Evening star., 1922-12-19
Demand 0VERRONS
|SOUTHEASTL|BRARY
New Branch Forced to Draw
on Central Supply in
First Ten Days.
CLAM0R AMONG CHILDREN
Little Folks Stand in Line, While
Issuances Average $50
Volumes Daily.

Demand for books, particularly
those Of juvenile character. has
reached such proportions at the new
ly-opened Southeastern Branch Ii
brary. 9TH and D streets and South
Carolina avenue southeast, that off,
cials have been forced to supplement
the supply with volumes from the
already inadequate resources of the
central library. at eth and X streets
northwest. 1t was learned today.
An average of $50 volumes has cir
culated daily since the library opened
for business on Saturday. December
9. This average would have been
larger, according TO DR.. George f.
Bowerman. public librarian. had the
juvenile supply not given out.
The branch began with about 1000
volumes. 1858 of which were juvenile.
These were supplemented during the
first week bv 200 additional adult
fiction and 400 juvenile books 6or-
rowed from the insufficient supply OF
the main library.
In the middle of Saturday after
noon last. the busiest hours for chill
dren's patronage. there were 1OS Ju-
vcnile books left. OF this number the
majority were books useful for read
ing In connection with certain topics
Of school work not at that time be-
ing studied and not of interest for
general reading. Dr. Bowerman en-
phasized. When ten books were re-
turned and taken into the chtldren's
room about twenty children gathered
about the table. hoping to secure one.
Borrowing More Books.
a thousa nd more Juvenile books are
being borrowed from the main IL
brary. They can scarcely be spared.
Dr. Bowerman pointed out.
seething masr OF boys and girls,
standing in line to be registered for
library cards. OF the total registra-
ton for the week of e49 two-thirds
have been children and cne-third
adults. Among the adult registration
have been largely represented navy
yard employees and their wives.
There has been a marked sense of
apprecia tion and proprietorshlp on
the part of all who visited the
branch" said Miss Frances l.. Os-
borne. in charge of the branch il
hrary Every one comments upon
how much 1t means to have library
here. 1t Is the first thing that has
been done for the adults of the com
munity.' remarked one visitor The
children have had Fairgrounds. scout
organizations and settIement aettv-
itics. but nothing has been done for
the pleasure and profit Of the adult
community.
"A principal and teacher from
neighboring schools have tried to ar
range for instruction in the use Of
possible at this time to do so. al
though 1t is regarded as essential.
owing TO the pressure OF the branch.
Every one who has used the branch
seems to be book hungry" the Off
cials explain. The character OF read
spite of the confusion of lines OF
children waiting to be registered.
chairs and window seats have been
filled with boys and girls absolutely
absorbed in their books. Some OF
them STAYED all day Saturdays and
for hours at time after schooi on
other days.
One of the teachers said that
child told her she had taken home
book Of fairy stories and every men,
Der Of the family had read II.
.'The children like good things. and
IL is pathetic to see their pleasure in
books with pretty and colored Illus
trations." Miss Osborne said.
"Reading by adults has heen sus-
tanned. although more largely for nc
ton than non-tiction. The demand.
however. Is not for the latest best
seller but for a good book. There
has been a fair use of technical hooks
and a good demand for reading re-
ouired for high schoo! work. The
reference collection has been well
used by teachers and students.
The regular staff appointed numbered
four professional workers. 1t has been
necessary to make one additional ap-
poin,ment, to keep three students there
all the time on overtime hours. to loan
the library guard and part-time pages
and various experienced members OF
the central library staff. although doing
SO crippled the regular work at the main
library.
Composing the staff of the southeast
ern branch, in addition to Miss Osborne.
are: Katherine L. Greenwood, first as
sistant: Dorothy L. Leetch, chi!dren's
librarian; Janet McCloud, assistant:
Herbert S. Dornin, page. and Carl ..
Urban, janitor.