Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-01
LIBRARIES.

The passage of legislation by Congress
to allow the establishment of branch
public library at Takoma Park was the
chief event Of the year affecting the
public libraries of the District Through
the congressional action an offer of An
drew Carnegie to give $4,000 for the
establishment o. branch library at
Takoma PART was accepted on behalf of
residents of the National Capitalization
which the trustees of the Public Library
had been urging for several years. Soon
after the passage of the act the prepare
ton of the plans for the new building and
it's equipment was begun, and it is ex-
pected that before another six months
rolls around the thousands OF residents
in Takoma Park and that vicinity will be
using handsome library at 9TH and
Cedar streets. Takoma Park, site pur-
chased by public subscription.
A very urgent need for more money to
enable the Public Library to meet the de-
ma nds Of the Districts residents for books
to read and study and to keep it up to its
present high standard and rank among
municipal libraries throughout the coun-
try was set .Orth in the annual report of
Librarian George F. Bowerman and of
ton was found in the fac; that the
library's activity. measured by home cir
culation. had increased in the year from
July l, 1903, to June 20, 1910. = per cent,
for it was pointed out the gain in the
previous year was % per cent The lack
Of funds with which to add to the
library's equipment and to keep it's eff
cient employees was held to be largely re-
sponsible.
The Public Library officials. however.
II -nrd off, y,I, xio,,
tastes of its patrons. setting forth that
81 per cent more people than ever before
We're reading books of practical nature
The library, 1t was reported. now has
121 .OO volumes, u ,2O4 registered borrow
ers and home circulation of COB, O61
books in year.
Blind Library Transferred.
The removal of the library for the blind
from the Library of Congress to the
Public Library was another event of
importance during the year. More room
for those who attend the entertainments
for the blind is available at the Public
Library.
The hand some new library of Howard
University, gift of Andrew Carnegie.
was dedicated with much ceremony April
p. President Taft. Mr.. Carnegie and
many others OF prominence participated
in the formal opening exercises.
One of the improvements of the year at
the Public Library was the provision of
better quarters for the children's library
The reading room for boys and girls was
moved from the basement to the second
floor, where better light, better ventilation
and more room were available. and the
change has been followed by a greater
use Of the iibrary's facilities by children
Additions tc the collection of books in
the Library e Congress during the last
few years, according to the annual report
of the librarian recently made public. in
dictate that 1t will soon be the largest
library in tie world. In number Of
volumes II IS now surpassed by the Brit
ish Museum and the Biblotheque Ma
tionale. blu. the number of new books
added each year to the Washington col
lection is Much larger than the number
Of additions 1T either Of the others.