Evening star., 1922-12-09
item 10 carried IN the District budget
just eent to CongreSA
Plan fNR lNh0nl RrnnehAa.

item 10 carried in the District budget
just sent to Congress-
Plan for scAoel Branches.
1.-THE Mount Pleasant branch should
session Of Congress and thus the next
stop will be taken. We ought also
promptly to be enabled to build
branches in Northeast washington,
In deorsetown. In Southwest Wash:
Circle. in accordance with the plans
approved by the library trustees for
the development OF the system OF
separate branch libraries.
But the plan just outlined does
not make provision for branch library
service to suburban communities.
The program adopted jointly by the
board Of library trustees and the
board OF education. and cordially ap-
proved by the District Commissioners.
Of smaller branches in certain
suburban school buildings. both white
and colored. to the end that the en-
tire population of the District of Co
iumbia may have library service
Of their homes one such branch we
expect to have in the new Eastern
February.
Need More Books and Workers.
But 1t is necessary not simply to
provide for tho physical equipment
OF these libraries; they must also
nave ample stocks OF books and par
library workers. who ought to be
paid good salaries instead Of the
unjustly low salaries now provided.
FOR example, we ought not to be
compelled to close the main library
every eve we Wednesday at 3 pm. as we
Of shortness Of force. We ought. in
stead of opening this branch at the
restricted hours to be announced. to
ne able to open 1t daily from to 3.
We ought not, as is now the case
70 pay such low salaries here as we
strictions in the appropriation act.
we ought not to be compelled to
open this branch with only about
5000 valumes on its shelves Instead,
we ought to have here the $4,000
pie.
But properly to do the work of
the main library. where we are des
perately understaffed. properly to
maintain our two present branches,
properly to prepare for the future
We hope lies Just ahead, it is abso.
iutely essential that large increases
In appropriations for Public Librarv
maintenance be made
AL present the library expenditures
are about $4,000 a year. or an an
population Of the District Of about
Library Association. the national
body OF 5000 libraries. Librarians and
library trustees has gone on record
az believing that the minimum annual
ipal public library serviice-not the
best-is 81 per capita. A number
OF the larger American cities closely
approximate this figure. and one large
city, Cleveland. already spends $l.0s
per capita. Several smaller cities
spend nearly $3.50 per capita on their
Urges More Funds.
IF Washington could have, instead
Of $150.000 a year. $437.0 a year COR
increases beyond that figure as the
population expands, the dreams had
eighteen years ago, dreams which are
shared by the board Of library trus-
tees. and which will. hope. be
haired by the entire population OF
even by Congress Itself. would be
realities. and then We could go for
ward and give to Washingtonians the
public library service that they SO
much appreciate. and could perhaps
make OF our public library system
model for other cities to follow. I ask
this audience to help to make these
dreams come true"
Invocation BY Rev. johnson.
Following the invocation by Rev.
F.. w. Johnson. pastor of Grace Bap-
tist Church, the formality Of trans
fering 1.-The keys" of the structure to
the library trustees was performed
by Col Keller. Il have been engaged
during the pas. week @ In this business bus. IS
real buildings" the Engineer Com
missioner said. in referring to the
of public school buildings
recently. "and ] assure you all that
the District authorities have no more
agreeable duty than building struc-
Col. keller characterized the libray
branch just opened as a real gem.
complimenting Edward L. Ttlton OF
New York: the architect. and Arthur
work. The builders. he added. must
be given credit for having put into
tho edifice more than they were paid
to put in, including not only en-
thusiasm Of endeavor. but genuine
concrete additions out OF their own
pockets.
Hopes for Less Delay.
Mr.. Bell in accepting 'the keys"
stated that the southeastern branch
library will add not only artistically
to the community. but will comprise
an important educational adjunct. II
hope" he remarked. that 1t won't be
another eleven years before ! have
the pleasure of receiving the keys to
the next branch
Calling attention to the interest Of
local civic. educational and commu-
nifty bodies in the acquisition OF the
branch library, Mr.. Noyes introduced
A, G. Hermann, president of the
Southeast Washington Citizens Asso-
citation: DR.. Charles M, Emmons.
president of the East Washington
Citizens Association: H: 7: Wheeler.