Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-01
BOWERMAN ASKS
LIBRARY EXTENSION
IN 1882 ESTIMATES
Two Branch Sites and Con-
struction of PetWorth Build
ing Included in Plans.
COMMISSIONERS TOLD
$7O4,572 is REQUIRED
Stresses Need for Branches in
Georgetown and Southwest
Sections of City.

Plans for the extension of Public Ii
brary service during 1882 to keep pace
with Washington's steady growth in
population include estimates for the
purchase of two additional branch
library sites and construction of the
branch building in Petworth, on the
triangular site now owned by the Dis
trict between Georgia avenue, Iowa ave-
nue. and Upshur street. >,
These and other needs, George r.
Bowerman, librarian of the Public Lii
brary, told the District Commissioners
in submitting his new budget, will re-
quire a total of $704,572, of which
amount $53,042 Is urgently needed for
the employment of additional assistant
creased demands on the part Of read
ers and personnel for the new North
western Branch Library.
Mr.. Bowerman stressed the need of a
branch library In Georgetown, las soon
as possible" as he had done in other
years, and included an estimate of $685.
600 for the purchase Of a site. George
town has a population of between
$4,000 and $4,000, he said, with not
and private schools. For many years
the Georgetown Citizens Association
has asked for a branch library to, serve
that section, and is now engaged In a
vigorous campaign in its behalf.
Seek Site i'm Southwest.
It is proposed also, for the sum of
900, to purchase a branch library
site in the Southwest section, another
project which; Mr.. Bowerman reminded,
has been sought a long time. The
library station conducted In Neigh
borhood House, he said, Is heavily
patronized.
For the building and equipment Of
the Petworth branch, an appropriation
Of $4,000 Is asked. This branch would
serve a population Of 10000, it was
pointed out, and the site already owned
Is on the southeast corner of the tri-
angle occupied by the Mcfarland Jun
Tor High School, the Roosevelt Business
High School and an elementary school.
The total amount asked for personnel
services during 1892 Is $685., 372, as
against $282,330 as contained In the
pending District bill. Thirteen new full
time positions would be created in the
Central Library, including one~Junior
librarian, two main library assistants,
two junior library assistants, one under
librarian assistant, two minor library as
sistantS. main clerk and clerical and
mechanical hire. In the central build
ing, Mr.. Bowerman stated, a main libra
ry assistant Is Needed to aid the curator
OF Washington, so that the public may
derive the maximum Of service from the
collection data.
More Personnel Required.
Personnel for the new Northeastern
Branch will require additional salaries
for 19 full-time positions and one half
time position. Two new positions are
required for the hospital and suburban
service, q full-time assistant librarian
and half-time mechanic, for the Mount
Pleasant Branch and one library as
sistant for the Chevy Chase sub
branch.
For general maintenance, Mr.. Bower
man Is asking an increase of So, 400, or
a total OF $3l ,401. This includes 81 $50
for the delivery and collection of books
in IL hospitals of the city. This service
was started two Summers ago and has
proved very helpful to "shut-ins," and
it Is hoped to put more books in circu-
lation at the hospitals during 1892.
An increase Of $4,000 also is asked for
the hiring Of substitute employees for
which a total Of 10000 Is provided In
the estimates. There has been no in
crease in the substitute fund since 1928,
and the extension OF the library service
since then Is accountable for the in
crease now sought.
Original stocking Of the Northeastern
Branch with new books accounts for
most Of the $500 increase which is
asked in a 500, 900 book fund, including
periodicals and newspapers. The in
crease also takes into account $4,000
for the installation of new service to
hospitals and suburban communities
and $4,000 to meet the increase in the
contract for binding and repairing old
books.