Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-12
REPORT OUTLINES
LIBRARY NEED IN
ALL COMMUNITIES
Staff and Appropriation In
crease Is Made for Coming
Fiscal Year.
READING CIRCULATION
CONSTANTLY GROWING
Municipal Aid Here Said to Be
Less Than in Most U. S.
Cities.

the city's population, according TO the
annual report of the board of trustees
Of the Public Library, filed with the
District Commissioners, yesterday by
Theodore w. Moves, president OF the
board.
Just as elementary schools are 10
Gated so as to make unnecessary long
trips in dangerous traffic, so libraries
must be widely distributed. They
should be neighborhood affairs, just as
are churches, lodges and citizen associ-
ton meeting places" says DR.. George
F. Bowerman, librarian, whose report
accompanies that of the trustees. In
Washington's experience wherever a
new branch has been opened 80 per
cent or more of the adults and 95 per
cent of the children registered the first
year had not previously been library
readers"
Georgetown Has Needs.
Georgetown, most Of whose inhabi-
tants live 3 miles or more from
the central library, is one example OF
library need. There have been cases
of Georgetown boys, who lacking car
fare have walked to the central library
and back, a trip of miles, so hum
gry were they for books. OF course
ington, has long needed branch library
with a children's room. But the same
conditions exist for the citizens, young
and old Anacostia. Southwest Washing
ton, Petworth, lexington, Brookland,
Cleveland Park, Brightwood, Trinidad,
Wesley Heights Congress Heights, en-
ming and several other sections.
Although Congress has granted $780,
900 for building the Northeastern
branch library on site already pur-
chased at Maryland avenue and
Seventh street northeast, congestion In
the office of the Municipal Architect
and priority given to public school
buildings in the Districts construction
program make it doubtful whether the
branch will be completed by July /,
1881. as planned, DR.. B2werman states.
Petworth Is Hopeful.
Hope for a branch library in Pet
worth. however, increases, with permis-
sion granted by the Board of Educa-
ton to the Board of Library Trustees
to use as q site for a branch library
part of the plot at Georgia and Iowa
avenues and Upshur street, now becom-
ing an educational center, as the new
Roosevelt High School is added to the
High School, already oc-
cupying part of the tract.
It Is hoped that temporary relief for
the crowded condition of the central
library will shortly be affored, when
the basement Of the Metropolitan
Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church,
at the corner of John Marshall place
and G street, becomes available for the
use Of the book acquisition, catalog
and bindery departments Of the
library.
The appropriations for the mainten-
ance of the present organization Tor
the fiscal year 1881 were increased by
$29, $50, providing for a staff increase
of nine persons, and an increase OF
sic, 500 in the book fund, which has
for many years been. inadequate TO
meet the many demands of the public
for new, specialized, or favorite books.
The most important of the staff posi-
lions to be secured Is that of an ad-
wiser to adults in children's literature.
Most of the additions in personnel
were in the professional and
custodial service.
Circulation Increases.
The circulation for all the Library
agencies was / ,680.022 volumes and
ISL 900 mounted pictures. representing
an increase of per cent In the number
increase in the number of mounted pic
lures sent out by the art division. Dur
ing the year 28,273 persons applied TO
the LibrarY for the privilege OF borrow
ing books. making a total registration
of 73, 467 borrowers.
In the Washingtoniana division "a
valuable addition to the collection was
the completion Of the final volume OF
mounted newspaper articles by the
Rambler published in The Evening
Star. The acquisition of photographs
of buildings and scenes in Washington
which will soon disappear or change
of The Evening Star, which has pre-
sented photographs Of SO historic
places, on request Of the division" the
report states.
I'm addition to the personal service
to children, q practically new use OF the
Library is being made by the teachers
in bringing classes to the Central LII
brary and branches.
IAN extensive personal service to
adults has also been developed.
Pictures Are Displayed.
The substantial increase in the book
appropriation for the coming year for
the schools division will enable this de-
partment to resume work with the 2B
grades. discontinued several years ago
because of lack Of funds.
Through the generosity Of Mr.. Dun
can Phillips two groups Of paintings by
modern artists were lent to the library
for exhibition in the art division.
AS an expression of their appreciation
of the work of the library the Chamber
of Commerce and civic organizations OF
Takoma Park presented the Takoma
Park branch with two beautiful flags.
Among other gifts OF the year were
67I review copies from The Evening
star and 1877 volumes from Mrs. Char
lotte Emerson Main. The Chevy Chase
subbranch received set OF the new
Encyclopedia Britannica" as gift
from the Chevy Chase Womans Club
while the Takoma Park horticulture
Club gave a set Of Bailey's STANDARD
Cyclopedia OF Horticulture" to the Ia
koma Park branch.
Estimates Are Made.
Two branch library sites and one
building are included in the estimates
for the fiscal year 1892 submitted to the
District Commissioners by the library
trustees. The total estimate Of $698, 281
covers S494,572 for maintenance OF the
present system, $35 900 for site fol-
the proposed Georgetown branch, $780,
600 for the building and equipment Of
the proposed Petworth branch ano
$4,000 for a site for the proposed
Southwestern branch.
THE library estimates were designed
first to reinforce the present organiza
ton. whose work has largely increased
In the past year and is likely to show
still further increase In the conint
year due to the more ample book ap
preparation" the report continues