Evening star., 1926-10-12
LIBRARY IN NEED
OF 10 BRANCHES
Reports of DR.. BoWerman
and Trustees, However, Re-
| veal Progress Being Made.

Extension of public library facilities
through the establishment of branch
libraries in eight public school build
ings, branch in rented quarters in
the Rhode Island avenue section and
the purchase Of a site for a branch in
the northeast are imperative needs,
the board of trustees of the Public
Library point out in it's annual report
submitted today to the District Com,
miSSionerS.
The report Of DR.. George F. Bow.
erman, librarian Of the Public Library
which accompanied the annual resume
of the trustees, contained a prediction
that eventually Washington will have
q system Of branch libraries and sta
tions adequate to the more than
100000 population which the library
is called upon to serve.
In revising the old organic law, DIR.
Bowerman said Congress has given
the library "a new charter for prog.
ress." The new law, necessitated by
the rapid growth of Washington, he
explained, permits expansion Of the
library's service to all parts of the
city, as soon as sufficient appropria-
tions can be made by Congress.
Still Behind Other Cities.
washington, however" said DR..
Bowerman, "is still behind other
cities in it's allowance for the opera
ton of the Public Library. The mini
mum standard Of the American
Library Association is 81 per capita.
Washington would only be appropri-
ating 1872 cents per capita for it's
public library If the amount asked
for by the library trustees for 1928
should be granted
sites for suitable new libraries in
the District give the trustees of the
Public Library concern" said the re-
port of the trustees. "DevelOpmentS
in the rapid expansion of the library
in the past year and under the five
year program planned by the trustees
and the chief librarian, DR.. George
+. Bowerman. were presented to the
Commissioners of the District by
Justice Wendell 2. Stafford Of the
Supreme Court of the District Of Co.
lumbia in the absence of Theodore W.
Noyes, president.
Branch library development pro-
ceeding rapidly and with adequate
support is demanded by the new
library law passed by Congress in
the late Spring. Additional library
branches in sight publ school build
tngs, a branch in rented quarters in
the Rhode Island avenue section and
the purchase OF a site for a branch
I'm the Northeast are imperative
library needs
Increases in Appropriations.
Substantial marks OF recognition by
Congress of the library'S value and
the present inadeQuacy Of it's physical
equipment. the report pointed out, in
cluded an appropriation for 1927 of
$34 900 more than that of the preced-
Ing year and a deficiency appropria-
ton permitting the opening Of the
Mount Pleasant childrens room on a
limited schedule of hours, as well as
an increase in appropriation to open
sub-brancheS in two public schools at
Chevy Chase and Tenleytown.
The library's record OF expanding
service during the year. the report
explained, showed a 10 per cent in
crease in the number Of books bor-
rowed for study and recreation outside
the library. Other factors in the
library's growth are large increases in
reference end advisory service. use of
the reading rooms by students, the
growing request by individuals for
reading lists. the opening of the bio
graphy room at the main library and
the increased number of telephone
calls for specific information.
1928 Program Outlined.
In the program to be covered by
the estimates for 1928, according to
the report. are included increases in
staff. book collection and maintenance,
which will bring the present organi-
cation up to the standard and will
provide for the opening of the chill
dren's room of the Mount Pleasant
branch during the normal number of
hours; eight additional library branch
es In public school buildings. a branch
in a rented building and the pro
vision of a site in the northeaStc
section of the city. For this purpose
the estimate of the library trustees is
1896, ,260.
Referring to the hook turnoye" in
the library. Or. Bowerman said that
during the year 1.29S,405 volumes
as compared with 1892 ,533 the previ-
Gus year were circulated by the
library to the people of Washington.
The library added 34.1S9 volumes,
giving it a total of 295,2l7 volumes.
The great strength of the library
not shown in its figures of circula-
ton" said DR.. Bowerman. lis the
reference and advisory service which
the library renders. The library main
tains both at the main library and at
each of its branches reference room
to aid the public in securing infor-
nation. Readers advisers are always
at hand to help plan a reading course
for those desiring to follow special
line of reading. Go to college with
Yourself as long as you live" is an
4Xiom given full and able support by
the library in its program of adult
education. Reference service by tcle-
phone is of great value to Washing
tonianS.
Industrial Division.
The main library has a technical
library known as the industrial diVi
sion. In this division are found books
and magazines Of a business, scientific
and technical nature. The industrial
division during the past year took
part in the second Annual Industrial
Exposition held at the Washington
Auditorium.
The library is enabled under the
new library law to permit residents
living in adjacent counties of Mary
Land and Virginia who do not have
regular business or employment or
attend school in the District to take
out books from the library by the
Iayment of a fee of So per annum.
The library has a total regiStra-
tion OF t3 961 borrowers. OF this mum
f>e. 23.cS3 registered during the year.
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The High Grade Established 1892
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