Evening star., 1937-07-07
HOUSE D c. BODY
LISTENS T0PLEAS
FOR NEW LIBRARY
Half Dozen City Leaders
Tell Committee Need
Is Acute.
CROWDED, HAMPERED,
CHIEF SAYS OF WORK
More Branches Cannot Be Built
Until Central Building Is
Larger, He Asserts.

Urgent need OF adequate library
facilities was stressed today at a hear
Ing before the full House District Com
mittee on a bill providing for con-
struction of a new main building for
Washington's free Public Library sys-
tenn
More than a half dozen civic and
business leaders, as well as trustees and
officials of the library told the COM
mittee how the present Main Library
had outgroWn its accommodations ana
Is unable to furnish ample and efficient
service to the public.
The hearing was held on bill
sponsored by Representative Collins,
Democrat. of Mississippi, who ap-
peared before the committee to urge
It's approval. The measure authorizes
an appropriation of $4,000 900 for pur-
chase of site and construction OF a
new central library building.
Money Lack Only obstacle.
Collins declared Washington should
take the lead among the cities of the
country in furnishing adequate library
facilities to its residents. A new main
library, he pointed out, would take
some burden off the Congressional
Library.
THE inadequacy of funds is the only
obstacle toward providing the new
library" he declared. 1T is serious
situation, but not so serious that we
cannot overcome it."
Collins explained that the tax bill
now before the Senate District Com
mittee will raise sufficient revenue TO
meet the ordinary and certain cul-
tural needs of the city, and expressed
the belief that the Government would
lend the District sufficient funds with
out interest to erect buildings it sorely
needed. He mentioned specifically a
new jail. additional schools and build
ings in the Municipal Center area for
use of the municipal government.
But" he declared above all, We
need a new library building
Crowding Is Emphasized.
Dr.. George F. Bowerman. chief
librarian of the Public Library, de-
scribed the growth of the library and
declared, I'VE are crowded beyond de-
scription and hampered in our work. "
DO. He said the library should have
more space for its readers and ex-
planned there are now 10 branch
libraries in service and a demand for
more, but conditions had reached such
q point the library cannot have more
branches until it has larger central
quarters.
I'VE need in the main library" he
declared, "a large reservoir to supple
ment the service of the branches"
DR.. BoWerman also presented to
the committee copy of a report of
the Board of Trustees Of the Public
Library to former Chairman Norton,
which showed that the trustees last
April unanimously approved the bill
and had recommended a number Of
amendments. These amendments were
approved by Collins.
Would Be Eligible to P. w. A.
One Of the principal amendments
would make the new building eligible
Is a Public Works Administration
project by including the purchase of
site and construction of the building
within the provisions of the act
authorizing the Commissioners to OBJ
tain by grant and loan. up to slG,-
100000, for municipal projects. Only
$6,375,000 has been loaned to the
District up to this time.
Another important change pro-
posed by the library trustees was to
qualify the authorize ton of a ST.
100000 site and building fund by the
words "or so much thereof as may be
necessary" and to specify that the
funds authorized for appropriation
would come out of the revenues Ct the
District "and the Treasury of the
United States" The change In
language would remove any complca-
tons in connection with the proposal
Of financing the building. or a part
Of 1t, out of P. w. A. funds, and of a
possible finding that not so much as
the total appropriation would be
necessary to erect and equip the
new building.
Martin A. Roberts, assistant libra
rian Of the Library Of Congress, testi
fied that new central Public Librar!
would greatly relieve the Congressional
and enable 1t to increase its efficiency
Amendments Suggested.
Nathan c. Wyeth, municipal archi
tect, discussed library building costs
and Thomas S. Settle, secretary Of tn,
National Capital Park and Plannin.
Commission, suggested several addi
tionAl amendments which DR.. Bower
man approved.
One would remove q stipulation II
the original bill that the new librar,
be located "west of Sixteenth stree
northwest and north Of Pennsylvani,
avenue" and merely provide that it b
erected in the Northwest section. Tn
other would authorize the Park an
Planning Commission to confer will
the Commissioners over the selection
Of site.
Jesse G. Suter presented for B. M
AcKelway, chairman Of the Publ
Library Committee of the Washington
Board of Trade, statement urgin
approval of the bill.
Hi The Library Committee, the state
ment pointed out, recognizes the nee,
for the early erection of a new mail
building "as one of immediate emer
gency because the present demand
On the library system have grown ia
beyond the facilities afforded by tn
present building"
{f while there is an insistent de
mand and we'll understood agitation
from the various neighborhoods TO
the provision of additional branches,
tie statement declared, amy furthe
branch expansion Is apt to be i'm
practical until substantial expansion
n the central library facilities"