-
date Brightwood and Brightwood Park,
Petworth and other communities.
Librarian Bowerman's Statement.
Mr.. George F. Bowerman. librarian of the
Public Library, then submitted statement
to the committee.
1--WE appear before you today" he said,
Ito ask that you will secure the final
passage Of Senate bill 64O6, passed by the
Senate on June Is. 1906. to authorize the
acceptance of $4,000 from Mr.. Andrew
Carnegie with which to erect branch
library building at Takoma Park. D. c.,
on q suitable site which the citizens of
that suburb have contracted to convey to
the District Commissioners as soon as this
bill becomes law.
I'm order best to intr luce the subject to
you, permit me briefy 20 review the legis-
lative history Of the Free Public Library Of
the District of Columbia with especial refer
ence to the subject Of branch libraries, to-
gether with a few notes on the educational
work Of the library as q whole and the
place and work of branch libraries in q
proper scheme of library development here.
I'm the first place the act creating the
p,1hl IIJno z
provides that free public library and
reading room is hereby established and
shall be maintained in the District Of CO.
lumbia, which shall be the property OF the
said District and supplement of the public
system Of said District Sec
ton provides that all persons who are
permanent or temporary residents of the
District of Columbia shall be entitled to the
privileges of said library, including the use
of the books contained therein. as a lending
or a circulating library These two ex-
tracts set forth the main purpose of the
library. 1t shall supplement the local pub
lie educational system, chiefly by the cifcu-
lation of books into the homes of the
people.
How does the branch library Idea come
into this? In tine following way: Just as
at one time the work of the school educa-
ton of the District could be carried on in
one school house, but later, in order to be
effective, required many widely scattered
school houses. so the education OF the Dis
effective must be extended through branch
libraries. Our charter, the law referred to,
distinctly provides, as have said. that the
library shall be supplement Of the public
educational system. In order to carry out
this law, as well as to conduct the library
In the spirit of modern public library prac-
ttce, the library must make strong appeal
to the children. Schools are scattered so
that they will be within easy reach Of chill
dren SO as to reduce the dangers incident
to street cars, automobiles, etc. The same
should be true of the library. Also to make
1t most helpful to ADULTS the library should
be within easy reach Of homes and not re-
Quire a long ride at the close OF the days
work in order to reach 1t.
LAS you all know Washington is growing
rapidly and is spreading out In every direc-
the same population as the District Of Co
lumbia, including many much smaller and.
Of course. those that are larger. have recog-
nized that single central library is not suf-
f1cient and are rapidly building branch IL
braries either with funds raised by taxation
or with the help of money contributed by Mr..
Carnegie. In the case Of a number Of these
cities. from one-half to three-fOurths OF
their home circulation Is from their branch
libraries. Although the circulation of our
central library has shown large increase
during each of the last three years, the
present year shows a decided sfackening OF
that increase. which indicates that the
central library has about reached the limit
of the home circulation possible for It.
Many persons, though continuing to come
long distances, complain of the hardship;
and other residents of remote sections
never do come, though many Of them I'M
doubtedly would go to a library planted In
their midst.
Need for a System Of Branches.
''In order to show the great need for q
system Of branches let me briefly describe
the work of the stations the library has al
ready established in social settlements. Six
of these stations are already in operation,
a seventh has been authorized by the trus-
tees and applications for several others
are soon to be presented. These stations
are little groups of from 200 to 300 books
sent to social settlements. conducted by
volunteers and open an average of two
afternoons or evenings week. During the
year 1866 five of these stations (of which
one was not opened until about five and
another only two months before the close
Of the Year, circulated 8.265 books. These
stations are used almost exclusively by
children of the neighborhoods Immediately
about the settlements. The cramped quar-
tiers in which they are conducted are not
big enough to admit all the children who
would like to come. and 1t is generally out
of the question to admit adults.
a, lie ~