Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-04
SENATORS APPROVE
LIBRARY EXPANSION
D. c. Committee Paves Way
by Reporting Bill Revising
Organic Law.

Displaying a keen interest in the
expansion and development of the free
Public Library system. the Senate
District committee today voted unan-
imously to report favorably the bill
TO revise the organic law Of the IL
prary so at to provide a basis for
such expansion.
While DR.. George r. Bowerrnan,
librarian. was giving his testimony to
show how far WASHINGTON Is behind
manv other cities in library facilities,
members Of the committee indicated
by their questions that they are in
sympathy with the plan TO 1nake
reading material available in every
section of Washington. DIR. Bower
man was accompanied in his appear
ance before the committee Icy Theo-
dore W. Noyes. chairman Of the
board of trustees of the library.
Budget Approves Bill.
The bill does not carry aprropr!A.
tons, but would create the basic law
under which the District Commission
ers and the Burea! Of the Budget
could transmit to Congress each year
larger estimates for maintenance of
more neighbOrhood branches.
DR.. BoWerman told the committee
that Director of the Budget Lord has
approved the bill Cen Lord sug
gested one change in phraseolOgy
which, DIR. Bowerman testified, was
made by the trustees in order TO OBJ
tain complete harmony n recon-
mending the legislation.
DR.. BoWerman explained that the
.. of nk4
functions covered in the proposed
law. but he explained that it is neces-
sary to have definite legislation in
order to obtain from time TO time the
necessary appropriations.
Scope of Provisions.
Briefly. the bill does the following
things:
Establishes substantive law for the
erection of more branch il. aries and
the opening of other branches in pub
lie school buildings, sets for Condi
tons under which the local libraries
would be available 70 residents of
nearby Maryland and Virginia, gives
the trustees definite authority to
make rules for the taking of books
from the library and TO fix assess
ment for the retention overtime, the
loss or injury of books.
The last section OF the bill author
lies the Commissioners TO include In
their annual estimates such sums IS
they may deem necessary for the
proper main enance of existing facili-
ties and for the establishment of ad-
ditional branches.
Senator Sackett of Kentucky said
he thought the library system Of
Washington should be d model for the
country because SO many people come
TO Washington
Regrets Limited Funds.
Senator Copeland of New York, who
made the motion for a favorable re
port on the bill. regretted the fact that
limited appropriations make il neces-
sary to restrict the hours of the
library. especially on Sundays and
holidays. and expressed the belief that
the Libraries should be open as long
as possible.
DR.. Bowerrnan gave the committee
statistics to show the need for greater
development of the library system in
Washington He said that. although
81 per capita has been regarded by
experts as fair standard of cxpendi-
ture for library service. Washington
spends only 46R cents per capita for
library. He mentioned Cleveland as A
city that pays great attention to its
libraries. with a per capita eXpendi-
ture of S1.34.
Senator Copeland suggested the de-
STABILITY of establishing branch libra
ries in the poorer sections of the city,
stating that in New York experience
has shown that libraries are greatly
used in those communities. DR.. Bow
erman said the local authorities are
alive to that necessity and have
sought as far as possible TO meet Il.