Evening star., 1942-10-11
Technical Material
In Greater Demand,
Library Trustees Say
Annual Report Cites
Increase in Coils
As Result of War

Because of the war;, the Public
Library of the District of Columbia
has faced increasing demands dur
ing the last year for all kinds of
technical material, the District
Commissioners were told yesterday
IN the annual report of the library
Board of Trustees by Theodore w
Noyes, president.
Along with the report of the
trustees, the Commissioners re-
ceived the annual report of Miss
Clara w. Herbert, librarian.
In explaining the effect of the
war on the library system, Mr..
Noyes said:
The library as a great instru-
ment for the diffusion of knowledge
becomes more and more a focal
point in the community"
The citizens of Washington. both
the old and the thousands of new
residents, the report of the trustees
continued, have turned to the Ii
brary for information on the causes
of war and on the countries en-
gagged in the present struggle. AL
most 175,000 card holders, 5000
more than last year. have come to
the library for information on quail
iflcations for service in the armed
forces, on civilian defense regula-
tions, on nutrition, child care, civil
service examinations, personnel
management and other phases OF
Government work.
War Reading Room Established.
In an effort to make it easy for
persons seeking information directly
related to the war, the library
opened the War Reading Room in
the main branch at Eighth and K
streets NV. Printed material which
poured from the press after Decem-
Der was examined and evaluated.
The most serviceable material was
assembled for easy consultation in
the war reading room
In contrast to increased demand
on the information and reference
services and the increased number
of card holders, the home circula-
ton of books decreased from $780,
583 to 2,899,677.
This loss is easily accounted for" -"
it was stated In the trustees report,
by the unsettled conditions arising
from the war, and was experienced
by libraries In all parts of the coun-
try"
At the same time that pressure on
the library has been increasing, the
report continued, anticipated new
space in the new central library at
Sixth street and Pennsylvania ave-
nue. NV. was occupied by the War
Department.
The loss of the anticipated space
at the time that the pressure is
heaviest on the library" the report
said. was a severe blow. and the
best that could be done in temporary
adjustments was inadequate to meet
greatly needed extension Of service" ."
Will Have Building After War.
The arrangement will react In
favor of the library at the end OF
- however. IT efitt"was~stSsetf.a be-
cause use of the building for the
duration by war agency. has guar
anteed that it's construction will be
continued Deterioration will be
prevented and. the library will take
possession of a completed building
at the end of the war.
The only new branch is a sub
branch which has been opened in
Anacostia until a separate branch
can be constructed on the site &C
quired in that area last year. Sal
aries for five new employees in addi-
ton to those needed to operate the
Anacostia subbranch were provided
in the appropriation for personnel
Not only have the educational
facilities of the library been used to
a greater extent. but in addition its
buildings are being utilized for Red
Cross courses. feeding station and
ration boards. The commissioners
also have designated the library as
official centers for ONCE of Civilian
Defense information.
To permit Government employees
with heightened work week to use
the library. the hours at sub
branches have been extended from
80 to 40 weekly. In addition, by
voluntary action of the librarians,
four of the sub-branches are being
kept open on Sundays from 2 to 6
pm Service has been given on