Evening star., 1937-04-03
B0WERMAN LAUDS
FUND FOR LIBRARY
BRANCHAT SCHOOL
Librarian Sees D. c. Bills
Provision as Valuable
Experiment.
ADEQUATE SPACE IN
NEW BUILDING URGED
Collins Praised for Efforts to
Build Up Adequate System
for Capital.

Construction Of branch library in
connection with public school prof.
ect-an experiment which the library
authorities advocated several years
ago-will be made possible under TIE
1888 appropriation bill, as reported
to the House.
The bill provides funds tor the be-
ginning of construction Of the Thomas
Jefferson Memorial Junior High
School and Library in Southwest
Washington.
I'm extremely gratlfied by this
provision for two reasons" DR.. George
F.. Bowerman, librarian OF the free
Public Library, said yesterday. First.
it will enable the Public Library to
meet the needs of the residents Of
that section. A branch has been
needed there many years.
But I'm particularly interested in
having this experiment tried out there
in a junior high school. Although a
small branch library has been MAIN
tanned at Eastern High School for a
VI yCoiog AAo w AASFSA AANo
any real test of whether branch can
be operated in a school building as
successfully as in separate buildings" ="
Name Approved.
DR.. BoWerman also expressed sat-
isfaction with the name selected by
the Appropriations Subcommittee for
the school, but added that "for our
purposes we probably with call the
library the jefferson braneh" The
subcommittee eSta blished a precedent
in undertaking to christian the school,
a lob ordinarily left to the Board o.
Education.
Ordinarily We name the branch
libraries for the sections in which they
are located" DR.. Bowcrmaa SAID.
DR.. Bowerman explained that tie
question of placing public library
units in the schools was the subject Of
a report made to the House District
Appropriations Subcommittee in 1881
after it had been approved by both
the Board of Library Trustees and the
Board Of Education. The report sug-
gested the experiment, assuming that
the amount of land purchased for a
school is sufficient, or could be made
sufficient, to accommodate both the
school and branch library.
DR.. Bowerman said he would insist
that adequate space be provided in
the jefferson School for the branch
library. which would be under ad-
ministration of the board of library
trustees
Lauds Collins Efforts.
DR.. Bowerman praised Chairman
Collins of the appropria tions subcom-
mittee for his efforts in securing in
creased services Of the Public Library
through appropriation Of more ade-
quate funds for personnel, services
and books and periodicals in addition
to providing funds for completion OF
the new Petworth branch. The Pet
worth section has been fighting for a
branch library for many years, and
the new building will fill real need,
Dr. BoUerman said
MI Collins has long been a friend
of the library" he said. Even when
he was not in Congress last year he
went before a Senate committee to
urge restoration of funds for the Ii
brary in the supply bill. If the bill
passes in its present form, for the
first time since 1890 the central branch
will be able to remain open each Fri
day afternoon and the major branches
every Saturday afternoon. The bill
provides an increase in personnel OF
20 employees"
While saying he is very glad for
the addition of the Petworth and
Jefferson branch libraries. DR.. Bow
erman pointed out that these would
not lessen the burden placed on the
inadequate Central library.
In answer to a col+ention that the
new units would reduc, the number
of persons using the Central library,
he said he estimates that IS to 80 per
cent Of those registering at the new
branches would be new business" He
pointed out that since 1929 the num-
Der of registered readers has jumped
from $4,000 sto 10000 and the usage
of books from 100000 to almost
100000.