Evening star., 1927-10-16
BY BEN McKELWAY.


Washington's Public Library system
has now passed through what may be
considered two distinct periods, the
first embracing the years which
brought it finally into being, the sec
ond which saw it grow and develop in
keeping with it's Importance as Il Sup
plemsnt of the public educational sys-
tenn of the District. 1t has now
reached a third period, one which must
witness 1t standing still, thereby fall
ing behind as the other institutions of
the city move forward, Or moving for
ward with them. growing as the city
grows, expanding it's facilities as the
city and it's greater demands expand.
That the library system should stand
still cannot, unfortunately, be regarded
as unthinkable, for the whole history
OF the Public Library's growth is a
recitation of obstacles met and obsta-
claS overcome, more than one of them
threatening at one time or another to
assume the aspects of an impossible
barrier. The better way to think of 1t,
however, is that while the progress of
the library system in the past has been
checked at times. it has never been
stopped, and the years behind 1t have
furnished an increasing momentum
which will carry ii through to an ulti-
mate goal, the greatest possibilities of
which are only beginning to be Wis
ualized.
Last week the board OF trustees and
the librarian of the Public Library
delivered their annual reports to the
District Commissioners, emphasizing
the urgent need Of promptly enact
ing the legislation for the proposed
t1ve-year extension program which
Will make a reality of the provision
in the library law which states that
the library shall consist of a central
library and such number of branch
libraries SO located and so supported
as to furnish books and other printed
matter and information service con-
venient to the homes and Offices of
all residents" This five-year pro-
gram was embodied in bill, since
revised to meet conditions. which
was introduced last year by Repre-
sentative Gibson of Vermont after
hearing which brought full indorse-
ment of the measure from the citys
civic and trade organizations. The
bill failed of enactment in the last
Congress, chiefly because of the
pressing nature of the legislation
which had accumulated toward the
close of the session. The bill would
involve the expenditure of nearly
$2,O00,000 to be spread over a five
year period, and it would bring the
library to an equal footing with it's
sister institution in Washington, the
public school system, enabling 1t to
meet demands which now go begging.
Before the program can receive at
tention in Congress, 1t must pass the
rigid inspection and meet the un-
qualified approval of the District
Commissioners and the Budget Bu-
reau. Nor will this preliminary
examination be casual, hit or miss. 1t
must be passed in competition with
other important District needs. But
1t is doubtful il any of them ranks
1t in importance.
The Public Library has prided itself
since its creation in 1896 upon being
a municipal, taX-supported, free
Public Library, dependent neither upon
charity nor gifts for it's place in
the sun. but recognized in the law
which brought it into being as a
supplement of the public educational
system" of the District. drawing it's
yearly stipend from the appropria-
tions of Congress, which, until few
years ago, were taken in fixed pro-
portion from the revenues of the Dis
trict and Federal governments. But
1t was less than a year ago that for
NAL notification was received from
the Carnegie corporation to the effect
that the munificent gifts of Mr.. Car
negie, which had been expressed dur
Ing and after his lifetime in the pres
ent Central Library Building, in
Mount Vernon Square, and buildings
for the Takoma Park, Mount Pleas
ant and Southeastern Branch liz
braries. had ended; that henceforth
Washington must provide. without
such help, the future branch libraries
which are necessary parts of the sys-
tenn as a whole. Such notification
had been anticipated long in ad-
vance, and, fully cognizant OF the
growing need for immediate expan-
sion OF the library facilities, the
board of trustees, with the technical
assistance of experts. outlined its
needs to include 13 additional branch
libraries in separate buildings, where
there are now 3; 2S additional
branch libraries in the public schools,
where there are now only 2, and
branch libraries In rented quarters.
With such facilities 1t has been est1-
mated that the present annual circu-
lation of approximately 100000