Evening star., 1923-10-11
LIBRARY TRUSTEES
URGE ACTION FOR
: BRANCH BUILDINGS
Annual Report to Commits
sioners Asserts Washington
Is Tagging in Development.


sing behind other cities of the same
size in library development, the trus-
tees of the Public Library advocated
purchase of sites for more branch
buildings in their annual report to
the Commissioners today.
The directing heads OF the library
system told the city executives they
have every reason to believe the Car
negie Corporation OF New York will
provide the additional buildings need
ed if application for them is not de-
layed too long.
The trustees also urged the Com
n1issioners to give the librarian and
his assistants proper salary alioca-
tions under the reclassification law,
Want Congress TO See First Figures.
Another important recommendation
in the report is that the original
library estimates prepared each year
by the trustees be sent to Congress
along with the revised figures of the
District and budget bureau officials.
On the subject of estimates and APP
propriations, the trustees reported:
"The petitions of the trustees under
missioners for library Legislation and
appropriation are so altered by the
supervising and modifying action OF
the Commissioners and by the arol-
trary percentage reductions OF the
budget bureau that, as we last year
pointed out, the trustees in congress
sional subcommittee hearings con-
cerning the library estimates and APP
propriations have enjoyed only the
privilege of explaining and defending
ta tC Xth n
not themselves made, in shape which
they can neither explain nor defend.
Printed i'm Annual Report.
'The trustees have been in the
habit of printing in their annual re-
port as the Public Library estimates
their own estimates for the approach
ing year, compared with the current
appropriations. This showing has
been informative and useful both
practically in the present and as a
record for future reference. But to-
day who can say what are the real
Public Library estimates? First, there
are the original estimates or library
needs as set forth by the trustees,
intrusted by the law with the man.
agement of the library, which eN-
press the deliberate convictions of the
trustees concerning such needs.
trustees as modified by the trustees
themselves in response to SPECIFIC dl-
rectiOnS or requests of the Commls-
sioners. Next the Commissioners eS-
Inmates representing not the library
needs, but the amount of money which
they think can be spared for library
maintenance during the year, taxing
into consideration all other municipal
expenditures. Next the Commission
.rs' estimates as altered by the bud
q hn1Jpt
$ - -" aStima teS, expressing Its
hnal conviction not concerning real
I4D 49, nS.us, Dut concerning Lne
amount of money which Is thought TO
be available in partial satisfaction OF
these needs. And lastly the House
appropriations committee presents its
own thought concerning full library
needs to the House in the tentatlye
draft of District appropriation bill.
The trustees estimates run the CANT
let along the whole line. Practically
itnybody's objection anywhere in the
line knocks out specific proposal OF
the trustees. If the Commissioners
dissent the protested item Will not
come even to the attention of Con-
gress. If the Commissioners approve,
but the budget bureau dlsapproVeS,
the result is the same. Out goes the
item.
Full Needs Set Forth.
"The trustees repeat with renewed
vigor and special emphasis our urgent
request of last year that our original
estimates be forwarded to Congress for
consideration along with these estimates
as modified by the Commissioners and
the budget bureau, just as the estimates
Of the public schools (of which the
Public Library is by its. organic act
With are aw The of
the Commissioners and the budget hu-
reau suggest limitations upon the
amount OF appropriations, and the trus-
tees figures set forth the full library
needs, and are helpful in appropriatlng
to meet the greatest needs in the
wisest way whether the amount of ap-
propriated money available Is great or
small"
The library trustees conclude their re-
port by summarizing the needs of the
library, as follows:
1. Proper ALLEGATION in reclassificatiou
of the librarian and his assistants.
2. Adequate estimates by the Com
missioners and appropriations by Con-
gress showing the same appreciation
of the library workers as that indi-
Gated by the proper ALLEGATION of them
in such classification.
"3. Consistent development OF the
branch library system especially by
appropriations for suitable sites, so
that the community may not lose by
delay the additional needed branch
library buildings, which we have rea-
son to hope the Carnegie Corporation
of New York will supply, If applica-
tions are promptly and earnestly
made, and the reasonable conditions
of the gifts are fulfilled. Washing
ton should not lose this opportunity
TO approximate it's book distribution
system to that of the public Ii
braries Of other cities of its class.
1t falls woefully short in this re-
spect at present.
The report, signed by Theodore w.
Noyes. president of the library board.
points out that the library has in
creased steadily in usefulness to the
community and in the affectionate re-
gard of book using Washingtonians,
as shown by an increase in circulation
of books and in the development of
the distribution system through an
increase in branch libraries and in
making closer relations with the pub
lie schools, by which it has increased
Its work among children.
Important Events Of Year.
The library trustees instance as the
vitality important events of the year
covered by the report the following:
81. The southeastern branch library
building, the gift of the Carnegie Cor
poration of New York, was opened to
the public. The corporation also had
offered not less than 100000 to erect
Mount Pleasant branch library
building. Congress accepted this Of
fer and appropriated $4,000 to pur-
chase a suitable library site. Through
the public-spirited cooperation of
Mrs. John b. Henderson an admirable
site was purchased within the limit
of the appropriation.
"2. At the end of the last session of
Congress the classifica ton act of 1928
became law and the personnel clas-
sary preliminary work of ALLEGATION
preparatory to putting the law into
operation July /, 1924.
Two Lines of Development.