Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-17

their meetings in the study rooms at the
right and left of this alcove. Much is
said nowadays of making the school the
social center, and the general organization
of parents and teachers associations has
followed as the first result of this agita-
ton. 1t is not desired that this branch
library shall in any way rival the local
public school, but rather that ii shall
hepfully cooperate with and supplement
it. But the library, too. desires to be
social or rather an intellectual center of
the life of this community. 1t therefore
offers this room. designed to be chill
dren'S room Ivy day and whenever needed
lecture or assembly hall at night, as a
meeting place for citizens associations
and other organizations. far they
are directed to public ends are de-
voted to study.
Guests Inspect Building.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Bowerman's
address an informal reception was held
and the guests given an opportunity to
inspect the building.
The new Takoma Park Library is locat-
ed at the corner of 9Th and Cedar streets,
central part of the park. The land,
which is S2x1lO feet, was purchased sew
eral years ago by popular subscription al
a cost OF 81 $40. Prior to the offer of An
drew Carnegie a small library, known as
the Takoma Club and Library, of which
Louis p. Shoemaker was president. was
organized and was popular among the
residents of the suburb. The club was
still in existence when Andrew Carnegie
made his offer of $4,000, which was
later increased to $4,000. for which con-
gressional action was necessary before it
could be accepted. After many defeats
the hill was finally passed and no time
lost in commencing the work.
Congress authorized the acceptance of
the money and plans were to he submit
ted to the District Commissioners and
the trustees of the Washington Public
Library for approval. 1t was then de-
cided that the library would not be open
ed until Congress provided the necessary
expense of maintaining it and that the
expense should not exceed In any one
year 10 per centum Of the total cost of
the building. Then Mr.. Carnegie came
over with another $4,000
The branch opened today with about
5000 volumes-40OO for adult readers and
1000 for children. The resources of the
branch are to be supplemented by de-
liveries from the central library. now
possessing about $4,000 volumes.
The branch will open on week days.
except Saturday, from to pm, and
Saturdays from Q am. to pm. The
childrens room will close at pm. Mon
days, Wednesdays and Saturdays, and
at pm. other days. The branch will be
closed Sundays and legal holidays.
The branch employees are Alice L. Rams
burg, branch librarian; Mary E. Bubb,
C0flQren HDrdflan, tlid T.. NlOrTlll, as
sistant, and Thomas Hungerford, janitor.
Benefit to Other Suburbs.
Not ony will Takoma Park be benefited
by this new library. but the residents Of
Brightwood, Brightwood Park. Sligo.
Whitecroft. Saurs subdivision, Petworth,
Park View and even residents as far
north as Forest Glen will patronize the
library.
The architects for the structure were
Marsh & Peter of this city. The building
has a frontage of fifty-eight feet and a
depth of eighty six feet. with the principal
entrance on Cedar street and an addi-
tional entrance from 9th street. for access
to the lecture hall. The exterior of the
library Is of colonial red brick in COM
bination with white stone.
The main reading room. t1lirty-flve by
fifty-f1ve feet, occupies the front of the
building. 1t Is planned with librarians
desk and receiving and distributing
counter In the center. From this point
the whole of the library floor can be con-
trolled.
In the rear Of the main reading room
and separated from 1t by wide sliding
doors is children's room, thirty-one by
thirty-fve feet. fitted with portable furni:
ture, which can be removed as occasion
requires to convert the space into a lee
ture hall. At the end of the lecture hall
there is an alcove with fireplace and
ana on edCl SlQe Oh the dlCOVc
there are smaller reading rooms. with
wide window openings SO arranged that
the spaces can be made into outdoor log
gias when desired.
The basement contains librarians rest
room, with a small kitchen adjacent. and
workroom, bookroom and living rooms
for the janitor Special attention was
given to the lighting, heating and venti-
lating systems. There are intercommu
nicating telephones and other modern de-
vices for the prompt and convenient oper-
alton of the library.
All Of the interior woodwork is of quar-
tered oak. finished in silver gray shade.
The decoration of the interior walls Is in
shades of ivory white and soft green. The
building is lighted by electricity and heat
ed throughout by steam.
The board of library trustees includes:
Theodore w. Noyes. president; Brainard
II. Warner, vice president; John b. Lar
ner secretary. Samuel w. Woodward r.
Ross Perry, Herbert Putnam, Charles J.
Bell and Wendell p. Stafford.
The committee on branches is as fol-
lows: Charles J. Bell, chairman; Brain
ard II. Warner, r. Ross Perry, George
F. Bowerman, librarian.
The Takoma Park branch building COM
mission Is made up of the following men,
bers: William v. Judson, chairman: Cuno
II. Rudolph, John A. Johnston, Charles ].
Bell and George F. Bowerman, secretary.