Evening star., 1926-12-05
CARNEGIE LIBRARY
GIFTS HERE ENDED
Further Branch Construction
Must Be Provided for by
Action of Congress.

81. Carnegie Corporation has just
aritten "Finis'' on it's gifts Of library
huiidihs for the Washington Public
Library Hereafter the branch library
buildings SO much needed by Wash
ington must be built from congress
sional appropriations.
Four Public Library buildings have
heen erected in Washington from Car
uesie funds. First. Andrew Carnegie
gave in 1899 $4,000 for the central
library building in Mount Vernon
Square. When the main library was
opened, in 1903. Mr.. Carnegie offered to
give all the branch library buildings
needed by Washington. Legislation
designed to accept this offer in its en-
tirety failed in Congress, and the
library trustees were obliged to try to
secure authority to accept it piece
meal. In Mr.. Carncgie's lifetime one
branch library building, that at Ia
koua Park. was built from Carnegie
money and opened in 1911. After the
death Of Mr.. Carnegie. in 1919. the
Carnegie Corporation announced It's
discontinuance OF the policy OF fur'
nishing funds for the erection OK
any more library buildings through
out the country generally. In spite
of such an announcement. the cor
poration generously gave the tunds
for two more branch library buildings,
ss7 900 for the Southeastern branch In
1921 and $500, 900 for the Mount Pleas
ant branch in 1928.
These gifts, according to report or
DR. Frederick p. Keppel, president OF
Of the Carnegie Corporation. repre-
sent.sd obligations Of the corpora.
lion entered into before the change OF
policy as regards library construc-
ton"
Letter From keppel.
The announcement to the erect that
no more Carnegie funds will be forth
coming for branch library buildings
for Washington has just come from
President Keppel, in a letter to DIR.
George F. Bowerman. chief librarian
OF the Public Library Of the District
Of Columbia. conveying the recent de-
cision of the trustees of the corpora
tion. The letter follows:
"Confirming our conversation Of No
vsmber 90, l should like to state as
clearly as ] can the attitude Of the
trustees Of the Carnegie Corporation
toward the erection of additional
branch libraries for the City Of Wash
ington. =
board of trustees like our own Is to
provide the money from the funds IN.
trusted to US for a demonstration OF
the vitality and usefulness OF an idea.
Sooner or later, however, the day
comes when the board must determine
that the demonstration has been made.
and that the funds needed for future
development must be sought else
where For example. In the matter
Of library construction. what Mr.. Car
negie set out to 90 and what the cor
poration carried on after his death
was not q plan for putting up library
buildings indefinitely. but d plan to
make a demonstration on a wide scale
OF what an adequate library building
would do for the community In which
II was erected That demonstration
has now been made, at a cost of some
thing over $50, 900, 900. and no further
grants for public library buildings are
being made.
Branches Value Shown.
"As to the usefulness of branch IL
braries in city systems, the situation
10 clear. Here in New York Carnegie
funds provided a number Of such
buildings, but. the demonstration hav-
Ing been made, the trustees Of the
Public Library do not look to us for
any additional funds. The time has
now come. in the judgment of our
trustees, when the demonstration in
your city has also been made. Four
buildings have been erected from Car
A~fn Nd ntr
usefulness in different parts OF the
city and different social environments.
In the light of this demonstration, it
ought not now to be difficult to secure
funds from other sources for addi-
tional buildings as they are needed
Il am sure you Will understand that
this decision does not imply any criti.
cism Of the work Of the Public Library
in Washington. In fact. ii IL exactly
the other way. The better the work
the more rapidly and completely a
demonstration can be made
with best wishes and hearty con-
era atulations upon your achievements
tn Washington. l am sincerely yours,
IF. p. KEPPEL."
That the Carnegie Corporation
would sooner or later apply to Wash.
ington it's general rule of giving no
more library buildings has for some
time been expected by the library
authorities. In anticipation of such
an announcement steps have been
taken and will now be taken to de-
velop the library with the help of
Congress. just as the schools are built
and supported. The library authori-
ties point out that the original library
law. enacted by Congress in 1896. de-
Jared II to he "A supplement OF the
public educational system" Of the Dis.
trict. The library authorities hold
that this implies the same obligation
on Congress to build and maintain the
needed public libraries as there is to
provide school buildings and to main
rain an adequate school system. Dur
ing the last session OF Congress exten-
Sive amendments were made in the
Public Library's organic law. In ap-
nearing before the District committees
~ the Senate and House in support of
such amendments DIR. Rowernla II
pointed out that the Carnegie Cor
poration might soon discontinue its
gifts of library buildings to Washing
ION. To meet such situation the
District committee reported and Con
gress enacted amendments greatly
strengthening the library law.
The library law, before it was
amended, made no mention of branch
libraries. The most important amend.
,nent provided that said library shall
consist of central library and such
number of branch libraries. so located
and so supported as to furnish books
and other printed matter and informa-
rion service convenient to the homes
y nd offices OF all residents Of the said
District"
Law Gives Authority.
The amended library law also gives
specific authority to the District Com
sioners to include in their estimates
for appropriations such sums as they
may deem necessary for the proper
maintenance of said library. including
branches. for the purchase of land for
sits for library buildings and for the