Evening star., 1940-08-18
Library Budget
includes Funds
For Anacostia
100000 Asked to
Continue Work on
New Central Unit


Purchase of a site for an Anacos-
tia branch library and funds for
completing the s1,118,0Oo first unit
Of the new central library are sought
In the 1912 estimates of the Public
Library submitted yesterday to the
Commissioners.
The library trustees requested a
total of $1,295,755, which is more
than half a million dollars over the
s779,140 appropriated this year.
Forty-one new positions are asked
and $32, 500 is said to be needed for
books and requirements at recently
established branches for which no
provision has been made.
For bookbinding the trustees
sought $4,000 to take care of an
estimated 10000 volumes which
would require this treatment by
June, 194l 1t was pointed out that
the present appropriation was
slashed below the estimate sub
mitted
Bulk Is for Building.
Bulk of the increase is in the
building and land items. The new
central library originally was author
ized in 1910 with an initial appro-
priation of S35O.O0O. The present
budget carries 100000 for Contin-
uing the work and the request of
S56S, 900 for 1912 would complete the
authorization.
The new site in Anacostia would
require $4,000, the trustees esti-
mated. The branch would serve
Anacostia, Congress Heights, Ran
die Highlands, Good Hope, WASH
ington Highlands, Hillcrest and
Twining City. Estimates set the
total population of these commune
ties at $4,000 and the territory in
cludes 10 public schools, junior
high school and two parochial
schools
Also included in the people to be
served by the new branch would
be the personnel of Boiling Field
the Naval Air station and st. Eliza
beth's.
Distance and the Anacostia River
separate these communities from
other library facilities. the nearest,
the present southeastern branch,
being about two miles from the cen
ter of Anacostia, it was stated.
The Anacostia branch has occu-
pied first place on the priority list
of the library for some time, 1t is
understood.
IL Urgent Needs Listed.
In requesting Al new positions,
the trustees indicated that II were
considered urgent needs. Ten others
were considered necessary but not
urgent and the rest were classified
as desirable but not necessary.
Some Of the new personnel would
be used to keep the Woodbridge and
Chevy Chase branches open 70 hours
a week in response to civic requests
in the areas. Others would be added
to the staff Of the catalogue depart
ment, which, it was stated, is now
seriously in arrears in its work. Still
others would supplement the pres
ent staff in children'S reading
One of the new posts would pro-
vide principal readers adviser
who would organize, develop and
coordinate throughout the whole
library system the service to youth
of high school age or slightly over.
The theory is that the right books
at the right time may exert power
full influence in the making of good
citizens ana the prevention of de-
linquency.
Other assistant advisers for adults
would be provided at the Takoma
and Mount Pleasant branches and
one would make it possible to keep
the music division open more than
its present IL hours week. Two
more would aid in reference work.
The other positions are mainly
clerical custodial or mechanical.
S39,25O for Major Repairs.
The sum of $3.50 is requested
by the trustees for major repairs,
requirements and improvements.
These would include remodeling the
basement of the Takoma Park
branch, painting of the central Ii
brary, new flooring at the South
eastern branch and completion of
plans for the ultimate development
of the Georgetown branch site. Five
branches are in need of flag poles.
Appropriation of $5,675 to micro
film the files of The Star and the
Post through 1918 on a three-day
cooperative basis with the news
papers and the Library of Congress
is asked. The trustees described
these files as essential records and
pointed out they should be filmed
before the print paper disintegrates
any more than it now has.