Evening star., 1928-11-27
GIBSON DRAWS BILL
FOR D. c. LIBRARIES
Measure for 5-Year Program
to Be introduced Opening
Day of Congress.

Chairman Gibson of the special House
subcommittee which has been making
a comprehensive survey of the municipal
government in the interests of economy
and efficiency, has drafted bill pro-
vidine for a five-year building and ex-
tension program for the free public
library system of the District which he
will introduce on the opening day OF
the short session.
He explained today that this legisla-
sion will afford adequate public library
facilities and sarvice convenient to
homes and offices of all residents OF the
District as required by the organic act
of June 3. 1896, and since amended.
Among the objects to be accomplish
ed are: ,u,,
: Enlargement of the central library
building to provide adequate space Tor
+he housing of books the service OF
readers and the administration OF
barge public library system. =.
THE construction and equipment OF
a suf1cient number Of branch library
buildings so located as 10 proVlQe IL
brary service to the population IN all
4hickly bulit-up areas. ,,,...
The equipment as branch nprarieS
nf suitable rooms in public school build
tnos and of suitable rented quarters III
neiohborhoods not otherwise served.
The equipment as branch libraries OF
a SUFFICIENT number of suitable roomS
in Federal and District Government
buildings convenient to Government
In general to provide in the District
of Columbia a program that VIII eA-
emplify the best in planning, conSIruc-
ton and equipment OF library oullonisS
and rooms.
Provisions of Bill.
The bill which Mr. Gibson will intro
duce authorizes the District CommS-
eioners within the flve-year PERIOD oe-
ginning July /, 1929:
To make such extensions or aItera-
tions of the central library building as
may be necessary.
To rent a building or space In a
building satisfactory to the board OF
library trustees and convenient to the
central library for storage OF books ana
office space for administrative purposes.
pending the completion of alterations in
the main building.
To acquire suitable plots of land for
sites for new branch libraries, not ex-
ceeding total of 13 during the tive-year
period and to construct thereon library
buildings, each covering not less than
an area of 1000 square feet. These
branch libraries would be located as
follows:
Northeastern branch, to serve the
section north of East Capitol street,
and east of the Union Station.
Georgetown branch, to serve that
section.
Southwestern branch, to serve the
section south of the Mall and west OF
South Capitol street.
Anacostia branch, to serve the section
east of the Anacostia River and south
of Pennsylvania avenue.
Dupont circle branch to serve the
section having Dupont circle as the
center.
Calvert branch to serve the section
west and south of the Geological Park
lexington branch to serve the section
adjacent to the Langley Junior High
School
Rhode Island avenue branch to serve
the section north of and west of the
main line and east and north of the
Metropolitan branch of the Baltimore
IL Ohio Railroad tracks.
Petworth branch to serve the section
west of the northern portion OF the
Soldiers Home grounds and west OF
Rock Creek Cemetery.
Connecticut avenue branch to serve
the section north of Cleveland Park and
west of Rock Greek Park.
Cathedral branch to serve the section
north and west Of the Naval Observa-
tory.
Sixteenth street branch at 1929 Six
teenth street, by remodeling and en-
9argement of the dwelling now owned
BY the District.
Branch Libraries.
The District Commissioners also are
authorized to provide, equip and main
tain not more than 25 branch libraries
in rooms, in public school buildings and
for such purposes to make any neceS-
sary structural alterations in the Arm
strong Technical High School. the Ran
dali Junior High School, the Langley
Junior High School, the Gordon Junior
High School. the Francis Junior High
School, the Stuart Junior High School,
the Macfarland Junior High School, the
E. A. Paul Junior High School, the JEFF
ferson Junior High School, the Garnet
Patterson Junior High School, the
Deanwood School, the Park View School
and the Wesley Heights School build
ings and such other public school build
ings as the Board of Education may
QoSlSndbG HIlQ IIle UOdIQ VI
tees may accept for branch library pur-
poses.
The District Commission also is
authorized:
To assign school buildings no longer
needed by the Board of Education for
school purposes to the Board of Library
Trustees for use as branch libraries and
to make necessary structural altera-
tions.
To provide and maintain not more
than three branch libraries, convenient
TO the Offices of Government employees,
In such suitable rooms in Federal and
District Government buildings as may
be suitable for library purposes and
assigned to the Board of Library
Trustees.
Plans for Suburbs.
To rent quarters for branch libraries
sn suburban neighborhoodS where
rooms in school buildings are not avail
able and near Government Offices
where suitable rooms are not avail
eble in Federal and District Govern
ment buildings. Such rented quarters
must be satisfactory to the Board of
Library Trustees and not to exceed
eight in number.
To purchase or construct and to in
stall in such buildings, rooms and other
library quarters shelving. desks and
other necessary library furniture and
equipment.
The Gibson bill required that the
plans and specifications for all build
ings and alterations shall be prepared
under the supervision of the municipal
architect after consultation with the
board of library trustees, at whose re-
quest consulting architects skilled in
the planning of library buildings shall
be employed. All such plans and speci-
f1cations for library buildings are to be
subject to the approval of the library
trustees and the District Commits