Evening star., 1942-10-11
several holidays when the library
ordinarily has been closed.
| R~.x

several holidays when the library
ordinarily has been closed.
Best Possible Service Pledged.
The trustees recognize the bur
dens placed upon the librarian and
the staff by the additional and in
tensifled demands caused by the
war" the report of the trustees
said. "and appreciate the fine spirit
by which every facility has been
stretched and every effort made to
meet them.
TO the end that the citizens of
Washington may have the best DOS
slole library service at all times.
the trustees, the librarian and the
stah continue to dedicate them
selves"
Miss Herbert emphasized in her
report to the Commissioners that
the peculiar combination of war
conditions and removal of the hope
OF speedy acquisition of new space
had required detailed reconsidera-
ton OF facilities already available
to the system and had resulted in
moves OF both Office and reader ac-
commodations.
The space for the war reading
room, for example, she said, was
made available by squeezing up"
some of the Offices in the central
library, removing one office to the
annex in the Ford Building and by
removal of wall.
The same method of space read
1ustment would have to be followed,
Miss Herbert added. if the library
were to answer the urgent need
also Tor assembling books on such
| subjects as problems of family life
under war conditions and on pub
llc administration and other subjects
studied by Government workers"
Technical Information Sought.
Much of the reference use of the
war reading room and of other de-
partments of the library, she con-
tlnued, has been made over the
telephone. This has increased the
burden on the library staff.
Some of the detailed technical
problems on which persons have
approached the library for informa-
ton, Miss Herbert continued, have
been the use of plastics, the effect
OF Welding on the eyes, cotton clas-
styling and marketing. buovancv
and stability in shipbuilding and
the construction of AFRAID shelters.
"A great many young men taking
entrance examinations for the Air
Corps or Coast Guard" she said
ask Tor quick reviews of science,
mathematics, history and current
events"
At the same time that technical
demands have come to the fore,
however, she emphasized, the value
OF nctlon at a time of strain and
the TACT that novels make a real
contribution to the happiness and
| the comfort of many readers" has
not been forgotten by the staff.
Two committees made special
studies of fiction. she said, to help
decide how much money should be
spent for such acquisitions in the
face OF "clamor" for bread and
butter" books.
Child Consultants Trained.
In recognition of the fact that
chlldren's needs increases in war
time as well as those of adults. Miss
Herbert continued, position of
consultant to young people was set
up to train advisers of child read
ers. Lists OF books showing cour-
age and stressing fundamental
moral values" were prepared by the
chilorens department at the re-
quest of public school officials.
Similar book lists and advisory
photographic services were prepared
Tor the junior and senior high
school students and placed in the
hands OF all branch librarians.
The consultant in adult education
has co-operated with a total~of SO
Federal and local agencies. Miss
Herbert said, and given is radio
talks. She co-operated with the
District Red Cross, College Women S
CLUB and Womens Council of the
Washington Federation Of Churches
IN setting up exhibits in the library
buildings.
Morale" services Of the library,
IN addition to use of its books and
its buildings by the public. Miss
Herbert added. have included 20
programs OF recorded music given
at the central library, and book
talks, addresses and phonog nph
concerts given at various branch
libraries.
A completely voluntary service
rendered by the library staff di-
rectly to the armed forces. Miss
Herbert said, was the examination.
classification, listing and packing
! by the staff OF more than 100, 900
books donated to servicemen in the
Victory Book Campaign" conduct
ed from January to April of this
year.
Another wartime demand which
has occupied the attention of the
staff in addition to its increasing
service to the general public. she