Evening star., 1935-09-08
BUDGET FOR 1887
INCLUDES FUNDS
FOR 2L|BRAR|ES
Estimates of Dr.. BoWerman
Seek $15O,00O to Build
PetWorth Branch.
$25, 900 IS REQUESTED
FOR ANACOSTIA SITE
Librarian Asks Total Of $729, $40,
Increase of $25s,175 Over
Present Appropriations.


Funds for construction of Pet
worth branch library and purchase of
D site and drafting Of plans for, an
Anacostia branch are sought In the
1887 budget estimates of the Free
Public Library, made public yester-
day by Mai. Daniel ]. Donovan, Dis
trict budget officer.
Estimates submitted by DR.. George
r. Bowerman, librarian. call for an
appropriation Of $50, 900 for building
q Petworth branch at Kansas and
Iowa avenues on land owned by the
District Government. The sum
would provide for equipping the
building and improvement of grounds.
"A population Of $4,000 is esti-
mated for this section which is prac-
tically without library service, as it
Is over q mile from the over-crowded
Mount Pleasant Branch and over
two miles from Takoma Park and
the Central Library" library officials
informed the Commissioners.
Branch Would Serve Adults.
"a site is available on the campus
OF the Roosevelt High and Macfar-
land Junior High Schools. A branch
there would serve the adult popula-
ton, the students Of these schools
and eight elementary and parochial
schools in the vicinity or within easy
walking distance. The citizens Of the
section are most urgent in their ap-
peals for the branch and it has the
approval of the Federation of Citi-
Gems Associations"
For the purchase of a site for
branch in Auacostia,' library officials
asked $25,00o and $3.50 for draft
ing Of specifications.
This branch will serve Anacostia,
Congress Heights, Randle Highlands
and Good Hope" the Commissioners
were advised. THE population within
q mile radius Of a proper location Is
estimated at 20,344 and is rapidly in
creasing. There are 10 public schools
and two parochial schools in the ter
ritory to be served; also the personnel
of st. Elizabeth's Hospital and the
flying fields.
Suitable Sites Scarce.
"The section is cut of from other
library facilities by the river and by
distance. It Is about 2 miles from
the nearest library branch, South
eastern, to the center Of Anacostia.
Suitable sites are getting so scarce
that one should be acquired at the
earliest opportunity"
The type of library building pro-
posed for the section would cost
Sl25,oo0, including equipment.
For all purposes, the library esu-
mates call for $729, $40, an increase Of
$25s,l75 over appropriations for the
present year. Thirty-four additional
employees will be needed by the sys-
tenn to meet growing service demands,
the Commissioners were informed. A
total salary appropriation OF $404. 100
was urged. The sum granted for this
year was $343,550. For the Central
Library, four librarians, four library
assistants, one part-time assistant,
two clerks, three mechanics and four
messengers would be added. The re-
mainder Of the additional employees
would be scattered among the various
branches.
On this point. library officials stated:
mo new positions have been grant
ed during the years 1933-1935 and
the ones granted for 1886 are for new
agencies. the Georgetown branch (now
being opened) and the new music
reading room. The whole library sys-
TEN Is seriously in arrears and In the
face of continually growing use Is
unequipped to render essential service,
Since 1880, the increase in the
number Of registered borrowers Is
SIS per cent: in volumes circulated,
90 per cent, as against an increase
In staff Of only 13 per cent"
:. Increases in personnel would be for
affording some measures Of relief to
the departments and branches deal
ing directly with the public, by the
addition of IL new positions, at a
cost Of $15,460. For the Central
Library, there would be q readers
adviser In history and economics, an
assistant for the music division, an
assistant for the reference depart
ment, an assistant superintendent for
work with schools and three pages.
Five positions are requested for the
branches: An assistant readers ad-
wiser at Mount Pleasant, an assistant
children'S librarian at Takoma and
two aids and one page for the Chevy
Chase, Woodbridge and Tenley sub
branches.
The administrative offices and ac-
Qudsitions departments also would be
strengthened by additional salary sums
Of $4,430 and $3,0S0, respectively.
Longer Hours Proposed.
Other sums asked would permit
longer hours Of libraby operations, to
AFFORD better public service. It is
proposed 10 operate the Central L.
brary, the Mount Pleasant, Northeast
ern, Southeastern and Takoma Park
Branches for 70 hours weekly instead
Of the present "a hours. Eight new
positions would be needed for this
purpose.
The Chevy Chase and Woodbridge
Sub Branches would operate on full
time basis instead of the present 80
hours o week. Such operation would
mean they would stay open until 8
pm. on five or six nights a week,
thus providing greater opportunity
for reference use by students and work.
ers. It is impossible to do this with
the present very limited staff, the
Commissioners were told.
An appropriation of $4,000 was
asked for purchase Of books, periodi-
Gals, music records and other ma
terials. The minimum requirement
Sor binding is $4,000, library officials
declared. For maintenance and re-
pair Of library properties $4s,5o0 vas
requested as against $32,625 for this
year. A sum Of $4,000 was urged for
painting interior walls and erection
OF an iron fence for the new George
town Branch.