Evening star., 1924-12-01
....... $ls,974 $50 81 $6,3OS, ,O70 o5
.2,573 Attend School.


The report OF the Commissioners
includes A synopsis of the report of
the Board Of Education for the last
fiscal year and shows the following
record of school attendance for last
year: White children. 49,71l: COL
ored, 22.s62. Total. 1858 This was
1910 over the previous scholastic
year.
Lighting of the Fairgrounds in
order that they may be used for
night recreation for older boys and
girls and provision for supervising
the grounds throughout the year are
cited as important needs of the play
ground system.
At the present time, Fairgrounds
are open during the twelve months,
but 1t is only possible to supervise
them ten months of the year. During
January and February there is no
supervision.
"lear-around supervision in play
ground service is necessary" the re-
port states, since mischief and
juvenile delinquency are not pecu-
liar to any one season OF the year.
Increased opportunity for occupa
tional play and Industrial recreation
must go hand in hand with the re-
Strlction of child labor"
The report asserts that municipal
athletics and playground sports are
developing rapidly after years of slow
growth. The past fiscal year was the
most successful the playground de-
partment has experienced
10000 at Fairgrounds Daily.
The need of providing for additional
Fairgrounds is apparent from the at
tendance of existing grounds durini
the past year, the report tells Con-
gress. Visits to the Fairgrounds dur
ing the fiscal year totaled 5000. 900
with 10000 children In average daily
attendance
That section Of the Commissioners
report dealing with the operations of
the Free Public Library reads in part
as follows:
Judging by statistics. the people
of Washington are coming more and
more to appreciate the opportunities
offered to them by their Public Libra
ry. There were 59,693 registered
users of the Public Library and
1,136.222 volumes were loaned for
home use, an increase Of 92,0o9 vol
umes over the previous year In order
to meet demands the trustees in their
annual report asked for support for
several branches in public school
buildings. large book funds and a
larger staff.
The plan Of extending library serv-
ice through branches and through
public-school buildings continues to
prove its soundness and every year
the wisdom Of these methods of dis
tribution is more clearly demonstrat-
ed. The Southeastern branch COM
pleted its first full year with a cir
,1,t -
close cooperation with the schools of
the southeast section and with
number in the northeast. The branch
satisfies an important educational
need in that community and express
slons of appreciation have been
numerous. The Takoma Park branch
records an increase in circulation of
3,1s4 volumes and the largest juvenile
circulation in its history. This
branch Is likewise making a special
effort to reach the children in the
community. During the year 81 meet
ings were held in the branch library
by various clubs and societies. All
reports point to the fact that the
branch library building is becoming
an important civic center The sta
tions and high schools also share in
the increase in circulation. but are
greatly handicapped by a lack of a
special high school collection and the
need for larger duplication OF titles.
for often the general public and
pupils secure all copies Of the books
required by high schools for supple
mental reading.
Use OF Fiction Decreases.
"The Carnegie Corporation gave a
second 100000 during the year for
the Mount Pleasant branch and the
building will be completed shortly
after January l, 1925. The citizens
of that section, either individually or
through their associations, have In
many ways expressed thier apprecia-
tfon and the benefit they expect to
derive from it. In the appropriation
act of 1925 Congress made no pro-
vision for hits branch and it may be
forced to stand idle for several
months after its completion. Since
Congress by law accepted the gift
from the Carnegie Corporation it is
hoped that action will be taken to
prevent such situation from arising.
The Commissioners renew their in
dorsement of the plan Of the board of
trustees and the Board of
Education for conducting branch
libraries in school buildings as an
efficient and economical method of
extending the PUBIC Library system.
Large enrolment at schools and
colleges and the increased number
of Government clerks taking special
and correspondence courses
have heavily taxed the international
and advisory services of the library.
Fiction circulation figures have de-
creased but the quality of books read
continues to be of high grade De-
batting material has been in great de-
mand. Students, authors. Bible stu