Evening star., 1937-07-11


the acting librarian Of the Library
Of Congress, who explained the
relative functions OF that institu-
ton and Of the local Public Lii
brary. He pointed to the necessity,
because Of the lack OF reading room
space. for limiting the use Of the
Congressional Library by local stu
dents. These, he pointed out,
should be taken care OF by the
municipal institution.
This bill in its original form has
been disapproved by the District
Commissioners because it fails to
provide any method OF financing
the purchase OF site and the
erection Of q new library build
Ing. This objection is overcome in
one Of the amendments recon-
mended by the Board Of Library
Trustees which provides for con-
gressional authorization of P.
w. A. allotment out OF the unal-
lotted balance OF the $l0,750,0O0
authorized by Congress under the
emergency relief act Of 1885 There
has been allotted under this au-
thorization for the sewage disposal
plant and other projects a total of
$6,375 900, leaving an unused bal
ance of s4.375,OO0.
The amounts already advanced
which require repayment to the
United States are being discharged
At the rate Of Sl,000,000 per year,
or much more rapidly than has
been required in the case Of other
communities Of voting citizens.
Some OF our citizens have failed
TO understand the important func-
ton in our library system of the
main library building. There has
been disposition to press the pro-
gram for the construction OF addi-
tional branch libraries, with the
thought that through such method
there would be substantial relief
Of the burden carried by the main
library. Experience has proved that
IN the establishment OF branch
libraries from rs to 80 per cent of
the work Of the branch represents
new business. which imposes heavy
additional service requirements on
the central library-thus increas-
ing rather than relieving the bur-
den.
The central library is, of course,
the administrative head Of the sys-
tenn. 1t Is the receiving, the cata-
logueing and distributing center.
Efhcient and economic administra-
ton necessitates centraliZing these
many functions In the main library
building At the present time, the
beautiful white marble Carnegie
Building in Mount Vernon Square
Is crowded to overflowing, with
much unsuited space being devoted
to library uses and numerous for
mer facilities abandoned through
lack OF space. Many important
files which should be located in
the main building have had to be
sent out to distant branches, where
the only available space could be
found.
One entire floor OF the Ford
Building at the corner Of PENN
sylvania avenue and John Mar
shall place, containing over 1900
square feet of floor space, is de-
voted to work which should be
performed at the central library.
The catalogueing division, the
bindery and important files are
located at the Ford Building.
The location of these important
library functions at points distant
from the main library building be-
sides increasing the difficulties of
administration necessitates the un-
necessary extra hauling Of many
tons Of books and other materials.
The present central library IA
cilities are entirely inadequate to
meet present demands, and when
the Petworth branch library IS COM
pleted, to be followed closely by that
OF Anacostia and that in the Jeffer-
son Memorial High School and
Library, ofhcials will be faced with
. problem entirely beyond solution
except through the erection of
an adequate new central building.