Evening star., 1925-05-30
PUBLIC LIBRARY
NEEDS STRESSED
Or. BoWerman Urges Addi-
ton of $1O0, 900 or More to
|. Maintenance Fund.


After showing how Washington has
Jagged behind many American cities
IN development of its library system.
DIR. George L. Bowerman, librarian OF
the Free Public Library, recommend
ed an increase of more than 100000
In the next appropriation for this
purpose, at a conference with the
Citizens Advisory Council at the main
library building yesterday afternoon.
DR.. Bowerman also outlined to the
council a five-year program of eX-
panSion designed to carry library IA
cilitieS into many sections of the city
by the erection of several more
branch buildings and the opening of
branch offices in q score Of public
school buildings.
Advocates Notifications Of Law.
DR.. Bowerman also suggested a
number of notifications that should
be made in the basic law creating the
Public Library system, including def
mite authority for the establishment
of new branches and authority to
rent quarters in neighborhoods where
school houses are not available.
In connection with the need for a
larger allotment for binding, Or:
Bowerman said there are 5000 good
books in the basement of the main
library that cannot be circulated be-
cause they need binding.
The last appropriation for MAIN
tenance of the library service was
s235,300. DR.. Bowerman told the
council the next budget should carry
$343,s70. This figure is subject TO
modification when certain salary ad-
lustnents are made. This increase
would provide for an urgently needed
increase in personnel, for the estab-
lishment of seven branches in school
buildings, for keeping the library
open on days when it is now neces-
sary to close due to limitation of
funds and for making badly needed
repairs to building and equipment.
Five-Year Development Plan.
Here is a brief outline of DR..
Bowerman's proposed tive-year pro-
gram of library development:
For the year 1926-1927-Additiona
personnel, main library and two older
branches, to catch up with unmet
demands, including large increase in
book-buying work. Additional per-
sonnel at Mount Pleasant branch, to
open childrens department. Re-
placements of Wornout equipment
and repairs to buildings (no new
equipment in years.. Seven branches
in public school buildings, books,
staff and maintenance.
For year 927-192S-Purchase Of
site for new Northeast branch. Seven
branches in public schools, with
books, staff and maintenance.
For 1928-1929-Building of Northeast
branch tsl00,000), books, staff and
maintenance.
For 1929-1930-Site for a George
town branch. Seven branches in pub
lie schools, with books, staff and main
tenance.
For 1930-1931-Erection Of George
town branch (S75 ,000), books. staff and
maintenance. Purchase of site for
Connecticut avenue branch, probably
near Bureau of Standar&s.
Carnegie Aid Not Assured.
This program is based on the as
sumption that the Carnegie Corpora
ton will continue TO supply the money
for the erection of branch library
buildings, but DR.. Bowerman told the
council this outside aid is by no means
certain If further gifts are not
made by the Carnegie Corporation,
the necessary funds for branch
libraries should be sought from Con-
gress, just as school building funds
ere obtained, DIR. Bowerman declared.
In order to show the council the in
adequacy Of present appropriations
for libraries in Washington, DR..
Bowerman said that while the Amer
lean Library Association has fixed 81
as a fair per capita expenditure Tor
library development, Washington this
year will spend only As cents per
capita on it's public library system.
lie then gave the following table to
show how the library allotment would
increase gradually in carrying out the
proposed ffve-year program, as follows:
In 1926, s247,500. or $0.4s6 per
capita; in 1927, 1862 $50, or SOIL per
capita 1928, s426,530, or so.S2 per
capita; 1929, S452 ,76o, S0.65 per capita;
1880. $40. $50. S0.99 per capita. and
1881, S5S0,970, or s1.05 per capita.
Citations From Other Cities.
In connection with these per capita
figures. DIR. Bowerman gave quota
tions from other cities to show how
much more liberal some municipan-
ties have been in providing for their
public libraries.
Engineer Commissioner Bell, who
attended the conference, asked DR..
Bowerman 10 tell the council how
much consideration should be given
10 the existence of the Library of
Congress in estimating the library
needs of the city. The Library of
Congress, DR.. Bowerman said, is a
great institution of reference for stu
dents and provides a special service
for members of Congress, but does
not enter into the picture of Wash
ington's local library needs any more
than the library of a great university
would enter into the needs of the city
in which 1t is located
Urges Branch Libraries.
In emphasizing the need for more
branch buildings and for branch rooms
in public schools, DR.. BoWerman said
the library system does not serve
nearly as large a proportion of the
population as 1t would if more neigh
borhoods had branches.
A. washington" DR.. BoWerman con-
rinued, has a highly cultivated pop
ulatfon, with an appetite for reading
that should be more adequately pro-
vided for"
The librarian said the proposed
northeast branch probably would be
located in the vicinity of Eleventh
street and Maryland avenue, the
Georgetown branch on Wisconsin ave-
nue. and the Connecticut avenue
branch in the vicinity of the Bureau
of Standards.
Jesse c. Suter, chairman Of the
council, said yesterday he was not
sure how many more conferences
would be necessary before the council
sets itself to the task of making
recommendations to the Commission
ers as TO the amount of money that
should be sought in the new budget.
RAIL BOARD RAPED.