Evening star., 1925-01-06
COMMITTEE TOLD
NEEDS OF LIBRARY
Officials Present Figures
Showing Washington's
Poor Standing.

Needs of the Public Library were
explained today to members of the
subcommittee on the District appro-
priation bill of the House committee
on appropriations by Theodore w.
Noyes. president of the board of di-
rectors of the library; DR.. George F.
Bowerman, public librarian, and Miss
Clara w. Herbert, assistant public
librarian
The budget estimates for the ficsal
year of 1926, totaling s251,940. were
strongly defended by the library Off
cials, who analyzed how this pro-
posed sum would be expended in
building up the public library system
in the National Capita, and presented
salient figures showing that Wash
ington's Public Library has been re-
ceivfng much less in appropriations
than the average for some 35 other
comparable American cities.
Mr.. Noyes pointed out that the
American Library Association be-
lieved that the public Libraries should
receive appropriations annually at
the rate of not less than $1.00 per
capita. He presented data showing
that half a dozen cities appropriate
more than that ratio each year Cleve-
land being quoted as giving s1.30 per
capita for Libraries.
Washington Average Low.
Washington, on the other hand, has
averaged but 55 cents per capita in pub
lie library appropriations, the commit
teemen were told, less than the aver
age of 35 cities cited.
The percentage of total appropria-
tions for all District activities given
the local public library, it was stated
was only seven-tenths of one per
cent, whereas cities generally allo-
cate IL per cent of the total for
library purposes.
DR.. Bowerman explained that the
increased sum over the S170,5S8 ap-
propriated for the present fiscal year
was necessary in order to carry on
the regular work of the library, pro-
vide for some increases in salaries of
the staff provided for under reclassi-
| fication, and especially to complete
the stocking of the new Mount Pleas
ant branch library, soon to be opened.
For the purchase of books $4,000 is
asked of which half is needed for
! filing the shelves of the Mount Pleas
! ant branch, $4,000 for books at the
/ Eastern High School branch and
$4,000 for the colored Deanwood and
Bell School branches. The remainder
is desired for other book replenishing.
More Use of Library Here.
The subcommittee, in response to
| ques tions, was told that Washington
| makes much greater use of it's Pub
| lie Library than some other cities be-
| cause of the large number of Govern
ment employees, scientists and educa-
| tional institutions here. DIR. Bower
man presented a resolution adopted
| some time ago by the American Library
| Association and the National Educa-
tfon Association, in which the dec
laration Is made that the local library
system is not up to the standard of a
| city of this size. He emphasized that
| educational authorities are manifest
| ing considerable concern over the in
adequacy of the local library, hold
| ing that the situation is one of ma
tional concern.
| The members of the subcommittee
who heard the pleas for the library
were: Representatives Charles R.
Davis, Minnesota, chairman; Represent
ative Frank Murphy, Ohio; Represent
ative Frank H. Funk. Illinois, all Re
publicans, and Representative William
| A Ayres, Kansas, Democrat
! Representative Murphy said he was
CONTINUED on Page 2, Column 81