Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-10-13
Public Library
Circulation Goes
Up4% in Year
Dr.. Bowermon's Final
Report Included in
Boards Accounting

Inc IcpOlG VI LII oCOA Sc =
Bowerman, retiring librarian, which
was made q part of the boards re-
port, also pointed out that build
ings are nov being RACED to make
way for the new central library on
PENNSYLVANIA avenue between John
Marshall place and Sixth street
NV.
Before the end of the calendar
year, the report declared, the South
western Branch Library, to be
housed In an especially built wing
Of the new Thomas Jefferson Me-
mortal Junior High School, will be
opened to the public.
The body of the trustees report
dealt with the progress of the Ii
brary during the nearly 40 years
that DR.. Bowerman was its libra
rian. He retired September 80 and
was succeeded by Miss Clara Wells
Herbert. A large body of his
friends paid tribute to his services
ut q testimonial luncheon at the
Mayflower Hotel october S.
DIR. Bowerman Lauded.
1T Is with a sense of personal as
well as public loss that the men,
bers Of the board see DR.. Bower
man hand on the guardianship"
the board declred. Several of them
have had the gratifying experience
Of watching the development of his
program over two or more decades.
ITO the far-sighted determination
Of the young librarian who as
stunned the direction of the Districts
new public library in 1904 Is due
Its growth from one partially occu-
pied building to the 12-branch sys-
TEN, with plans under way for q
new central building to provide a
modern departmentalized library
service as well as greatly needed ad-
ministrative space
Members of the board are Theo-
dore w. Noyes, first and only presi-
dent since the library was organ
Tied; former District Court Justice
Wendell P. Stafford, vice president;
Mrs. Lyman B. Swormstedt, Mrs.
Philip Sidney Smith, Albert w.
Atwood, DR.. Frank w. Ballou, Felix
Morley. Frank j. Coleman and
George 9. HaVenner.
The Boards Report.
The text Of the boards report
follows:
On September 80, 1910, the mex
cradle march Of time brings about
tn retirement, after two extern
sions, Of George r. Bowerman as
Nbfarian Of the District of Column
bis and secretary and treasurer Of
the Board Of Library Trustees. It is
with q sense of personal as well as
public loss that the members Of the
board see DR.. Bowerman hand on
the Guardianship. Several Of them
have had the gratifying experience
Of watching the development of his
program over two or more decades.
To the far-sighted determination of
the young librarian who assumed
tho direction of the Districts new
public library in 1904 is due its
growth from one partially occupied
building to the 12-branch system,
with plans under way for new CEN
trail building to provide a modern
departmentalized library service as
well as greatly needed administra-
tive space.
After the Carnegie Corp. discon-
tinued It's giving Of funds for the
construction of branch libraries, of
which Washington had. received
three during the period from 1911
10 1925, DR.. Bowerman rallied pub
nc support to the movement for |
continued library expansion through |
neighborhood branches. BY unre-
hitting effort he obtained the back
ing Of citizens groups, and Con-
gress was convinced of the need Of
further library development. In
the IL years between 1928 and 1910 |
funds for four major branches, five
minor branches and the first unit |
Of the vitality needed new central
building were provided through con-
gressional appropriation.
Nationally Renowned.
Working In the Nations Capital,
where many Federal agencies have
their own libraries, where the Lii
brary Of Congress and several fine
institutional libraries compete for
the admiration of visitors and local
residents, DR.. Bowerman has yet
placed the Public Library in fore
most position in the municipality,
and made it nationally renowned
among big city libraries. With
his encouragement a children's serv-
zee has been built up which is Sec
ond to none, operating through
boys and girls rooms in the CEN
tral building and branches, and in
close cooperation with the public
school system through its schools
division Motivated by DR.. Bower |.
mans deep interest in furthering
the individuals education after for
NAL schooling ends, the Washing
ton library also became one Of the
FIRST to sponsor public library par
tcipation in the movement for adult
education.
The trustees look back along DR..
1owerman's career with pride in
his achievements and qualification
for his wisdom and intellectual in
tegrity. To his successor, Clara Wells
Herbert, who has long had his con-
fidence and shared the burden Of
his work in her position as assistant
librarian, the trustees extend their
heartiest support and cooperation,
knowing that she will carry on with
distinction the program so ably in
itiated and developed.
DR.. Bowerman's Report.
The text Of DR.. Bowerman's report
follows:
When came to Washington in
1904 the library had been housed
for q year and half in the present
central building at Mt. Vernon
place, but less than half of the
building was in active use. Nearly
10 years ago the acquisitions, cata-
Logging and binding departments were
crowded out Of the central building
Now the central library collections,
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