Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-27
NEW D. c. HEADS
INSPECT LIBRARY
Trustees Greet Commission
ers and Service to Public
Is Explained.

The District Commissioners, DR..
Luther H. Reichelderfer, Mai. Gen.
Herbert B. Crosby and Col William E.
Ladue, visited the central building of
the Public Library Thursday afternoon
for inspecting the library service. They
were welcomed by the members Of the
board Of library trustees, who had
assembled In the librarians Office to
meet the Commissioners. There were
present DR.. Frank w. Ballou, Frank j.
Coleman, Mrs. Marie Gasch, John B.
Larner, Maurice Otterback and DR..
Abram Simon. Theodore w. Noyes, presl-
dent, and Judge Wendell P. Stafford,
vice president, and Mrs. Lyman B.
Swormstedt of the board were unable
to be present on account OF illness.
DR.. George F. Bowerman, the public
librarian, conducted the Commissioners
on a short tour of the central building,
showing them some Of the work done
and pointing out the very serious con-
dition of rcrowding, which seriously
interferes 9TH the work of the library.
New Collection Mentioned.
Attention of the Commissioners was
especially directed to an exhibit in the
technology division Of a collection OF
books and magazines of value In con-
nection with municipal administration,
including books on all phases Of en-
cheering, city planning, finance and
accounting.
Returning with the Commissioners to
his Office, DR.. Bowerman exhibited the
sketch plans for the proposed enlarge
ment Of the Central Library Building to
twice It's present size. He also showed
photographs of the three present major
branch Libraries, Mount Pleasant South
eastern and Takoma Park, housed in
buildings given by Andrew Carnegie or
the Carnegie Corporation. The Library
has five subbranches, four Of which
were represented by pictureS-Tenley
and Conduit Road, housed In separate
buildings; Chevy Chase and Woodbridge,
housed In rented store buildings. The
Eastern High School subbranch Is
housed in that school house.
Branch Plans Exhibited.
The preliminary plans by Municipal
Architect A. L. Harris for the North
: eastern Branch Library were also on
exhibition. This branch is to be built
on a site already bought at Seventh
street and Maryland avenue, northeast.
The appropriation bill for 1881 carries
$50, 900 for the building for this major
branch library.
In the absence Of Mr.. Noyes Mr..
Larner spoke briefly for the trustees,
and DR.. Reichelderfer replied for the
Commissioners.
DR.. Bowerman also exhibited to the
Commissioners q map of the District
showing the proposed branch libraries
yet needed In order to furnish library
service convenient to the homes and
Offices of all residents of the District,
in accordance with the stipulations of
the law under which the Public Library
operates. The librarian briefly outlined
the present work, stressing the present
better support of the library in con-
trast with what had been its expert
ence, the skilled service it was render
ing to the public. He pointed out, how
ever, that the library is unable with
its few branches to give convenient
service to more than one-third Of the
population Of the District, and expressed
hope that this condition might be
speedily corrected.