Evening star., 1935-03-28

AS an integral part of the campaign
to improve school buildings through
public works money, the library trus-
tees have drawn up program for ex-
pansion of the service of the library
through five new proposed branches.
The inclusion of library expansion
along with the school expansion pro-
gram is appropriate because of the
fact that the law creating the Public
Library of the District of Columbia in
1896 declared it to be "a supplement
of the public education system of said
District
Fully half of the work of the Pub
lie Library here, according to DR..
George F. Bowerman, librarian, is
with children of school age. In
addition the library performs much
service for high school and college
students, who are considered so far as
the library is concerned as adults"
Would Serve Schools.
The five projects selected by the
library trustees and recommended to
the District Commissioners for con-
struction from works relief funds
would all serve the public schools in
their neighborhood, DR.. Bowerman ex-
plains. Some of these neighborhoods
have greatly increased need for library
service, he explained, on account of
new school building construction.
The five branch libraries recon-
mended for building now, DR.. Bower
man further explained, not only are
needed at present, but there is the
additional advantage that sites for the
buildings are already available.
Recommendation of the five new
branches for present consideration by
the Commissioners does not mean
that the needs of other sections will
be forgotten by the library authorities,
Dr. Bowerman emphasized The avail
ability of these five sites at the pres
ent time gives them priority over
others where sites would have to be
purchased, thus adding to the cost of
the projects.
The five sites recommended for pres
ent construction through work-relief
funds are indicated on the adjacent
map, which shows also where some
of the new projects would replace old,
overcrowded ones nearby.
Location Of Projects.
The five projects are located in
Petworth, Tenleytown, Conduit road,
Howard University section and south
west.s The total cost of building the
five is estimated at $407, ,00G.
Not all Of the properties are now in
the hands Of the library trustees, but
are considered to be available by rea-
son of public ownership and possible
transfer to the library.
The Petworth branch, estimated to
cost $4,000, would be built on the
campus Of the Roosevelt High and
Macfarland Junior High Schools on
Kansas avenue and Upshur street.
This is available by agreement with
the Board of Education. The esti-
mated cost is substantially the same
as the Georgetown Branch Library,
now under construction, exclusive of
furniture and equipment. It is pro-
posed to utilize the plans for the
Georgetown Branch Library, already
available, with such notifications as
NAV be required by the ground levels.
The municipal architect has visited
this Petworth site, and considers the
use of the plans feasible.
Agree to Transfer.
Concerning the proposed Tenley
branch, the Board of Education has
agreed to transfer q portion Of the
site on which the Janney School is
located. This portion has q frontage
of 100 feet on Wisconsin avenue, IS
feet on Albermarle street, $50 feet on
the west side and 135 feet on the
south side, an area of over $4,000
snIare feet. The site is considered
sdenuate and most strategically
placed. The cost of this Is estimated