Evening star., 1934-04-11
ODOPROVIDED
FOR NEW LIBRARY
Appropriation Bill Carries
Sum for Georgetown
Branch.

Despite the apparent efforts of Repre-
sentative Thomas Blanton of Texas to
show that Washington, by virtue OF
the presence here of the Congressional
Library and the Folger Shakespeare Lii
brary. was already admirably equipped
with library facilities, the 1885 appro-
priation bill carries sl5O,OOO for con-
struction of the long-sought George
town branch library.
This sum was inserted in the bill
by Chairman Cannons committee
after it had been pointed out that the
site for the library at Wisconsin ave-
nue. and r street already is owned by
the District. and that the branch
would provide for the Georgetown Sec
tion its first real Public Library serv-
ice. In inserting the Georgetown Ii
brary item in the ball, the committee
did it with advice that upkeep of this
branch would call for an annual ex-
penditure of $4,000.
Cut Maintenance Sum.
While the committee allowed the
new branch. however. it reduced the
estimated maintenance sum of S32,500
by $500. This action provides the
Public Library with the same main
tenance funds it was allowed his year.
Mr.. Banton's efforts were made
early in the hearings on the library
estimates. DR.. George F. Bowerman,
public librarian. had told the commit
h,t nm
tered users of the Public Library. a
figure which, he explained, does not
include the $4,000 children who are
reached by selected book collections
circulated through the public schools.
DR.. Bowerman also showed that home
use of the library's books increased
tremendously during the depression
years. In 1929. he reported, the home
circulation of books totaled 1861 .62l.
while in 1889 that circulation reached
2,63O,717.
..fter nearing Dr. Bowerman's
statement, MIR. Blanton suggested that
the committee get down to the real
breakdown of the situation He then
cited the Congressional Library. the
finest in the world which, he pointed
out, furnishes free. without local tax
alton of any kind. those wonderful
library facilities to every person in
Washington He cited also the Fol-
ger Library, which he said serves
Washington"
DR.. Bowerman reminded the Texan
that the Folger Library does not serve
Washington in the way that the Pub
lie Library does. Blanton. however. by
the simple method Of repeating his ques-
ton: But it serves Washington, does
it not?" finally got an admission from
DR.. Bowerman that it does. Blanton
then asked about the existing branch
libraries and DR.. Bowerman declared
that there are nine branches at pres
ent.
Nine branch libraries" Mr.. Blanton
commented, lin addition to your big
Central Library, and all of them III
addition to the Congressional Library
that covers four blocks, and the Folger
Library; is that correct?"
DR.. Bowerman said Yes"
Later in the hearings, Representa-
tive j. William Otter Of Pennsylvania
developed, under questioning, that
Washington, with an admittedly high
er cultural plane than most cities of
comparable size, has a resultant
greater demand for library service.
Many Pursuing Studies.
"Is it not a fact?" Mr.. Otter asked,
"that this is the seat of Government;
that many of the employees in the Dis
trict, in the Federal departments and
elsewhere, are pursuing studies either
on their own behalf or in attendance
at schools, are active in higher edu-
cational pursuits? Is not that
factor which is very definitely reflect
ed in the need for service in the Dis
trict which may not be present in
other cities?"
DR.. Bowerman said 1t was and that
the shorter working hours of Govern
ment employees make for more leisure,
which, in turn, is used in self-im-
provement pursuits such as the library
offers.
After the library officials had been
heard, the committee listened to Dor
sey w. Hyde, chairman of the George
town Library Association, and j. B.
Wyckoff testify in behalf of the
Georgetown branch. They pointed
out that the branch would serve a
group of communities with popula-
tion Of 10000.
In its report on the bill it trans
nlitted to Congress Chairman Can
mons committee explained it had in
serted in the 1885 bill an item for
construction of the Georgetown branch
library at a cost of sl50,000. in the
opinion that this section of the city
should be furnished library service
such as has been available for many
years to the Mount Pleasant and
Northeast localities"