Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-17
BOOKS FOR TAK0MA
Branch of Washington Public
Library Opened Today.
ANDREW CARNEGIE'S GIFT
Citizens Donated Site Upon Which
Building Stands.
DEDICATED LAST EVENING
DEDICATED LAST EVENING
KEYS Turned Over to Chairman Bell
of the Committee on Branches.
!
Serves Studious Community.

zThc formal opening of tho Takoma
Fax branch Of the Washington Public
Library occurred last evening at 8
o'clock and was one of the most aus
aicious events in the history of that sub
lrrb. The exercises were held in the main
reading room. its seating capacity being
sized long before the exercises began.
Pho speakers platform was decorated
With large jarotin1eres of chrysanthenums
III various colors, which blended with
he ivory-colored walls with excellent re-
suits A representative audience was
crescent. including a number of Wash
iagtonians who are interested in library
york
Theodore w. Noyes. president of the
hoard of library trustees. presided. After
rte invocation by Rev. Thomas c. Clark
o. D., pastor of the Takoma Park Pres
hyterian Church, Mr.. Noyes delivered a
short address. briefly describing how the
donation for branch libraries came to be
made by Andrew Carnegie and the eff
forts to secure from Congress authority
tor accept the donation and to build branch
libraries.
Letter FROM Mr.. Carnegie.
Mr.. Noyes read a letter from Mr.. Car
negie in response to the invitation to
be present
The letter from Mr. Carnegie to Mr.
Bowerman follows:
Many thanks for your gracious invi-
tation to be present at the library OPEN
ing. Mrs. Carnegie and 1 should like to
accept. but we have just returned and
ind that my engagements are pressing
{ fear that / shall be needed here to APP
pear before the government commission
AT the time named for the opening of the
library. ] wish you would congratulate
the people of TAkoma Park on my be-
half on the opening of the branch free
library. which l am sure IL to prove a
fountain from which only blessed waters
can flow. While IL is their province to
thank the donor. 1t is his good fortune to
Know how much more blessed 1t is to give
than to receive So l have the better of
the citizens of Takoma Park In that re-
spect'
Continuing his remarks, Mr.. Noyes said
that the first effort of the library trus-
tees was to obtain from Congress a gen.
'sTal acceptance Of Mr.. Carnegie's branch
library offer; bur the Senate refused, and
il became necessary to secure the author
ization of branches one by one. Among
the twenty applicants for the honor of
selection site of the first branch of
the Washington Public Library, Takoma
Park was chosen. The local need and
Il
lad been conc1usively demonstrated by
the creation and maintenance here of q
viption-sustained library to which
IWblic~ spirited citizens devoted money
lime, energy and anxious thought. The
enlight,ned public spirit from which this
subscription library sprang constituted
q guarantee that Takoma Park could be
VI Evidently relied upon to furnish the
: ~ and 10 cooperate heartily in the
taintena &c Of a branch of the Wash
sgton Public Library in a building sup
Egie. This confidence had been fully
dedicated. Talpomas energetic repre-
sntatives. i'm addition TO effective CO.
VIBRATION in she work Of securing branch
{rary legisla ton. had successfully ten
Erred two suitable sites for library pur-
uses, including that upon which this
renvenient md attractive building has
zen erected
!. Branch Is Appreciated.
at the conc lusion Of his remarks Mr.
Ypyes introduced Col. Gilbert C. Knifln.
representing the citizens Of Takoma
ARK. who donated the lot for tho library.
sCoL Kniffn spoke. in part. as follows:
v!It would be impossible to find q place
tGon the map OF the United States where
e1ibrary such - that we are now dedi-
oRting would be more highly appreciated.
nm this lie an unusually moral and intel
hgent community. There are scientists
here who travel To the uttermost parts of
9Ie earth TO bring TO the great granary
Of the United States the choice grains
plants. fruits and flowers of other coun-
tries for propagation upon American soil
Most OF our men are clerks in the de-