Evening star., 1941-01-04
Branch Library
For Southwest
Is Dedicated
Reading Facilities in
New Jefferson School
Open to Public

The new Sill 900 Southwestern
branch of the Public Library, with
1890 volumes and go magazine,
was open to the public for the f1I7'
time today after dedication exercise
last night attended by District off,
Gals and civic leaders.
The dedication was held in the
children's reading room OF the struc-
ture. which. although separated b.
partition. forms one entire wing Of
the new jefferson High School.
DR.. Frank w. Ballou, superintend-
ent of schools and a member of the
Board of Library Trustees, presided
Letters from former Chairman Ross
A. Collins of the District Subcom-
mlttee of the House Appropriations
Committee; Commissioners Melvin
e. Hazen and John Russell Young
and Theodore w Noyes. president
OF the Board of Library Trustees
were read. and brief talks were given
by Harry S. Wender, president of the
Southwest Citizens Association.
Miss Clara w Herbert District Ii
brarian, and Miss Virginia T. Nc
Laughlin, librarian Of the new
branch.
Hazen Cites Advances.
The invocation was given by TIE
Rev. A. N. Warner. pastor of Mar
win Methodist Church. and the bene-
diction was given by the Rev. c. A.
Musselman. O. P, Of St Dominir's
School. Mrs. Lyman B SWorrnstedt.
a member of the Board of Librarv
Trustees, opened the program bv
reading the four letters and Mrs.
Philip Sydney Smith, another mem
Der Of the board, presented librarv
cards to prominent persons present.
In his letter, Commissioner Hazen
referred to the SouthWes, section
as one particularly endeared 70 me"
He said the new branch stands
proudly forth among the many i'm
provements now going forward in
the Southwest area. He remarked
that he looked with favor on the
innovation of combining Libraries
with school buildings. saying thai
they were far more economical n
construct and maintain and that
the taxpayers are entitled TO some
consideration"
Mr.. Collins said: "I can only Ssv
that my efforts in that field C,he
library field will continue"
Sees Great Advancement.
Mr.. Noyes recalled that it is far
cry from the small grammar school
which he attended in Southvest
Washington in 1868-1870 to the pres
ent new high school and library
combined.
"I am proud" he said. "of M
birthplace in section notable in
the early history of Washington.
which has sent many Of her sons
to serve the whole Capital commu-
nity with usefulness and distinction.
and which is fortunate in being rep
resented by the energetic and effeC-
tive organized citizens headed bv
Chairman Wender. who by hearty
cooperation with the Federation Of
Citizens Associations. the Board Of
Trade. the library authorities and
the superintendent and Board Of
Education have made a fine record
of successful campaigning to create
the latest branch of our library.
university of the people"
Commissioner Young said, ut l.
important that children grow up
10 hnAlyc tt1o+ +l76v-
become their lifelong friends and
companions
Mr.. Wender spoke Of his boyhood
in the Southwest section and how
the only library of this area was IN
Neighborhood House (now Barnev
Neighborhood House,. He said he
had read every book in it.
Sees Sections Renaissance.
In his opinion. the most significan'
aspect. he said, was that the library
and the new school represented
major step forward in the ''renais-
sance' of the Southwest section,
long neglected where civic improve
mentS are concerned.
Following Mr.. Vendors speech,
Capt. John L. Person, Assistant En-
gineer Commissioner. turned over
the keys for the branch 10 Miss
Mclaughlin.
Miss Herbert expressed the graft
tude of library officials over COM
pletion of the branch and stressed
the fact that the volumes therein
had been selected to suit every ones
taste, old and young. both with edu-
cational and recreationaI types OF
books.
She introduced Miss Mclaughlin,
who spoke for her staff of l8. She
said the branch's staff was glad
to have the opportunity to serve
the city She laid particular stress
on the fact 10000 of the 1890 VOL
umes have been selected for chill
dren, with their use as a supple
ment to the classroom work in the
schools we'll in mind. She also lait
on the fact there are
many books of a recreational type,
merely fun to read.
Number l library card was pre-
sented by Mrs. Smith to Mr.. Wen
der in recognition of his work in
pushing the library and school pro-
gram Through