Evening star., 1937-10-17
LIBRARIANS REPORT.
DR.. Bowerman Outlines in Detail Con-
ditiOns and Needs Of Library.

ditions and Needs Of Library.
/ The librarian, Dr. George F. Bow
erman, in his report to the library
trustees, says.
Partial and temporary relief has
been secured by occupying an entire
floor Of 1900 square feet in the for
mer Ford Motor Building, where, a
mile away from the central library,
with resulting handicaps to good ad-
ministration, the library's book order
ing, cataloging and book binding serv-
ices are now housed. But the conges-
ton both there and at the main library
has again become so serious as to
jeopardize both the library's collec-
ton and the efficiency of it's service.
Moreover, the prospects Of the razing
of the Ford Building to make way for
Municipal Center buildings or 4 con-
vention hall threaten even the present
inconvenient arrangement. Further
study of the problem has convinced
all concerned that any enlargement Of
the present central library would be
unduly costly to construct, and unduly
costly to administer.
The resulting building would also
be so unsatisfactory both for service
to the public and for the administra-
ton Of large and expanding library
system in q rapidly growing city that
sound and far sighted solution of the
problem demands an entirely new
main library building embodying the
most modern ideas in library planning
and located on the most strategic site
found available"
Provisions Of Collins Bill.
'The bill III. R. 341o) introduced on
January 21. 1887, by Representative
Ross A. Collins of Mississippi author
ICES an appropriation of s2,5oo, 900 for
the purchase of suitable site, and the
erection thereon of a new main library.
including the purchase Of necessary
furniture and equipment and the i'm
provement Of the grounds.
The bill provides for the acouisi-
ton Of the land by condemnation or
otherwise; that the building Be
planned under the supervision of the
municipal architect, but that consult
ing architects and Librarians skilled
in planning library buildings may
also be employed: and that on the
completion Of the building the
present central library shall become a
branch library"
Over 5000, 900 Circulation.
"The home circulation of books was
2,994,511 volumes. This is a gain of
1862 volumes for the year and an
increase Of 78 per cent over the
figures Of 1880. To it must be added
the circulation OF mounted pictures,
which reached the unprecedented
total Of 208,476, making the library's
total circulation 3,202,9s7 pieces
Some indication of the steady gain
OF the library as q study agency is
shown by the further reduction in the
percentage Of fiction in the whole cir
culation from All to 45.8."
Large Increase in Readers.
'The readers registered as library
users number 133,1 ,199, 4 gain Of 5,362
over the previous year and an increase
of BIS per cent above the registration
of 1930-73,467. These figures do not
include the 10000 to $4,000 elementary
and junior high school pupils who live
too far away from any library agency
to be enrolled as library card users, but
who secure Public Library books from
the collections sent to the schools"
Book Stock Increased.
"The book collection WAS increased
to 538,136 volumes. Gross additions
amounted to 51,671 volumes costing
$55, ,936.12, or an average cost Of 31.0s
per volume. But as 32,476 volumes
were worn out and withdrawn, the net
increase was but 1915 volumes. Even
this small net increase would have
been impossible had it not been that
the library's book appropriation for
1897 was increased $4,000 by Con-
gress over the budget figures Of 340,-
600. OF the congressional appropria-
ton Of $4,000 for books and period
icals, A per cent was allotted to the
children's department. The budget
for 1888 provided $4,000 for the pur-
chase Of books, but as $4,000 Of this
was definitely earmarked for stocking
the Petworth Branch. this left but
$4,000 for existing library agencies, or
$4,000 less than the 1887 appropria-
ton.
The House subcommittee increased
the total to $S4,5co, which provides
$54,5 for existing agencies, or IS, 500
less than the 1897 book fund. This
will. OF course, mean somewhat poorer
book service to readers during the
coming year. but the library would