Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-29
BILL ASKS LIBRARY
WINGS ON SCHOOLS
Gibson Proposes Outside
Entrance Intended for
Use of Adults.

A proposal for a separate wing with
an outside entrance for library purposes
in new school buildings is emphasized
in the new $40, 100000 bill for expansion
of library facilities in the National
Capital which was introduced late yes
terday by Representative Gibson Re-
publican, of Vermont.
In this respect and also. in the idea
of lump-sum appropriation to be
available from time to time" for
acquisition of sites, for branch libraries,
improvement of the central library and
for erection of library wings on school
buildings, this bill which Representa-
tive Gibson substitutes for his earlier
five-year library building program, con-
forms with the new policy advocated
by Chairman Simmons of the subcom-
mittee on District appropriations.
It is based on the same principle as
the Simmons bill authorizing an appro-
priation of $10,00O,O0O as needed for
additional school sites and buildings.
During the hearings on the District
appropriation bill Chairman Simmons
stressed the importance, as he has
previously advocated for four years, of
having definite provision made in school
building plans for separate library
wings with outside entrances of their
own for adults of the community. He
directed Maj. Adkins, assistant to the
Engineer Commissioner, to confer with
DR.. George w. BoWerman, librarian
and with school authorities regarding
such program of expansion for both
the schools and the library on CO.
operative and co-ordinated basis
The one branch library authorized
and established in a school building,
which has tested out the idea of turn
ing over single classroom for library
use is in the Eastern High School and
has proved unsatisfactory. largely be-
cause adults do not want to go back to
school and use the same entrance for
the library that the children do for
their claSSrOOmS.
Chairman Simmons complained dur
ing the hearings that Washington in
this respect has been backward, be-
cause other large cities of the country
such as ST. Louis and Kanass City, have
had eminent success with the scheme of
putting separate library wings on school
buildings. Mr.. Simmons insisted that by
putting library wing on new junior
high school you place the library facili-
ties at the very center of population,
where it will serve the largest possible
number Of persons.
Strong Support Expected.
The prospects are that the Gibson
library expansion bill will have strong
support in Congress and that it will
carry the Endorsement of Representative
Simmons and Senator Bingham, chair
men, respectively, of the House and
Senate committees on District appro-
priations.
The District appropriation bill for the
fiscal year 1880 now awaiting action by
the Senate carries provision for new
branch library in the northeast section.
During the hearings, advocating the
library wing scheme, Mr.. Simmons
said: I'm the matter of economy in
| land purchases, on the matter of con-
venience of service to your school popu-
lation and through your school popula-
ton to the parents. on the matter OF
upkeep, on the matter of maintenance
lit seems to me there could be a de-
cided advantage in the plan I have
suggested repeatedly"