Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-10-28
LIBRARY IS VISITED
::BYCOMM|SS|ONERS
Wednesday Closing on Day of
Tour. Reveals Need of
Larger Fund.

Need for a larger appropriation for
the operate on. of the Public Library
was forcibly presented to the Com
missi oners yesterday. afternoon when
they went to the institution on a tour
of inspection.
Because of the shortage of funds
this year, Librarian George F. Bower
man has found it necessary to close
the building at 3 o'clock on Wednes-
day afternoons.
The city heads arrived shortly be-
fore 3 O'Clock and found men, women
and children, eager for knowledge and
recreation, seated in the reading
rooms and others drawing out books.
A few minutes later they heard the
sounding of gong. notice to the
readers that they must leave. The
been alive with seekers after -knowl-
edge, was deserted in mid afternoon.
Impressed by Efficiency.
Engineer Commissioner Kutz, be-
cause of his long service in the Dis
trict government, needed no introduc-
ton to the numerous sections and
activities of the Public Library. Miss
Mabel T. Boardman and J. Thilman
Hendrick. the new Commissioners,
were visibly impressed by the COM
pleteness and efficiency of the insti-
tuition.
DR.. Bowerman endeavored to show
the Commissioners in the short time
they had to spare the many features
of the library.
The Commissioners were particularly
interested in the hbrarys collection of
writings and statistics on municipal gov
ernment and problems.
Efforts have been made in past years
without avail to have Congress pro-
vide for the establishment of munic-
ipal reference branch of the library IN
the District building. Without a munic-
marked progress in collecting municipal
data from all parts of the country, and
these are frequently referred to by Dis
trict officials in meeting local questions.
Favors Branches
Discussing his visit to the library.
Commissioner Hendrick expressed his
approval today Of the movement to eS-
tablish more branch libraries in the
various sections of the city. At present
the library has only one on >, up-to-date
'It seems highly desirable. especially
for the children, to take the library
facilities into the neighborhoods, rather
than have boys and girls travel to the
main building in the heart OF the city,
1t was unnecessary for the librarian
to tell the Commissioners of the need
for higher salaries for library employees.
this question having been presented to
them before.
Urges More Branches.
There is no question in my mind
but that it would be good thing for
the city if we could establish more
branch Libraries in the neighbor-
hoods,' said Miss Boardman.
''Of course, the person who is seek
ing definite information on any sub
ject has an advantage. in the large
collection at the central library. but
the branches would be of great serv-
ice to people who cannot get down
town easily and also to the children"
Miss Boardman said she was i'm
pressed by the progress the library
has made in assembling books and
data on technical and educational sub
jects. She said she was glad to find
that the library has a research branch
devoted to municipal governments and
problems.
Another feature Of the library in
which MISS Boardman took particular
interest was the system by which
books are classified for school children
according to their advancement in
nehona and enacial ~st16ie6.