Evening star., 1941-04-11
New Central Library
ConstruetionUrge
By Trade Board Unit
All Possible Speed
Called For to Fulfill
Responsibilities

An early start on construction of
the new central building for the
Public Library system, already au-
thorized and partially appropriated
for by Congress, was requested OF
the Commissioners yesterday after
noon by the Public Library Com
mittee of the Washington Board OF
Trade Plans for the building. to
be erected on Pennsylvania avenue
between John Marshall place and
Sixth street NV, are practically
completed, the committee was in
formed, and the Commissioners are
expected to be ready to submit the
plans for bidding by May Is.
The erection Of the new central
building, the committee was told, is
the key to needed expansion of the
whole public library system, espe-
ciaIly in the provision of branch
libraries for the various communi-
ties, library facility in which the
District lags behind some cities OF
comparable population. Any delay
in the construction of the new build
ing. iC was said, would mean fur
ther handicap to the system, which
even under normal conditions is
overburdened, because of lack Of
space, in performing its functions
to the community as library and
as "a supplement of the public edu-
catiCnal system Of the District. The
influx of new population, with the
necessity for erection of more
schools. will place a further strain
on the library system unless early
construction is begun on the new
building.
A resolution asking that the prof.
ect be started and carried through
to completion with all possible
speed" was adopted unanimously
by the committee meeting at the
Harrington Hotel.
The committee directed its chair
man, B. M. McKelway, to submit
a statement to the Commissioners
calling their attention to the need OF
beginning construction and the
urgent necessity of carrying through
this project to completion as plan
ned and as authorized and partially
appropriated for by Congress"
S1,11S,000 Already Authorized.
Congress has authorized s1.118,000
and appropriated total of 100000
for the first unit of the new library
building.
Further provision of necessary
service to the schools and of new
branch library facilities for the COM
munity must await the enlargement
of central library facilities, the reso-
luton said.
Albert w. Atwood, chairman of the
Building Committee of the Board
of Library Trustees, pointing out the
need for additional branch libraries,
emphasized that the present central
library is inadequate" to meet the
demands of the citizens and the re-
quirements of the existing IL
branches.
He cited the fact that Washing
ton, with a 10000 population, lags
far behind Los Angeles and other
cities, but said that real progress on
branch library building must await
completion of the central library.
Departments Crowded Out.
The need for q new main library
has existed for years, Mr.. Atwood
declared. pointing out that the book
order, catalog and binding depart
ments were crowded out and moved
to the Ford Building IL years ago.
Lack of space in reading rooms and
lobbies makes it impossible to give
adequate service to the 5000 persons
who visit the library daily.
Even odd corners in all parts of
the building, including the base
ment, have been pressed into service
as reading rooms and more than
10000 volumes shelved in closed
stacks are inaccessible to the public
and expensive to administer, Mr..
Atwood told the committee. Re-
Gently, an abandoned firehouse on
Maryland avenue three miles distant
from the central library was pressed
into service for book storage.
The quarters available for prepar-
ing and serving loan collections to
the schools have been outgrown for
years and office and work space are
either non-existent or totally I'M
suitable for the purpose, he said.
People who are not IN close touch
With the situation do not realize that