Evening star., 1926-12-13
1,25O,ODl LIBRARY
PROJECT APPROVED
House Subcommittee En-
courageS 5-Year Program
for Branch Service.

Hearty encouragement was given
today by the Gibson subcommittee of
the House District committee. and es-
pecially by Chairman Gibson and
Representative Houston. to a proposal
for Il S1.250 900 five-year building pro
gram for the Washington Public Lii
brary. in order that the law directing.
through branch libraries, to furnish
service convenient to the homes and
offices for residents of the District
might be carried out
This proposal was made by Dr.
George +. Bowerman, librarian, and
supported by representatives from a
number of the most important local
organizations particularly interested
in the development OF the library as
an extension of the public school
system.
1t was emphasized that the promo
ton of the public school system
through the fve-year building pro
gram increases the demand upon the
library system and implies the same
obligation to build and maintain the
needed public libraries
During the hearing Mr. Houston EN-
phaSized that there is strong proha
bility that the central library might
he moved from it's present site. where
there Is very serious traffic stu
alton, especially since the existing
library building is not of the best tyne
of architecture for present needs and
economical administration. because it
is in a noisy business zone and danger
Gus OF access for children.
The library development program.
as outlined by DR.. Bowerman. pro.
VideS for i more ajor branch libra
rles in separate buildings to furnish
library service to populous areas, or
in areas that are rapidly being built
up and which will justify separate
branch libraries. The program also
provides for Is or more branch libra
rieS in school houses, mostly suburban
schools. This plan provides for such
branch libraries in the Eastern High
School, where room for the Public
Library, all fitted up, has been await
ing occupancy for three or four years;
in the Armstrong Manual Training
High School and in nearly all the new
Junior high schools.
DR.. Bowerman advocated the desira-
bll1tN OF providing a branch library in
the triangle south of Pennsylva MIA
avenue to the Mall, where the Govern.
ment buildings are to be located He
supported also the proposed plan of
the Fine Arts Commission for a new
municipal group on the site of. Center
Market and advocated the inclusion of
library facilities and municipal re-
search service in that group.
-Four members of the board of trus-
tees Of the library supported Dr.. Bow
erman's plea. MIS-. SwormStedt. who
besides being a trustee of the library.
IS chairman of the library committee
OF the WOmen's Board of Trade. told of
campaign OF education her OrganiZa-
ton is carrying ON in support of the
library building program.
Charles j. Bell. : longtime trustaa
pointed out to the subcommittee the
advantages of five-vear buiIdinr
program over piecemeal program
as business proposition, and said
that. in his opinion. an annual an
preparation .of $3.50, 900 for branch
libraries is of extreme Importance.
Kramer Is i'm Accord.
Stephen f. Kramer. assistant su.
perintendent of schools and chairman
of the library committee of the Wash
ingtOn Board of Trade, expressed him.
self as in hearty accord with the
building program. He emphasized
that the function of the library is
not only to meet an existing demand.
but To open up It demand for con
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