Evening star., 1925-10-14

\ five-year program for development
of the Public Library system in the
National Capital. calling for establish
! ment OF "a new branch and school
libraries in various sections Of the
city. is outlined by DIR. George f.
Bowerman. public librarian Of the
District in his annual report made
public today as it went to the Com
missioners.
The plans for extension Of library
service include a branch library in the
northeast section. one in Georgetown
and one on Connecticut avenue. the
sites for which are not recommended.
and q branches to be located in
public school buildings as part Of the
plan long favored by the Board Of
Education, the board of library trustees
and the District Commissioners.
The report, which was signed by
Justice Wendell =. Stafford. vice
president of the board of trustees. in
the absence of Theodore w. Moves,
president. and by DIR. Bowerman. was
submitted to the commissioners this
| morning.
ChiIdren's Room Unopened.
Particular attention was called in
the report to the immediate need for
additional facilities at the new Mount
Pleasant Branch Library, looking to-
ward the opening of the branch to
children DR.. BoWerman points out
| that as yet only the first floor of the
new branch is open, due to insufficient
appropriations, and that the second
| floor. designed especially for children,
must remain closed until more funds
are forthcoming from Congress.
|. The first floor, DR.. Bowerman eH-
plains. Is for adults only, including
| high school students. The large juVe-
| nile population of the neighborhooN
| are awaiting with pathetic interest,
the opening of their portion of the
building. the librarian emphasized.
| Money is urgently needed to furnish a
| staff to operate the juvenile section
of the branch, the report stated.
Met Real Need.
| The Mount Pleasant Branch opened
on May Is with more than 13.00l
! books on its shelves, and is being used
| by such throngs of readers as to tax
! the resources of staff and book stock
| the report says. The unexpectedly
| large book circulation and the init
| mate friendly use made OF the ding
| rooms by the branch's neighborS have
| been exceedingly gratifying to lbrar!
| officials. The librarian believes this
| to be one OF the finest branch library
buildings in the country, and 1t Is
! being used by outside librarians anC
| trustees as a place to inspect certain
! architectural features and equipment
| In addition to furnishing good service
| to readers, It Is the hope of the library
| that the new branch may serve the
| library profession as an experiinan'
| station. for the conditions in the adult
J department are as near normal as
! NAV be found. The equipment. book
| collection and staff are all satisfactory
| and without undue prosperity or pow
ertv in any one direction, the neigh
| borhood comprises all the elements
| except factories. to be found in mos
| communities, DIR. BoWerman points
out.
The report states that aside from
| the appropriations for the stocking o1
! the Mount Pleasant Branch, amount
| ing to $4,000, appropriations were
also secured in the deficiency bill fol
| much. h.needed building repairs ant
maintenance and for equ1pping two
| branch library rooms in TWO coloret
| schools. the Deanwood and (probably
| the Randall Junior High School, to be
opened later when Congress provides
| funds for service, books and mainte
| nance.
Citizens Support Expected.
''The creation by the Joint actor
| of the District Commissioners and the
| Federation Of Citizens Associations ol
| a Citizens Advisory Council IS alst
| of significance to the library AS mark
! ing the setting UP in non-voting Wash
| ington of an unofficial. but 1t is hopel
influential, body representative q