Evening star., 1922-12-28

NEEDS SET FORTH
DR.. George F. B0Werman
Explains Conditions to
Association.
LACK OF VOTES CITED
Declares Institution Must Be Re-
garded as Integral Part of
Education.

Special Dispatch to The Star
CHICAGO, December 2S.-The vote
less condition of the residents of
Washington. ID. c., was explained to
the council of the American Library
Association today by Dr. George +.
Bowerman. librarian of the Public Lii
brary of the National Capital. The
council began a three day session to-
lay. with public librarians of the
country in attendance.
DR.. Bowerman opened the discus
sion on the days topic, the question
of library support. Mentioning two
handicaps not encountered by other
librarians. DR.. Bowerman said that
not only have the people Of Wash
ington no votes of any sort whatever.
no representatives in Congress. but
that the people there are not even
permitted to use their own tax money
for school and library support until
Congress votes 10 appropriate it.
No Direct Personal Interest in Library
congressman, their wives. children
and clerks and their families get all
of their books from the Library of
Congress. and that, too, delivered at
their doors. and so have no direct
personal intereStin the Public Lii
brary," Dr. Bowerman said. I'm this
respect the Public Library is worse
off than the schools, for some con-
cressmen and their clerks have chill
dren in the schools. and to that extent
are personally interested in seeing
that Washington has good schools.
obviously we in the District of
Columbia should have the right to
vote for President and Vice President.
and should. at the very least, have in
Congress voting representatives and
one senator. I ask my professional
colleagues to help in securing the
constitutional amendment required to
give us these fundamental rights"
Proceeding to the psychological
handicaps fairly common to most
communities, the speaker stated that
public libraries are rather generally
early libraries had rich endowments
and because it is not generally un-
derstood that Carnegie benefactions
do not cover maintenance. -.
Results Less Tangible.
Most legislators and aldermen have
| made successes withou. library ad-
vantages. Older teachers do not ap-
preciate need of library facilities" he
said. THE results of library educa-
ton are less tangible than school edu-
| cation. which leads directly to gain
full occupations. Librarians do not al
ways insist on training standards,
and often do not discriminate be-
tween professional and clerical en-
ployes. Librarianship is still often
regarded as a congenial. sheltered oc-
cupation, and that compensation oues-
tions should be disregarded.
mechanical features are too much
in evidence and holders of purse
strings are not made to understand
the educational service rendered
Librarians and trustees lack courage
and are too apologetic in asking for
funds and too often go ahead and do
work without necessary funds. There
is too great lack of defined stand
ards of library service, costs and ap-
propriate salaries.
"As remedies" the speaker said
librarians and trustees must first
themselves correctly conceive of the
public library as an integral part of
education. just as essential to public
welfare as the schools, must have
courage to demand as right the
ample support required to do the
library's large work
Get Away From Charity.
Get the library away from the gift
Or charity idea. Endowments should
be welcomed. but only as supplements