Evening star., 1938-10-16

co-operated with the public night
schools in their series Of 20 lectures
and discussions; supervised the anna
teur Photographic contest to promote
better housing in cooperation with
the Washington Housing Association:
assisted in conducting reading ability
tests taken by 81 persons. and served
on the committee Of English teachers
and librarians engaged in compiling
a reading list for retarded readers.
Some 900 persons attended 20 book
reviews and talks on library service
given by the consultant.
Library service to patients at George
Washington University Hospital was
continued for the sixth year. sponsored
by the Women,s Board Of the hos
pital, DR.. Bowerman reports. OF
total circulation Of 6,044 volumes,
3,183 were non-fiction. The circula-
ton at the Lorton Reformatory, which
is served by the extension division.
was 5,4s7 volumes; at the District
Jail 543.
The technology division recorded =
circulation of 53,60l volumes and
answered 1915 questions, Of which 864
were phone calls. A survey showed
that 68 Government agencies and pri-
vate organizations are using the facili-
ties of the division. A revision of the
list, BE Ready for Your Next Oppor-
tunity," was printed by the National
Training School for Boys and dis
tributed to the public high schools.
vocational schools. parochial schools
and the Lorton Reformatory.
Advisory Service in Fine Arts.
The art division continued to gain
in circulation, 44,403 more pictures
than last year bringing its total to
252,879. An average Of 5000 pictures
q month were consulted in the divi-
sion, and book circulation amounted to,
1867 volumes. The main library and
branches had 81 exhibitions of artists
work. including two Of modern art.
The music division circulation was
1882 books and 1921 pieces of sheet
music. On alternate Mondays during
the concert season the division con-
Quoted IL evenings with the Vic
trola." Oyer 1900 persons listened
to the phonograph during the year
and $50 records were circulated to "a
groups. The library now has = COL
lection Of 6sS recordings. Through
the courtesy Of Mr.. and Mrs. Robert
Woods Bliss two concerts were given
in the children's room Of the George
town branch on January 20 and ~
by the Washington String Quartet
and the Pro-Musica Quartet. On
February the Roth Quartet played
in the children's room Of the central
library through the courtesy OF the
Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge Founda-
ton.
The adviser in drama and general
literature made lists for 30 motion
pictures and lectures.
Boys and girls of Washington read
1.443,357 books borrowed from the
Public Library, 4 gain of AZ per cent
in circulation over last year. In the
five major children's reference rooms
1886 questions were answered, DR..
Bowerman says
The schools division circulated 689.-
800 volumes through 1922 classrooms
in the elementary and Junior high
schools. q gain Of "a per cent over
the previous year. The service was
used by 1856 schools, including every
junior high school in the city.
Over 5000 children in PIG classes
visited the boys and girls rooms, and
Abs attended 155 story hours. The
adviser to adults in children's litera-
ture held consultations with 1929 per-
sons. Outside the library talks
were given with an attendance of L.
538; 178 attended IL talks inside the
building, and - group meetings with
teachers were held in the library.
Branches Circulate Over Million.
The total circulation of the five
major branches was 1,3l5,082 volumes,
DR.. Bowerman reports. The Mount
Pleasant branch circulation Of AZ, ,2O4
volumes exceeded that of several cities
OF over 100, 900 population. The George
town branch circulated 262,15l VOL
umes, Northeastern 259, $50, Southeast
ern I'll, ,389 and Takoma Park lac, ,308.
At Georgetown the gain was 1880
volumes. The librarian urges land
scaping for the grounds Of this branch,
and states that Georgetown organiza-
tions are willing to cooperate, even to
the point of financial assistance, but
Congress continues to fail to appro-