Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-11-12
FWE-YEAR LIBRARY
PROGRAM FAVORED
Gibson Subcommittee Re-
port Endorses Expansion
and Development Here.

The report of the Gibson subcom-
mittee of the House committee on the
District of Columbia, which has lust
been printed as a Government docu-
ment, contains a strong Endorsement IF
the Swear program for the expansion
and development of the local Public
Library system. The section of the re-
port on the Public Library reads as
follows:
The subcommittee heard testimony
from the librarian, library trustees and
representatives of citizens organizations
as to the needs Of the Public Library for
expanding and developing its facilities
to serve the rapidly growing popula-
ton of the District of Columbia.
The Public Library now consists Of a
central library, three branch libraries in
separate buildings. and two subbrancheS
in public school buildings. The library
has more than 100000 volumes and
for the fiscal year 1926 loaned to the
public approximately 100000 books.
Resources Declared Inadequate.
It is evident that the library renders
a large and efficient service, making II
a potent supplement to the public edu-
cational system Of the District 1t is
also evident that the library's resources
and equipment are, altogether made
quatc to meet the legitimate demands
of library service arising in the school
and in the adult population of the
District. This condition, in the opinion
of the subcommittee, has developed
solely because the library has not yet
been enabled to expand its facilities SO
that it shall in fact and in accordance
with the act of June 3, 1896, establish
ing the library. 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 of the said District.
Testimony before the subcommittee
disclosed that among IS American cities
above 100000 population washington,
though twelfth in population, ranks
next to the bottom in the number of
branch libraries. Among cities smaller
than Washington. Cincinnati has %
branches, Minneapolis 81 branches, In
dianapolis 10 branches. Portland, Greg,
II branches; Louisville Is branches
Kansas City Is branches and Oakland,
Calf. with less than half Washington S
population, Is branches.
Five-Year Program Provisions.
To meet this situation the subcom-
mittee has introduced bill into the
House providing five-year program of
library expansion and development.
During this period the legislation would
provide for the establishment of IL ma
ior branch libraries in separate build
ings to serve the population residing in
the thickly built-up areas not having
such facilities 1t would also provide
for the appropriation Of such sums. be-
ginning with the fiscal year 1880, as
may be necessary in the aggregate to
carry out the program.
The efficiency and economy Of the
five-year program is evident, as 1t
would permit the library trustees to
develop the library system, not in hap
hazard manner, but in accordance with
a we'll formulated plan.
The library bill referred to in the re-
port was H. r. 1888. 1t was introduced
by Representative Gibson at the second
session of the Sixty-ninth Congress. 1t
has not yet been introduced in the Sew
entieth Congress. The publication OF
the strong Endorsement of the legisla-
ton by the committee raises the ques-
ton whether Representative Gibson will
not reintroduce the bill and press for
It's enactment.