Evening star., 1935-03-29

Need for the five proposed branch
libraries recommended to the Dis
trict Commissioners for erection BY
work relief funds has been established
by the library trustees after careful
survey of the situation, particularly
with regard to adjacent schools.
DR.. George F. Bowerman. librarian
of the Public Library has an abun-
dance of data showing the pressing
need in most Of these locations Il
serve children of the public schools
This puts the proposed branch
libraries directly in line with the
program for strengthening of the
school system Of the city, because oi
the fact that the act establishing the
library set it up as supplement tt
the schools Of the national Capital
Petworth Has Priority.
First on the priority list of five
proposed branch libraries has beer
placed the Petworth branch, on which
it Is proposed to eXpend $4,000, to
serve a community which has re.
peatedly sent resolutions to District
authorities asking for a library.
THE Petworth section is one of the
most congested in the city" DR.
Bowerman explained, with popula-
ton rated at $4,000 to $4,000. II
needs a branch library badly. The
branch will serve the junior and
senior high schools on the same
campus, eight elementary public
schools and parochial schools within
easy walking distance. and four in
outlying districts. The total school
population will approximate 1000.
The new Petworth branch would
be over a mile from the Mount
Pleasant branch library and over two
miles from the Takoma Park branch
1t is impossible for the children oi
the Petworth section to go the long
distances either to the Mount Pleas.
ant or Takoma Park branches with
the traffic hazards which such trip.
entail. The citizens of Petworth sec.
ton long have sought branch
library and have repeatedly petitioned
the Commissioners for the branch"
Plans Are Available.
The site Of the new Petwortt
branch would be on the campus oi
the Roosevelt High and Macfarlano
Junior High Schools on Kansas
avenue and Upshur street. 1t is pro.
posed to use plans for the George.
town Branch Library already avail.
able.
Tenley branch has been placed
second on the priority list, with 9
substantial showing of need.
The present Tenley subbranch i,
located in a former police station or
Wisconsin avenue and River road,
Dr. Bowerman explained. THE build.
ing is entirely inadequate for its
present use and when the new Wood
row Wilson Senior High School il
opened in the autumn it will be quite
impossible to accommodate the stu
dents. The population of this section
now estimated at 5000, is rapidly
growing. At present there are eight
public and parochial schools in the
immediate vicinity. Adequate quar-.
tiers here would enable the library to
render much larger service than il
can possibly give in its present
cramped quarters. Operating costs
would not be greatly increased.
cit is proposed to place the Tenley
branch on portion of the site on
which the Janney School is located,
on Wisconsin avenue and Albermarle
streets"
Would Replace Old Branch.
The proposed Conduit Road branch
has been the center of much demand
from the community. It would re.
place an old branch which is now
located in an abandoned one-room
school house built over so years ago.
This building, DR.. Bowerlnsr,
pointed out today, sis in . most di-
lapidated condition and requires
repairs estimated to cost over $l.700.
The foundations" he said, ARE poor
and sagging: the shingle roof needs
to be replaced; the inside needs re-
plastering and painting and the
exterior requires having the rotted
wood removed and burning and
scraping and painting. The condition
now is so serious that the building
will have to be abandoned. To repair
would be so costly as to seem mad
visable, especially as the use OF the
library has now outgrown the avail
able space. Furthermore, the building
is on the line of the Fort Drive and
must sooner or later be torn down.
1.-THE population Is estimated at
from 1000 to 5000 and includes three
schools with an enrolment Of approxi-
mately 500. The branch Is particularly
needed In this section" said DR.. Bow
srman, because the residents are far
removed from other library agencies
and other cultural opportunities" !"