Evening star., 1935-08-07
Ralph L. Thompson to Be in
Charge-0ther Shifts
Are Made.
EARLY OCTOBER SET
FOR FORMAL OPENING
5000 to 5000 Books in Peabody
Library to Be Transferred
From Curtis School.

F. B0Werman, PUBIC llprarlan, To-Day
made far-reaching shifts in the staff
of the library throughout the city and
added several to the staff.
DR.. Bowerman took this action on
the eve of his departure for an ex-
tended European trip, planning to sail
from New York Friday returning late
In September.
The books of the Peabody Library,
housed in Curtis School, have been
turned over to the Georgetown
branch, DR.. Bowerman announced.
The librarian of the new George
town branch, at Wisconsin avenue and
r street, will be Ralph L. Thompson,
who for several years has been in
charge of the Mount Pleasant branch.
His place at Mount Pleasant will be
filed by the transfer of Cecil j. Nc
Hale, who has been the branch libra
rian of the Northeastern branch since
its opening in 1882.
Miss Swift Named.
Northeastern's new branch librarian
will be Miss Iva I. Swift, who will be
promoted after several years of sue
cessful service as readers adviser at
the central library.
Mrs. Helen T Steinbarger, who has
recently completed 10 years of service
as readers adviser at the Mount
Pleasant Branch, will be transferred
to a similar position at Georgetown.
Miss Ellen Overlook, now librarian
of the central reference room at the
downtown central library, will be in
charge of the reference service of
the Georgetown Branch. Miss Alice
James from Mount Pleasant Branch,
will be in charge of the adult charg-
ing desk The childrens staff will
consist of Miss Sarah Coleman, from
Central Library, as children's Ii
brarian; Miss Evelyn Turpin, from
Central Library, as assistant children's
librarian, and Miss Mary Trundle,
from Tenley Subbranch, as reference
librarian.
One of the changes in the staff
of the Central Library not linked
with the opening of the Georgetown
Branch is the appointment of Miss
Caroline Shurtlef as readers adviser
in sociology, succeeding Mrs. Louise
Reiner Stebbing, who has resigned
after nine years of service. Mrs. Steb-
bing made a notable record, especially
In advising parents and teachers on
the literature dealing with child prob
lens, DR.. Bowerman said, and in con-
tacting all local social service agen-
cies and meeting the needs of their
members. Miss Shurtlef is gradu-
ate of the University of Michigan,
and studied education and sociology
at the University of Southern Cali
fornia.
Library Inspected.
Dr. BoWerman made a personal in
spection of the new Georgetown
branch yesterday for the last time be-
fore sailing for Europe. With him
were Miss Clara W. Herbert. assistant
librarian; Thompson ana McHale.
DR.. Bowernan learned from ]. H.
Wright of Bahen & Wright, contrac-
tors, that the building will be finished
by August Is.
DR.. Bowerman expressed gratifica-
tion and declared the contractors had
done IAN excellent job and speedy
one" He explained that owing to the
completion of the building it might
have been possible to open the new
branch by September, but that certain
factors due to appropriations and
books would delay the opening until
some time early in October The book
stock for the branch is not yet ready,
he said, and the congressional appro
priations for personnel provide a staff
for only nine months of the present
fiscal year, beginning october /.
DR.. Bowerman explained that past
experience in opening other branches
has been that it takes from 10 days to
two weeks of hard work after library
building is completed to get books On
the shelves and all of the details ar
ranged for the rush of readers who al
ways come as soon as new branch is
opened.
The Georgetown branch building, of
Colonial design, will be the largest
branch building in the system. The
congressional appropriation provides
for staff of 19 persons, including
two janitors, exactly the same number
as have been provided at first for both
Of the other large branches and which
quickly were found to be inadequate
The book fund provided for the first
stocking Of the Georgetown branch
and for the first year of opening, Dr..
Bowerman explained, was $50, 900, less
than is needed and less than that
provided for Mount Pleasant.
5000 Books in Transfer.
Georgetown's book fund, he ex-
planned, fortunately is to be supple
mented by reason of the fact that the
trustees of the Peabody Library in
the Curtis School have turned over
that collection to the Georgetown
branch. Not all of its books have been
found suited to the needs Of this
branch, DR.. Bowerman said, but prob
ably between 5000 and 5000 volumes
from the Peabody Library will help to
piece out the books obtained by pur-
chase. Many of these Peabody books
now are being rebound and all will
bear O separate bookplate with por-
trait of George Peabody. who gave
the fund with which the library has
been maintained for nearly so years.
One of the features of the new
branch is the Peabody room, on the
second floor; to be used as a meeting
place for citizens associations and
other organizations, but also and espe-
cially for exhibits of Georgetown ma
terial, books, pictures and museum OBJ
jects. This Peabody room, where there
will be prominently displayed portrait
OF Mr.. Peabody, will be in charge of
Miss Eva N, Gilbert, who. for many |