Evening star., 1922-10-05

with which the trustees report deals
in detail. The increases are required
for four principal reasons:
The statutory salaries OF the exist
ing establishment are grossly made
quats and should be increased to the
extent of 331-3 per cent over exist
ing pay plus bonus. Such an increase
As called for in the pending Sterling
Lehlbach reclassification bill, en-
actment Of which the library trustees
urge as Offering solution OF the
problem of obtaining and retaining
competently trained persons in the
library service. This bill. the library
trustees state, give just recognition
to the classification claims of libra
rians among the scientific. technical
and professional people on the basis
Of, comparable education. training and
experience ana complexity OF work
required"
The library trustees point out that.
compared with the salaries of librari-
ans of other large municipalities. the
salary Of the chief librarian Is. eX-
tremely small and should be speedily
increased. The library trustees urge
this "in the light Of Librarian Bower
mans standing among the foremost
progressive librarians of the country,
in the light OF his high professional
qualifications and in view of his
eighteen years of devoted. effective
service in the library's upbuilding.
New Positions Necessary.
Seventeen new positions are re-
quired for the present establishment
and for general admission. No new
positions were granted in last years
estimates, in spite of the fact that an
average of. ten persons were being
desk funds and it was necessary to
close the library at 3 pm. on We'd
neSdays.
.. Eight additional assistants will be
required for the Southeastern branch
and four each for the three high
school libraries.
Substantial increases are also asked
for books, binding. substitutes, Sun
day and holiday funds. contingent eX-
penses and for repairs and improve
ments to the buildings
Owing TO the higher cost of books
and the stocking of the new branches
an increase Of sl7,50O is asked in the
estimates for books. 1t is pointed out
that supplies and equipment are in
arrears and that the contingent fund
should be substantially enlarged.
Branch and school Libraries.
The new branches are Of two
classes The first includes the South
eastern branch in a separate build
ing and the second includes three new
branches in high school buildings.
The library trustees point out that
with the appropriations for service
for the remainder of the year the
Southeastern branch can be open
little more than half time, namely.
IL
sevehty-two. the customary minimum
throughout the country, and that the
staff allowed Will be much too small
TO meet the demands that are sure to
come from the population of 10000
people which the branch will serve.
Eastern High School branch library
will be the first of series of branch
es 10 be opened in school buildings in
accordance with the agreement be-
tween the board of education and the
library board. 1t is expected that
this and all other branches in school
buildings will be opened all week
days. including vacations. and will
serve not simply school pupils. but
the general public of their neighbor-
hoods In Junior high schools there
will be no separate school libraries.
Proper Library support.
The report points out that the libra
ry has never had sufficient funds to
carry on it's work. ut is not only
necessary to strengthen the present
organization at every point, but also
the library now looks forward with
confident expectation to a great en-
largemcnt of its service through the
establishment of new branches. This
extension should be so rapid that
within five or six years the Public
Library will be able TO extend its
service to the entire population of
the District. instead of serving only
minor fraction of the population as
at present. Such development can he
secured only through large increase
in library support.
to what constitutes a proper basis of
support of 4 public library in an
intelligent. progressive city. and
state that just as the question of
adequate support for city public
school systems has had the attention
of the National Education Assccia
ton. so the question of reasonable
support for municipal public libra
ries has had. during the last few
years, the earnest consideration of
the American Library Association.
This national body of nearly 5000