Evening star., 1938-03-27
TRADE BODY WORK
.FORL|BRARY CITED
Committee Organized a.
Years Ago to Develop
System in D. c,

System in D. c.
The Public Library Committee Of
the Board of Trade was organized A
years ago to accomplish one Job
development Of the free public library
system in the District Of Columbia-
and its activities have been confined
exclusively to that job
When the unit was created in 1894
under the Craftsmanship Of Theodore
w. Noyes the District was without
free public library. But on recon-
mendation Of the committee in March
Of that year the Board of Trade au-
thorized it to urge Congress to estab-
lish a municipality supported free
public library.
Bill Drawn Up.
The bill drawn up by the commit
tee and introduced in Congress pro-
vided for the appointment OF IL
trustees, who were to be citizens of
the District and recommended that
the library be located in the new
Post ONCE Building or some other
available structure which would have
suflicient space for $4,000 volumes
until permanent quarters could be
obtained.
After two years Of strenuous activ-
ity on the part of the committee the
public library bill was passed by Con-
gress and signed by the President on
June 3, 1896.
In 1898 B. H. Warner, then chair
man OF the committee, reported the
library had been opened at 1926 New
York avenue and that there were ap-
proximately 10000 volumes on the
shelves. OF the II trustees appoint
ed 10 were members Of the Board of
Trade. Five were members of the IL
brary Committee which had obtained
passage Of the legislation. Mr.. Noyes,
who was then president Of the board,
was elected president Of the Board
Of Trustees. and Col. Weston Smith,
also a member Of the committee. was
appointed librarian.
Some idea of the size Of the first
public library can be cleaned from
the fact that the trustees asked
$4,000 for its support during tie l.rst
year. Unquestionably. much of the
credit for establishment of the sys-
tenn is due the Board Of Trade and
the Public Library Committee
1t Is interesting to note that In the
committees report on November 10,
1898, the following quotation appears:
THE library is peculiarly the child of
the Board of Trade. ana it should now
have the support Of every memoer of
1t in the most energetic way" The
report also called attention to the fact
that the committee and the library
trustees were devoting their attention
to establishment of branch libraries
il remote sections of the city.
On October 81, 1899, j. w. Babson,
then chairman of the committee, re-
ported the committee had been sue
cessful in obtaining a donation of
$350,000 from Andrew Carnegie for
construction Of public library build
ing. The following year the COM
mite reported the site for the library
in Mount Vernon Square had been
selected, that bids had been called
for and a contract let for construc-
ton of the central library at cost
of $277,000.
An urgent request for donations of
books was made by the committee
when it became known the new build
ing would have capacity Of 283,270
volumes The committee also pointed
out that there were 10,459 registered
book borrowers in 1900, and that the
library was doing very excellent
business with a daily circulation of
402 books
The new building was completed and
turned over to the president Of the
board of trustees on January Z, 1908
The following year DR.. George F..
Bowerman took office as public libra
rian. At that time there were 66,379
volumes on the shelves
The Public Library Committee Wig
orously urged the library to set up a
system for distributing books to the
schools SO that children would have
better contact with this source Of
knowledge.
In addition to the chairman men
toned, others who have held the post
are Ellis Spear, William M. Clayton
and the present chairman, B. M. Nc
Kelway.
Branch Libraries Started.
The committee took an active part
in establishment of branch libraries
in various sections of the city, includ-
ing the Takoma Park. Southeast and
Mount Pleasant branches.
Recognizing the inability of the
present central building to serve ade-
quately the needs of the community,
the committee this year actively sup
ported efforts to secure an appropria-
ton for construction Of a new main
library building.
Committee representatives appeared
before the Senate committee handling
the District supply bill and was graft
fed when the conference report on
the 1889 appropriation bill included
an item Of $4,000 for drawing plans
for a new main library to be located
in the municipal center site in the
vicinity of Fourth street and Pennsyl-