Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-03

library. 1T cost our library IL cents per
volume Tin 1910 to- circulate its DOCKS
into Washington homes. In only Two
cities was the cost per volume less; the
average cost in the twenty-seven cities
was III. cents per volume.
In addition to their demonstrations of
the need for Increased appropriations for
this library
Takoma Park whole and their
Branch Library. and economical ex-
penditure Of the funds Entrusted TO them'
the library trustees point out conclusive
~ the necessity for the separate appro-
priation of the full sum of $1,000 Tor the
maintenance of the new Takoma Park
branch, i'll place of 81. 5tO. the total ap-
preparation for the present year for that
branch. Such an expenditure is shown
TO be required both to enable the library
trustees the Commissioners and Congress
to keep faith with Mr.. Carnegie in re-
speCt to the annual maintenance pro-
vision of 10 per cent of the cost of the
building attached condition OF the
acceptance of the gift and in effect
agreed to by the passage of the act au-
thorizing the erection of the building; and
also an absolutely imperative need for
the running of the branch library. The
present appropriation is only SUFFICIENT TO
keep the branch open three days week
and even that involves draft on the IN
adequate resources of the main library,
which serves further TO cripple its work.
The library trustees disclose that the
appropriation of less than $1,000 per an
mum for the maintenance of the TakOma
branch involves not simply failure to
meet Washington's obligations to MIR.
Carnegie. the Gripping of the branch and
an unwarranted drain on the insufficient
ly supported central library, but brings
to Standstill the campaigns for other
branch libraries in the District. If in
stead of making a liberal increase in the
support of the central library its re-
sources are actually reduced by throw
ing upon II part of the expense of main
tanning additional branches. the efficiency
OF the main library will he impaired and
every new branch will become handi-
cap, resulting in poorer work both at the
central library and at the branch.
The trustees report that during the year
the suburbs of Erookland, Tenleytown
and Congre
Applications by Heights made Wig
Other Suburbs, Sr~aS enHea nors .or
that the two latter offered free sites and
that Congress Heights secured the intro
duction in the Senate of a bill authoriz-
ing the erection of a thirty thousand
dollar Carnegie branch library building.
In response to request from the Com
missioners for their views on this bill the
library trustees forwarded to us the fol-
lowing resolutions. covering what they
regard as the most vital questions in
VOWED in the future development of the
local public library:
First. The Public Library trustees
have long been convinced that the Public
Library can without branches render ade
qudte service to only a portion of its
natural constituency: that its benefits
should he extended TO all citizens of the
District through carefully planned sys-
tenn of properly distributed branch Ii
braries, and that for the housing of such
branches the money offered in 1903 by
Andrew Carnegie for the erection of
branch library buildings should be &C
cepted by Congress.
Second. But are convinced even
more thoroughly that We should not be
justified in recommending the establish
ment of any more branch libraries until
the organization on which the library
system must depend for its success is put
upon a stronger basis of financial sup
port. That is, we reaffirm our belief that
the basic appropriation for the Public Lii
brary must be readjusted and establish
ed on a surer and more adequate founda-
ton than has heretofore been provided
before We should enlarge our obligations
by undertaking to conduct new branches
However earnestly We desire to conduct
a system of branches, we believe that
the question of prior and supreme i'm
portance is the strengthening of the main
library organization by the enlargement
Of the force. and especially by the pay
ment of better salaries.
Third. We believe, also, that no more
Carnegie branches should be accepted I'M
til Congress meets the obligations as
stunned in the separate acceptance Of ne
building for the Takoma Park branch
library to appropriate for the annual
maintenance 10 per cent of the cost Of
the building We believe that the needs
of branch library maintenance require
that the 10 per cent basis should be q
minimum rather than a