Evening star., 1927-10-16
LIBRARY'S FIVE-YEAR PROGRAM
ONE OF CITY'S PRESSING NEEDS

volumes in q city Of half millioi
would certainly be increased to more
than 100000 volumes and possibly
to 5000, 900, while thousands of Wash
ingtonians who are now denied th'
use of library facilities because OF ths
physical difficulties involved in reach.
ing them. would be reached, instead
by the Public Library. Already there
have been indications that the au.
thorities at the District Building arr
heartily in sympathy with the library
expansion program. They have Volun'
tarily suggested one or two sites, a;
Well as buildings now owned by the
District government. which might bt
made available for library use. They
have been impressed with the fac
that expansion OF the public schoo
system is now guaranteed by legis
lation. though the five-year buildina
program. and the time has arrived
when the library facilities mus
likewise be expanded.
1t is almost trite TO set down, on
by one, the reasons why the Public
Library system of city such as Wash
ington, with 'book appetite" unique
among the cities of the United States
should be expanded. There should bi
sufficlent argument in the fact alone
that while the law contemplated suci
hind what other cities are spendins
on their libraries. And in spite OF tbs
constant striving by the library off
cials, Washington has yet to realize
the full significance OF the inscriptions
carved In the stone of the semi.
circular bench in front OF the entrance
to the building in Mount Vernon
Square: "A University for the People.
u " y
The course Of the Public Library
advancement in Washington has never
run smooth. Today. with the library
an established and integral part of the
community. it is difficult to realize
that il was only So years ago that
the active movement was begun for .
Public Library in a city which at that
| time provided no free source of books
| for the great mass OF it's population.
Congress then was Inclined to regard
the movement with suspicion. Some
of its members held that a free Public
Library as proposed was a LUXURY
but that If the people OF the District
would pay for it wholly from District
taxes, they could have it--a sentiment
with which the District is only too
familiar today. Advocates of the free
Public Library were forced to work
years after the introduction of their
| first bill before Congress finally took
| legislative action bringing the free
Public Library into existence. But
even after II was authorized, Congress
delayed two years more before the
promised money was appropriated.
While the library bill was signed by
President Cleveland in June, 1896, it
| was not until June. 1893. that the
first appropriation of $6.72O became
available. First housed. in 1899, in a
| modest building at 1926 New York
| avenue, the Public Library moved. In
| 1908, to its present quarters in Mount
Vernon Square. In this interim there
had been long-drawn-out battle over
the location of a site, the purchase OF
the site and the acceptance of the
building offered by Mr.. Carnegie. At
| that time, and taking into considera-
ton the expected growth Of a library
i'll a growing city. the fine new build.
| ing seemed commodious enough. But
| today the space provided there Is
cramped, q condition that has grown
steadily worse despite the opening of
the three branch libraries. Today
Washington's per capita expenditure
on the Public Library is only IS
cents. but in cities of relative size and
Importance the per capita expenditure
is more than a dollar. While Wash
ington's use of the available facilities
shows it to be a city unusually anxious
for libraries, the per capita circulation
of books is only 2.66. when it should
be twice as great. There is no prob
lem here In Washington. as in many
other communities, of educating the
public and thereby increasing this cir
culation. The demand already exists,
and it is only question of furnishing
equipment to supply it. Nor are the
authorities so much concerned with
the eventual expansion of the library
through enlargement of the central
building and the construction OF
branch libraries. This eventual ex-
pansion in an enlightened age must
almost be taken for granted. But the
library is confronted with the very
practical need of obtaining sites In the
localities where branch libraries are
desired while the sites are available.
The same situation existing with re.
spect to the school sites and park and
playground sites is true of the sites
for branch libraries. Property costs
are on the ascent. Available space is
decreasing. Obtaining these sites In
the next Ave years Is simple economy.
"Do it now" is sound advice.