Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-19

Nearly a million books and pictures
,aned for homo use last year, or an
.verage Of four books loaned every
ainute. with sixty-four books added
sS5xy day to the Public Library, in an
H{yprt, to supply an information serv-
IS on every subject of human inter-
t6k are among the records Of achieve
faants In the Handbook Of the Public
library. just published for free dis
sHbdtion.
The book collection is reported as
numbering about 225,000 volumes.
%ith many special collections. such as
Socks for foreigners in dozen
don in regard to the city of WASH
ngton, historical, geographical and
Biographical; musical scores ana
looks on the theory OF music, chill
yell known illustrators. and all kinds
u up to : date information in5 clip
pings, pamphlets and periodicals.
torty-eight thousand mounted Pic
lures, dealing with art, history.
travel. nature, literature, etG, are
Llso available.
The educational service Of the Ii
Hary receives interesting testimony
letters from Mckinley High School
and Gallaudet College and in the
-
sfbrary's picture collection and travel
ng libraries The books for the latter
sre expertly selected to satisfy the
eeachers need of supplementary ma
.erial and to give the youngsters what
they will enjoy at the same time.
links with Community.
Howpa modern library links up with
all the life of the community is ap-
parent in the lists Of special bibliog-
raphies prepared at the request of
yhe4W Washington Society of Fine Arts
s. fbr the zoning commission, for ex-
ample. in the service rendered to
business men; the cooperation with
such organizations as the health de-
psrtwent, public schools, settlements,
and in the use of the study rooms
and lecture halls by clubs.
Libraries do much more work than
appears at the charging desks or in
the reading rooms That there is a
large business side in the conduct of
q library is clearly indicated by the
reports of the departments which deal
with the purchase of books and with
their cataloguing and repair and bind
ing. The catalogue is essential as an
index to the resources of the library.
renders libraries posi- ble," DR.. Spot
ford, former librarian of Congress, is
quoted as saying.
I Washington has one branch library,
U4EQateQ IN IakOma Park, which, be-
G9des the usual activities, serves as a
Sonmunity center where exhibits of
Aowers and vegetables and all manner
~ meetings are held.
Six Additional Branches.
Why Washington should have but
one branch when sthfrty-four other
cities In the United States with a
OF 100000 or over have an
average of fourteen is explained in
the section of the handbook dealing
With the Hbrary's future. A plan for q
eystem to include six additional
braf1hes in separate buildings and
thirSy-four in public schools has been
made at the request of former Dis
frict Commissioners, and soma money
Tor buildings is available from the
Carnegie Corporation This may mot
be used, however, until Congress-
authorizes its acceptance and grants
appropriations for maintainingS the
Branches. This extension of distffbut-
ing centers Is required to place library
facilities within easy access of WASH
tnftonians living in the various sec
tfons of the city.
Washing tonians, the handbook sux-
rests. would find desirable channels
for requests and endowments through
the library. whose democratic service