Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-10-14
Este b. 'MAilHPayable in Advance.
MARI land and Vir1infa.
The Public Library.

washingtunianS have pride in their
CIVIC institutions. They will find mat
ter Goth for Qualification and concern
in..the annual report of the Public
Library trustees and the libraria n
filed with the District Commissioners.
They have ample cause for pride in
the size and quality of the library S
collections and in the educational char
acter of the service described in the
main portion of the report, which this
year takes the form of handbook for
library users.
On the other hand there is matter
for deep concern in the lack of AIDE
Guate appropriations. which is serl-
ously handicapping the development OF
the work. The central library has
been forced to, close Wednesdays at
Pm. during the past year and must
continue to do so until July. 1921. at
least: practice only found in country
villages and distinctly inappropriate
in the National Capital.
Washington, though a city of over
~. 900 population. has one branch
only. as compared with fourteen, the
average in the thirtyfour other cities
in the United States having a popula-
ton of .oO 900 or more. This. in spite
Of the fact that Mr.. Carnegie had Of
fered an ample fund for branch build
ings. dependent only upon the library 8
receiving for maintenance from public
funds a minimum of 10 per cent of
the cost Of each building. and upon
its securing in some way suitable
site for each building. The Carnegie
Corporation will no doubt provide the
funds needed for branch buildings
when the authority for acceptance and
maintenance can be secured from Con-
gress Branches situated throughout
the city enable the busy citizen of
limited time to take advantage of
the library's resources. A movement
has been on foot since 1918 to estab-
lish branch in Southeast Washing
ton. 1t should be carried through as
rapidly az possible and be followed
by others located in the more popu-
lous sections. Of the city to meet the
double purpose of relieving the con-
gestion at the central library and of
giving better service. -
, But most serious of the limitations
is the fact that the library staff is
overworked and grossly underpaid and
totally inadequate in numbers to meet
the demands OF the present work. I'm
mediate relief OF; this condition Is i'm
perative. /,
In these days OF swiftly changing
thought and rapidly moving events.
a city without proper facilities for
the dissemination Of knowledge is as
unsafe as was the city Of the middle
ages without fortress or. walls The
Public Library iis not an improved in
stitution to be supported grudgingly:
1t has a record Of effective and help
full service to the eofnmnnity- extend
more than 81 900 registered users and
it reaches besides thousands of Wash
ington's children through loans of
books to school ,classrooms. Its growth
and the extension of it's usefulness
are limited only by. necessary funds.
Now, that the wal, is thing of the
past it is time to make liberal pro.
visions for educational Institutions TIC
save on the support Of schools and
libraries is to spend more on juvenile
courts, reformatories and other cor.
rectional institutions: -.