Evening star., 1937-05-23
Central Library Expansion
Essential to Branch Program.

C1V1C groups demanding neigh
borhood branches Of the Pub
lie Library almost invariably over
look the fact that our library sys-
tenn has already far outgrown its
central library facilities, both as to
space and personnel To take care
OF additional branches it is abeo-
lutely essential that the central
plant be expanded and brought
up to date.
This attitude is illustrated in a
report adopted recentely by the
Federation Of Citizens Associa-
tions. The matter came before the
federation on report by It's Com
nittee on City Planning on the
Collins bill III. r. 3410) authoriz-
ing an appropriation Of $2,500 900
for the acquisition Of a suitable site
located west OF Sixteenth street
and north Of Pennsylvania avenue
and the erection thereon Of a new
central library.
The report in question expressed
the belief that urgent need OF the
Public Library system Is for more
branch libraries, to serve the resi-
Dental sections Of the District. and
that the construction Of more and
better facilities for the main library
should wait upon the providing Of
more adequate branch library IA
ri1itiAx y Yvba ,>ayoo$ oo.1,,l-S ,.;4I.
the single recommendation, which
was adopted by the federation, 1T
Is therefore recommended that the
federation take no action upon this
bill"
The annual reports OF the libra
rlan and the Board of Library
Trustees have for some time called
attention to the crippled condition
OF the library system by reason o.
outgrowing its central plant. This
active citizen board has for a long
time had comprehensive pro-
gram OF branch expansion to, in a
measure, bring Washington up to
other communities as to public
library facilities. From the inti-
mate knowledge Of the services
which are required to be rendered
to branches by the central estab-
lishment the librarian and trustees
have long known that 1t is out Of
the question to care for more
branches without material enlarge
ment OF central plant and per-
sonnel.
Many studies have been made Of
various suggested methods Of meet
ing this situation and the one OUT
lined by the Collins bill is the lat
est. To enlarge the present CEN
trail building is said to be difncult
architecturally. After such en-
largement of this building it u
feared by some that the accom-
modations would be largely make
shift and far from meeting eff
ciently the requirements Of a mod
ern municipal central library.
In some quarters there are objec-
tions raised against the location Of
the present central building In
Mount Vernon Square. the neigh
borhood of which has changed con-
siderably since that building was
erected, through the generosity Of
Andrew Carnegie. Mount Vernon
Square Is very near the center Of
population of the District. The
center was in that neighborhood
when the building was erected and
has 80 continued with only slight
variations since from the point at
that time.
Among civic groups where this
problem has been discussed there
Is wide difference Of opinion ~
to the location Of . new central
library. With the Districts present
financial plight in mind there Is .
hesitation to approve COM
mitment to an appropriation Of
$2,50000O for . new building, Of
which amount considerable part
will be required for an expen-
sive site.
While there appears to be q
generally friendly interest in and
attitude toward the library system
As part Of our educational system.
the civic groups, without exception,
are urging increased school facili.
ties as Of greater immediate i'm.
portance. The library problem il
one Of the several acute problems
representing accumulated needs
which have been from time to time