Evening star., 1939-04-05
Two Protests
Filed toSave
Library Board
Trade Board Unit
And Trustees Give
Views on Issue
BACKGROUND

BACKGROUND
With the backing of Repre-
sentative Kennedy of Maryland,
appropriation lUds obtained to
finance q surrey OF the District
governmental structure by Grit
tenhagen G. Associates of Chi
cago. The recommendations Sug-
geSted q paper Setup of mu-
nicipal government, but failed to
indicate means of setting up such
government. Considerable citi-
zen protest has been aroused by
the proposed abolition OF citizen
boards such as the Board OF Edu-
cation and the Library Trustees.
A proposal in the Griffenhagen
plan for reorganizing the District
government to abolish the present
independent Board of Public Library
Trustees was opposed today by the
trustees as we'll as the Public Library
Committee of the Washington Board
of Trade.
Views of both groups were pre-
sented to the Reorganization Sub
committee of the House District
Committee, in charge of the Grif-
fenhagen report, by Albert w. At
wood, a member of the Board Of
Library Trustees.
Mr.. Atwood read to the sub
committee statement Of the
library trustees, signed by Theodore
Uy Nny-nc v,rnciInrot oyG c11hy,oittoI
as an appendix special report of
the 8ublic Library Committee of the
Board of Trade.
The public service rendered by
the library system is obviously
largely technical and professional
service said Mr.. Noyes' statement.
Because this is so, it is the opinion
of the Board of Trustees that the
present setup for the management
of the library system for the Dis
trict of Columbia is preferable to
the proposal in the Griffenhagen
report, to the effect that the library
service should be set up as munich
pal function on a par with Is other
departments into which all local ad-
ministrative matters would be dis
tributed.'
Personnel Plan Held Superior.
The statement of Mr.. Noyes also
declared Capitalization of person.
mel matters in the Board of Trustees
and the public librarian is prefer
able to the proposed distribution
of personnel and library matters as
contemplated in the Griffenhagen
report among department of per-
sonnel. department of libraries
and department of public works.
The report of the Library Com
mittee of the Board of Trade de-
clared the Griffenhagen plan would
substitute for the existing organ
ization of the Public Library "a
theoretical system of library Or
ganization which does not exist in
any large city of the United States
and which is yet to demonstrate IN
any city its superior merits or even
its practicability."
DR.. Bowerman Testifies.
DR.. George F. BoWerman, chief
librarian of the Public Library, sup
plemented the two reports with his
own testimony.
He said at the outset the Griff-
enhagen report takes from the Lii
brary board the power of appoint
ing the librarian and transfers it
to the proposed city administrator
or city manager, thus making the
| library lust another city depart
ment.' The success of the library
then, he added. would be wholly
dependent on the interest or lack
of interest of the city manager.
since the library would lack the
interest and support of a strong
body of library minded citizens with
power" Attacking other proposals
in the Griffenhagen plan, DR.. Bow
erman pointed out the personnel of
the library would be withdrawn
| from the Library Board and Ii
brarian. under whom the library has
recruited a staff of high caliber and
thus has become highly efficient
educational agency. and transfers 1t
to a department of personnel of
unknown and uncertain standards,
involving, it is feared, a let down
! in the qualifications for appoint
ment and service
Another point emphasized by DR..
BoWerman was that under the pro-
posed Griffenhagen set-up. the care
and maintenance of library build
ings. including the janitorial and
building employees engaged in heat
ing. lighting, cleaning, etc. would
be taken away from the library ad-
ministration and transferred to
department of public works, thus
hurtfully and unnecessarily divid-
ing authority and involving. it is
feared, confusion and inefficiency."
Cites Five Points.
DR.. Bowerman also pointed out
there is no large American city UNI
der a city manager charter such
as proposed in the Griffenhagen
report, which does not have a
library board with power. He then
cited the following five points in
support of retention here of the
board of library trustees with power:
81. The best development of the
library is assured under board ex-
clusively devoted to its interests.
"2. A citizen board would lose in
terest and become merely perfume
tory If reduced to an advisory
board.
"3. There is especial necessity for
citizen boards in Washington to pro-
mote civic interest and civic loyalty