Evening star., 1921-07-24

= The announcement mas recently Ueeus
made that a second branch Of the public
library will be erected during the
coming year at 7th and D streets
southeast. Just on Pennsylvsnia ave-
nue.. The description Of the new East
ern High School building In The Star OF
July 10 indicated that branch OF the
public library 10 to be housed In fine
room on the ground floor there.
The people OF Southeast Washington
residing north and west Of the Ana
costa and Pennsylvania avenue bridges
are from two to three miles from the
central building Of the public library on
Mount Vernon Square, but when these
two new branch libraries are In opera
ton, a year hence, they will have easier
sccess, without expense for car fare. to-
public library facilities than Is enjoyed
by any Washingtonians except those
who live in the vicinity OF the central
library. Indeed. they should In certain
respects be better on even than those
located near the main library which
has for many years been 30 congested
by readers - to make 1t dimcult for
tho library staff to give the best service.
These branch libraries will have their
own stocks Of books. and in addition
viii be able to draw on all the rich re-
sources Of the central library. II by ap-
adequate permanent stocks
Of books and staifs sufficient In numbers
and properly paid are furnished. these
new branches will speedily become
object lessons, for they will show what
iihrary facilities and service should be
sunpiied to other sections Of the DIS.
trict by means Of separately housed
ia other public school buildings.
= ,.'
-
That Washington II In q most unen-
viable condition In the matter Of library
facilities within easy access OF homes
a compared with other cities may be
illustrated by the experience Of one OF
Wsshinston's distinguished new resi-
dents. Because the case u believed 10
be typical the Circumstances are worth
re,a ting. DR.. Edwin q. slosson, one OF
the editors Of the Independent. = pro-,
fsssor In the School Of Journalism OF
Columbia University and author OF sew
sral books. including his noteworthy
Creative Chemistry" recently moved
TO this city to take an important execu-
tive position with ono Of the numerous
non.royerumsntal foundations, 30 many
of which are being established IN wash
iurton. Both Dr.. slosson and Mrs.
s,ossou are highly eaucated-as are
snch a larre proportion Of Washington's
,opulation. books and, reading are es-
ssntial parts Of their daily lives: HOW
well are their reading want: met! Ley
the question be answered BY . letter
just received from Dr.. Slosson Ia
"Comins to Warrington from New
York, I am painfully struck BY the nck
Of library facilities. In New York city
we have . library building. reading room
and good stock Of reference works ana
circulating books within . very snort
I came back 10 New York from my arst
visit to washington and told Ars: slos-
Ton that had bought q house et Aanier
place. her first question was how close
Il the nearest branch Mbraryr told
her that I had not noticed, but tnat
I'M Hwt vhsn she came down and found
that there Wns no branch library and
thst to ret to the public library took
a couple OF hours time and 1e cents
in car fare, she was much disappointed.
AZ Il II, we mostly rely upon the corner
drug store. which has . small range OF
dashy fiction.
Libraries ought to Dc - acceaa1ie
~ grocery stores and drug stores II the
mind n u important - the. body.
Yours very truly,
EDWIN e. sLossoN."