Evening star., 1938-10-16
DOUBLES
USAGE IN N2OYEARS
Home Circulation 3,108, 705
Volumes, or 259 Per
Cent Increase.

-4 SVtIl IIiVt Y VooNs.
, Use of the facilities OF the Wash
ington Free Public Library has doubled
during the past 20 years.
q This Is suggested by the annual
report of DR.. George r. Bowerman,
librarian, which has been fled with
psthe District Commissioners as part of
SSthe library Board of Trustees report.
Home circulation Of 3,108,705 VOL
'umes, the librarian explains, repre-
sents an increase of $50 per cent over
the figures of 1918, when the circula-
,tion was 865,360 volumes
Registered readers number 1856, ,404,
"a gain Of 3,205 over the previous year,
and lat per cent over the year 1918.
In addition to the book circulation.
1852 859 mounted pictures and 1921
music scores were borrowed. making
a total of 3.374,855 pieces. The per-
centage Of fiction in the whole circu-
lation rose slightly from 45.8 to 46.6
per cent, but continues well under
SO per cent of the total.
Book Stock Increased.
The book stock increased to $50, ,619
volumes, DR.. BoWerman says. Gross
additions numbered S2,163 volumes.
but the net increase was 58,483 aft@s
deducting books worn out and with
drawn to the number Of 1880. the
20-year increase is 1913 per cent over
206,9U4 volumes in 1918.
A large part of the net increase dur
: ing the last year consisted Of the
, original stock Of the fetworth branch
amounting to more than rs 900 vol
umes. Petworth books received an
. ALLEGATION of $4,000 from the total
book appropriation Of $84, 900.
The library has. conducted its own
bindery for many years, employing
six psrsons, DR.. Bowerman states, and
about one-third q the annual bind
ing appropriation Of $40, 900 has been
, expended for the rebinding Of fiction
And Juvenile books by contractors hav-
ing special machinery for over-sew-
ing. For the coming year the ap-
preparation act provides that approx
mately half of the appropriation shall
! be expended in connection with the
Abrary's present bindery and the bal
ance for materials and work to be
! performed at the District Reformatory
: at Lorton, Va.
!. Advisory Reference Extended.
! A co-ordinator Of adult work and a
consultant in adult education were
appointed early in the year, the former
duties being assumed by the direc-
tor of reference work, the librarian
SAWS, The Inauguration Of this posi-
tion will prevent duplication OF ef-
fort. and utilities throughout the IL
brary system the work done at each
agency. The consultant in education
will promote individual and group
contacts and coordinate the Work OF
the special advisers.
During the year reference assistance
was siven at the central building TO
1873 Government agencies and other
Organizations, of which So were Feo-
eral and District of Columbia Gov
ernment agencies; n national assocl-
: atoms with headquarters in Washing
ton; 10 schools and colleges; IA busi-
ness houses; u newspapers, and
miscellaneous groups.
Approximately 40 organizations re-
ouested information from the Wash
tnetoniana division during the year
many of them government bureaus
and New Deal" agencies. Visitors to
the division numbered 1872. Among
the gifts to the Washingtoniana col
lection were copies of two theses by
students of the University of Mary
land. 1T Is to be hoped" DR.. Bower
man continues, that in the future
it may be possible to encourage STU
dents to present such theses by Offer
ing to pay them an amount sufficient
! at least to cover the cost of paper
: to the student. The thesis field is Z
. promising source Of material on
: Washington but the cost Of duplica-
= ton is frequently more than the stu
E dent can afford"
Other gifts to Washingtoniana were
: received from the U. s. Federal Hous-
: ing Association, Miss c. R. Barnett
Mrs. Helen T. Steinbarger, Mrs. Mary
&C. D. johnson, Mrs. L. A. Bauer
E Mrs. Helen Lane, Miss Emma Sibon
E and The Star. The assignment Of 8
Z: full-time assistant to the division en-.
: abled the taking over of the bulletin
/ Informal Education in Washington,
{ from the reference room, and min,
issues were published of the library.
= most popular bulletin.
:. Advisory Service In Sciences.
The sociology division prepared brief
lists for 20 weekly lectures covering
the entire field Of criminology for
! the Crime Clinic, Institute of Crimi-
I nal Science; presented short book re.
] views or lists of new books at five
i monthly meetings of the American
Association of Social Workers; con-
: tributed book reviews to five issues
: OF Federal Probation" and furnished
lists for the Town Hall lectures, the
= Georgetown Pubic Health Forum and
the Public Night School Torum Prof.
: ects were completed in cooperation
: with the National Conference Of So
: cial Work; the Bureau CO MaternA
! and Child Health. District of Colum-
: bia Health, Department; Social Serv-
: ice Department, George Washington
+ Hospital; Council of Social Agencies
J Washington Child Guidance Clinic;
Washington Housing Association; So
: cial Hygiene Society Of the District
OF Columbia; the Attorney Generals
!. Advisory Committee on Crime, and
. the Social Service Department, Bu-
. reau Of Prisons; the Salvation Army;
the Works Progress Administration
and teachers at the Alice Deal Junior
High School,
. The consultant in adult education