Evening star., 1921-10-08


'The library force is now and al
ways has been too small in numbers
to do the increasing work which the
community demands of it. The IL
brarys circulation, the best measure
OF its usefulness. has increased every
year; but in recent years there has
oeen either no corresponding increase
o. lipraiy stan or no increase at all.
FOR the year now under consideration
tne force was not enlarged at ALL
though the circulation work of the
preceding year had increased 10 per
cent. Faced with the alternative of
enlargement Of staff or the closing
Of some essential library activity the
library trustees authorized the en-
ployment of seven additional persons
above those provided for by congress
slonal appropriations and devoted to
desk fund-mainly receipts from fines
collected for retaining books beyond
the designated time-ordinarily used
almost exclusively for the purchase
Of books.
Since but one additional employe
was provided in the current appro-
priations. the library trustees have
authorized the continuance CT such
employments from the desk fund for
the present fiscal year. But for next
propriations. since the opening Of two
new branches (for which staffs must
also be supplied) will compel in
creased work at the central libarry
In preparation Of stocks Of books for
these branches. in supplementing
them by loans and for the necessary
supervision at headquarters
Moreover, the desk fund money
VIII all be needed next year for this
iund's primary purpose of buying
to strengthen service The book needs
OF the main library will require not
only all Of the desk fund, but a large
increase of the regular book appro-
priations. Books are costing more.
and the two new branches are to be
equipped with their original stocks.
Extension Through Branches.
"The library trustees note with
grateful appreciation the appropria-
tion by Congress Of $4,000 for the
purchase Of site for a branch Ii
brary for Southeast Washington, and
legislation authorizing the accept
of not less than $4,000 for the erec-
ton OF the building. An admirable
site for the new branch has been
bought at the Intersection Of 7th and
d streets and South Carolina avenue
southeast, just off Pennsylvania ave-
yard car transfer point. The commits
sion to supervise the erection of the
branch library consists of the District
Engineer Commissioner. chairman;
the president of the library trustees
and the chairman of the committee
on branch libraries, with the public
librarian as secretary. Mr.. Edward
L. Tilton of New York is the archi-
tect of the branch library and the
plans for 1t are nearly ready for con-
sideration and approval by the Com
missioners. the library trustees. the
hI,t1 airc ,fect inn hA No
gle Corporation.
Seven branch libraries were recon-
mended in the librarians special re-
port of 1917. including the Takoma
branch. already in operation. En-
eouraged by securing the southeast.
the hearty cooperation of all book
loving Washington to secure an ade-
Quate congressional appropriation to
purchase a suitable site for third
branch library in Columbia Heights.
III Congress. following the south
propriate for sites for these needed
branches the library trustees will
appeal with confidence to the Car
negie Corporation to carry out Mr..
Carnegie's expressed intent ITO give
the money necessary to build oranch
ber to develop Wash1ngtons pubic
library system.
Libraries in School Buildings.
1.-THE library board, the school
board and the Commissioners have
long been committed in principle to
q plan by which the system of branch
Libraries in separate buildings should
be supplemented by system Of
branch Libraries in certain public
school buildings, chiefly suburban,
serving neighborhoods remote from
the central library and from the pro-
posed separate branch Libraries. AS
the school buildings have fallen far
short of meeting the need for school,
rooms. the school authorities have
been able to do but little to carry out
the program for library stations in
school buildings.
IA suitable room has been assign
ed for library uses in the new East
ern High School building. now under
construction. The board of education
and the superintendent of schools
are in hearty sympathy with the
project Of libraries in school build
ines, and their cooperation, subject
only to the Limitation of school exi-
gencies, is assured.
'.The public library in theory. in
fact and by the specific terms OF Its
organic act, 10 a supplement OF the
public educational system Of the Dis
frict. It suffers from inadequate sup
port, with all the other parts of this
system, and it will share the benefits
Of the better days at hand, In which
schools and library and the public
educational system of the District az
an entirety will receive the mainte-
nance and enjoy the progressive de-
yelopment which the community well