Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-04
Trustees Point Out Needs of
Public Library.
OFFICE STAFF TOO SMALL
Increased Pay for Librarians Is Also
Recommended.
WORK TO ESTABLISH BRANCHES
Earnest Efforts to Get Bill Through
Congress Outlined in Report
to Commissioners.

Developing along all lines and increas-
ing popularity with both adults and
school children are the features in the
record OF the Public Library for the fiscal
year which was over June 80 last. as
shown by the annual report of the board
of trustees submitted to the Commission
crs through President Theodore w.
Noyes.
\ total OF SS3,120, or an increase OF
s2449o over the appropriation for 19OS-O9,
is desired for the next fiscal year. Last
winter Congress allowed S5s,G50 for the
library after the trustees had submitted
an estimate of S7S96o. The increase for
next year, as desired by the trustees. is
embraced in the following items: New
officers. increases in the salaries of pres
ent officers, employment of substitutes
and other temporary service, Sunday
evening opening. purchase of new books,
binding and the contingent fund
The trustees have the following to say
on the important question of branch Ii
braries:
THE wonderful growth in public use of
the central library, far outstripping the
increase in number of volumes ana IN
size of library force. makes Such strong
and reasonable demands upon the funds
levidently years must pass before the
main library will be so strengthened ana
equipped as to meet fully and SAUSAGE
torily the public demands upon it and 10
permit the diversion of funds necessary
10 branch library extension on a large
scale.
Mr.. Carnegie's Offer.
development of. the main library will
for next year and for several years al
most monopolize attention But while II
will not be practicable in the near future
to do much in the actual building ana
maintenance of branch libraries, it will
be the height of folly for those to whose
care the library's interests are lntrusted
to neglect to seize the opportunity oHereo
by Mr.. Andrew Carnegie to secure at TINS
time an ample building fund available for
such branches whenever in the future
they may be needed and whenever the
District is. in the opinion of Congress,
able 10 maintain them.
Mr. Carnegie in 1903 offered, In
addition to his gift of the present Public
Library building. to give whatever amount
of money was necessary teStlmateu at
$3.50 900 or more) to build branch libraries
in the District from time to time when
called upon to do so by the trustees of the
library. such branches to be maintained.
like the main library, by municipal ap-
preparation.
.oThis offer is still outstanding. but I'M
accepted. Since 1903 the trustees have
endeavored to get from Congress-the
Districts national. state and city leSisla-
ture all in one-such action as would De
equivalent to acceptance OF the oner anu
would render the branch building fund
available, however long the limited finan-
cial means of the District and the neceS-
slty of first fully developing the central
library might postpone the actual erection
of branches.
The report then tells of the passage by
the House of bill H. r. 14O4S in the fifty
eight Congress and its failure In the
Senate.
The Takoma Park Bill.
The trustees next sought acceptance OF
the offer in respect to a single branch.
The bill as submitted by them on these
lines" continues the report. was passed
by the Senate June IS, 1906 and reads
as follows:
AN act to authorize the Commission
ers of the district of Columbia 10 accept
donations of money and land for the es-
Enlistment of a branch library in the
District of Columbia. to establish COM
mission to supervise the erection of
branch library building in said District
and 10 provide tor the suitable MAIN
tenance of said branch.
BE il enacted by the Senate and
House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled.
That the Commissioners OF the District
y,
authorized to accept from Andrew Car
negie a donation not exceeding $4,000
for the purpose of erecting a suitable
branch library building at Takoma Park,
subject to the approval OF the Commits
sioners and the public library trustees.
and to accept conveyance of urincumber-
ed land considered suitable by the said
Commissioners and library trustees a
site for branch library for Takoma
Park. And authority is hereby confer
red upon a commission. to consist of the
Commissioners of the District of Column
bia. the chairman of the committee on
branch libraries OF the library trustees,
and the librarian of the Washington Pub
lie Library TO supervise the erection of
said branch library building: Provided
that such branch library building shall
not be opened for public use until Con-
gress shall hereafter provide for the
necessary expenses OF maintaining said
branch library when the same shall be
completed and ready for such use
'Takoma Park was selected as the loca-
ton of the first branch library on account
of its remoteneSs from the central library
and on account of the excellent site for a
library building which philosophical cit
liens of the suburb have bought and do
mated for this public use.
Died in the House.
The bill thus passed by the Senate
died in the House District committee in
the Fifty ninth Congress. 1t was later
submitted to the present Congress; again
PASSED by the Senate and is again ap-
parently dying in the District committee
which seems to hesitate to give to the
House of the Sixtieth Congress the op-
portunity TO pass upon a proposition
whichthe House of the Fifty-eighth Con-
gress on even broader lines approved
The trustees appeal for hearty public
cooperation in a vigorous effort to pass
through the House District committee and
In the House of the approaching session
or Congress this bill, already approved by
the Senate of this Congress and accepted
In principle by the House Of the Fifty
eighth Congress.
Work for Early Decision.
Until the central library is adequately
developed and sustained the work of es-
tablishins branches will proceed slowly.