Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-07-21

iD 2 letter 20 " IlNan A lf9Dfiis, pFt'-
pies counsel Who is a member Of the
| committee named by the Senate Dis
trlct Committee 70 study rcorganlza-
ton Il tnc District government. The
statement was IN response 70 2 re-
quest by Roberts for comment on the
proposals
Urge Unpaid Board.
The board believes the continued
usefulness and growth Of the library
system viii be far better conserved
/ by a library board composed Of IN
paid representative citizens having. as
at present. administrative response
bilities and powers than by a board
without such responsibilities and
powers. The trustees said
The statement, which will be for
warded to the Senate Committee.
follows in part
In response TO The invitations issued
by one Of the special agents Of the
Senate Committee on the District OF
Columbia for expressions Of opinion
on the proposals for the reorganiza-
ton Of the District government, the
Board Of Library Trustees has the
honor TO submit the following memo
randum with respect to the Free
Public Library. and the Board Of
Library Trustees. which administers
the Library.
Proposals Grouped.
The various proposals concerning
| the Board Of Library Trustees may be
grouped roughly into the following
!. That the library board be
continued as at present. whether
or not the District government as
whole continues unchanged or Is
radically altered.
2. That the library board be
continued, but be stripped of its
essential administrative powers
and become purely advisory
board, this would mean that the
Public Library would become inn
plicitlv a department functioning
directly under the District govern
ment executive O. e, either the
Commissioners or a city manager.
3. That the library board be
abolished and the Public Library
become explicitly a department
functioning in all respects directly
under the District government
executive.
4. One variant Cor elaboration
of 3 is that the Public Library
become an integral part Of De
partment of Education, lie, be
practically merged with the public
schools, and that an education and
library council be set up to act
in a purely advisory capacity in
suggesting policies for both schools
and Libraries. This is the pro-
posal of L. F. Schneckebrier and
w. F. Willoughby in their Gov
ernmeut and Administration Of the
District of Columbia: Suggestions
for Change" 1920
System UnderdeveIOped.
The Board Of Library Trustees be-
lieves that the continued success,
prosperity. usefulness. and growth of
the Public Library system as an ef-
fective supplement of the Public
Schools and as an agency for adult
education Of great possibilities IN an
era which promises increased leisure
for all will be far better conserved
by library board composed of unpaid
representative citizens having, as at
present administrative responsibilities
and powers, than by board without
such responsibilities and powers. The
Public Library system Is much under
developed and badly needs more
branches in order TO serve the entire
population of the District, and for
its expansion should have the foster
ing care Of a strong board composed
of men and women with special in
terest in and responsibility for library
/ expansion. Library interests should
! not be deprived Of this resource OF
/ citizen interest and effective reSpon-
sibilitv. a loss which would result
from having a purely advisory board
I or no board. The Public Library
/ represents voluntary education; the
/ school Institutional education. The
/ specialized interests of the library
should not be jeoparGized by being
I mcrecd with and submerged by the
overshadow,ng interests Of the schools.
Bill introduced in House.
( In 1915. at the request Of the Dis
trict Commissioners Of that time, a
/ bill was introduced in the House OF
/ Representatives providing;
That hereafter all appoint
mcntS to and removals from an
| nual and other positions author
! lied by Law and appropriations for
+ tho Free Public Library shall be
/ made by the Commissioners Of the
District Of Columbia"
/ Since the library law provides that
/ the Library Board 'whose members
are under that law appointed by the
} District Commissioners shall ap-
point a librarian to have the care and
/ supcrintcndCnce of said library, who
shall be responsible to the board
and that the said librarian shall
appoint such assistants as the said
beard shall deem necessary. 1t Will
/ be seen that this proposal. i enacted.
would have efectualy stripped the
. Library Board Of its essential admin
! iStratiye powers.
Hearing Held in 1915.
A hearing was held on the bin by
. tie House District Committee on
. February !. 1916, at which were
) heard Commissioner Newman IN sup
Port Of the proposal and President
. Moves ri the Library Board and
. Librarian BoWerman in opposition
thereto There was also pending at
the same time before the House Com
mi,tee & bill providing for the ap-
/ polntment by the District Commits
/ siorers not only Of members Of the
Board OF Education bat also Of the
! superintendent O! schools the teach
e,S. and an other employees of the
! Board Of Education. A. The close Of
the hearing on The library bin the
District Committee voted unanl-
mouSly 10 table both library and
I school bills
TIL l.--rsy-@ go, Yi,- t,r-- yf-s g