Evening star., 1938-07-31
Volunteers
Keep Books
Available
Iakoma Park Club
Women Lend Aid
To Library.

NiHNho W Tie interest OF
group of club women, the
library In Takoma Park, Nd,
Il is being kept open two hours
day during the summer months.
Volunteers from the Takoma Park
Women's Club. which is largely re-
sponsible for the establishment of the
library in the first place, are work.
ing there each day under the super
vision of Mrs. Frederick L. Pratt,
past president. AS matter of fact,
Mrs. Pratt has assumed the bulk of
the responsibility for providing a
librarian and is there when no other
volunteer is available
From few donated volumes and a
storytelling hour for a group Of chill
dren, full-fedged library has been
developed in little more than three
years.
Some time ago the fact that the
people living on the Maryland side
of Takoma Park had no library facili-
ties was brought to the attention of
the literature section of the Takoma
Park Women's Club. Although there
is branch of the District of Colum-
bia Public Library in Takoma, D. c.,
the fee for those living outside of the
District is 50 year for each borrower
This figure was prohibitive for many
of the families in the community
The literature section decided to
sponsor the establishment of a library
for Maryland residents and donations
OF books were solicited. One of the
most enthusiastic supporters of the
plan was Col. A. L. Conger, retired
Army officer. who had long been in
terested in Libraries, and who offered
the use of his home as center for
the collection of books.
Mrs. Edmund H. Fraser, member
Of the club, volunteered TO undertake
story hour for children each Mon
day morning during the summer
months in Col. Conser's garden. The
enthusiastic response to this story
hour showed that there was a real
demand for library facilities in the
community.
BY the end of the summer the book
collection had grown to such an extent
that 1t was necessary to move to more
permanent quarters.
At this time a Library Association
composed of club members and other
citizens was organized and incor-
porated so that bequests could be re-
ceived. The trustees were: Mrs. J.
A. Robertson, Mrs. B. Shanks CLANCY,
Col. Conger Mrs. Pratt, Mrs. c. C.
Waters. Mrs. F, J. Hopkins. Mrs E. D.
Lamond. Mrs. c. A. Hoglund and
Walter D. Lambert.
The Town Council made small
appropriation for operating expenses
and house was rented at 210 Carroll
avenue. Gifts of furniture. books and
magazines were made by the citizens
of the community and the library was
opened in the early fall.
I'VE gave an opening tea" Mrs
Pratt recalled, "and people were I'M
pressed chiefly by our vacant shelves
We obtained some books from the
Maryland State Library Commission
in Baltimore, and members Of the
Literature section collected more
books. The library staff consisted Of
volunteers from the club"
As books were circulated. free Of
charge. to residents of both sections
of Takoma Park, there was no lack
Of patrons for the new venture
Last fall when the Library Board
was notified that the Carroll avenue
property was to be sold, there was no
question but that new location must
be found. for the venture which had
proved so successful
A house at 8 Sherman avenue vas
decided on as the most suitable in the
vicinity. This property was not for
rent. but for sale. The board decided
to buy it. This meant that 5000 must
be raised. even after a financing
scheme had been arranged through
the Home Owners Loan Corp.
Each member Of the board made a
$50 contribution to the building fund
and nine other similar contributions
were obtained Last winter, the
library was moved into its new quarters,
where it is now located
It's resources consist of the rent
from a small apartment, that is a part
of the building, $40 for opera ting ex-
penses. given each month by the Town
Council. and the proceeds from a small
rental library, of recent fiction and
non fiction. All of the library work
is done by volunteers.