Evening star., 1939-10-15
Library Trustees
Opposition
To Control Chance
Circulation Of 5000, 900
Shown in Report to
Commissioners

The Board of Trustees Of the
Public Library, in its annual report
to the Commissioners released yes
terday, reiterated its opposition to
any reorganization proposals divest-
ing library control from citizen
board.
At the same time the board re-
vealed that a library branch in
Anacostia is next on its construc-
ton program.
While the bulk of the report dealt
with the reorganization proposals,
a review of library progress during
the past year was also included, in
which a circulation of more than
5000 900 books is reported.
In connection with the reorgani-
zation, the board expressed grati-
fication that the library was ex-
cluded from the revised plan intro
duced near the end of last session
of Congress by Representative Ken
nedy of Maryland Because the
matter was still pending, however,
the members renewed their objec-
tions.
Reasons for this opposition were
outlined in detail.
Text of the Report.
The text of the report follows:
The hbrary's record of community
usefulness during the year is i'm
pressive. Over 5000 900 library books
are being circulated into Washing
ton homes: school children are being
supplied with books that help with
class assignments and foster love
of good reading; 24l organizations
in the District of Columbia are
drawing on the library for the ma
terial they need in connection with
their various interests; "a Govern
ment agencies secure necessary data
for their work; hundreds of chill
dren and young people visit the
Central Library and branches in
classes; orchestral and choral groups
draw on the music collection, and
artists, artizans, teachers and news
papermen obtain illustrative ma
terial from the picture collection.
Books are sent to hospitals, to
handicapped children through their
teachers; to summer camps, social
service agencies and prisons.
New Central Building.
With this growth, however, the
Central Library becomes daily less
able to cope with readers require
ments. Increased space and larger
facilities are essential. The author
ization for the first unit of the new
central library at a cost not to ex-
ceed $1,118,000 and the appropriation
of $780, 900 in the 1910 act and re-
appropriation of the balance of the
100000 carried in the 1899 act for
plans and specifications are graft
Tying evidences of substantial prog
ress in the development of the new
Central Library project. The trus-
tees are most appreciative of the
interest of the District officials and
those citizens of Washington who
sponsored and worked for the
project. Especial appreciation is due
Col. Frederic A. Delano, chairman
OF the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission, for his un-
failing interest and help, and to
Representative Ross A. Collins, who,
as chairman of the District of Co.
lumbia Subcommittee of the House
Committee on Appropriations, car
ried the appropriation through Con-
gress with the aid of other faithful
legislators for the District in the
Senate and House, whose thoughtful
and sympathetic consideration the
library trustees gratefully appreciate.
The librarian, in the accompanying
report to the trustees, gives q full
account of this outstanding achieve
ment of the year.
Advance in Branch Building.
Advance in the branch building
program is also being made. A new
large branch for the Petworth dis
trict was opened on January %. 1889.
and has been Immediately utilized
by the community, who see in it the
successful completion of 10 years of
civic effort. The contract has been
let for the branch library in the
Southwest, with the expectation that
1t will be ready for occupancy in
the autumn Of 1910. This branch,
though it will operate independent
ly. is being built as a wing of the
Thomas Jefferson Memorial Junior
High School. The Southeast Coun-
Gil has placed on its program as
must" item the construction of a