Evening star., 1942-08-30
Public Library
Needs Placed
At $814,831
Estimates Exceed
Current Year Fund
By $65,288

full 72-hour- operation OF
the Chevy Chase and Woodbridge
subbranches and increases for books
and for binding Of old volumes.
A final appropriation of 100000 is
asked for completion OF the first
unit of new Central Library Build
ing being erected on the north side
of Pennsylvania avenue west of
John Marshall place, but when fin
ished this structure will be used for
Federal Offices for the duration Of
the war, accentuating the housing
problems Of the library system.
S10,560 Sought for Rent.
Funds are sought for renting of
space near the old Central Library
for administrative Offices of the sys-
TEN since war conditions prevent
housing Of these units in the new
building. For this purpose and for
rent for quarters of the Anacos-
tia, Chevy Chase and Woodbridge
branches, the trustees seek $10,560,
as against this years rent costs OF
$7,560.
OIl tIllS pOIAlt, VIC VI uoeSSo eA
vised the Commissioners:
1.-THE greater demands on the
Central Library resulting from the
war and the growth of population
make some release of space in the
(old) building urgent. Since occu-
pancy of the new Central Library
is postponed for the duration, rent
ing space across Mount Vernon
place and moving the administra-
ton Offices there seems the only way
of getting temporary relief. Linn
tied but adequate space in the
neighborhood is available at ap-
proximately the figure requested
An increase from $780, 900 to $40,-
600 is requested for rebinding of old
volumes as means of partly catch
ing up with the backlog of work.
Library officials declared that for
the 10 years prior to 1912 binding
appropriations were so small that
the library had accumulated 61,-
600 volumes in need Of binding or
repair.
"Ihe current base OF 10000 has
proved adequate to current needs,
but no substantial reduction
(through binding) Of arrears has
been possible" the trustees added
SIT is estimated that the additional
$4,000 requested will eliminate
about half of the arrears in need
Of binding"
36% Population Gain Cited.
In asking for an increase from
$57 900 to $85, 900 in the appropria-
tion for books and other printed
materials, the trustees asserted that
the book fund had ''lost ground
even In comparison with 1931-1933,
at the depth Of the depression.
The Commissioners were advised
that the population OF Washington
had increased 36 per cent between
1881 and January OF this year and
: that the number Of borrowers reg
istered ct the library had more than
doubled between 1881 and last July
/. The trustees added: "In the
face Of these pressures, the book
fund was actually per cent less
for this fiscal year than it was in
193l-1o33" They said the per cap
Sta expenditure for books had de-
clined from lot cents in 1881 to
6A cents In 1941 and 63 cents in
1912. while costs of books, mean
while, were rising sharply.
Taking 10 cents per capita as the
minimum expenditure for books, and
100000 as a conservative" estimate
of the population in 1914, book
fund of $8o,000-the sum requested
is indicated, the library spokes-
men said. An additional 5000 Is
sought for the original book stock
for the proposed Langston terrace
subbranch.
The net increase of $35, 900 sought
for books and periodicals would in
clude o sum of between $500 ane
$500 for microfilming the curren
file of The Star. The Library nov
Is subscribing for the current mum
bers OF The Star newspapers beint
microfllmed by the Library of Con
,gress.
ut Is important to take advantage
of this opportunity to get the micro
filmed file because OF the rapid dis
integration of newspaper" tn
statement continued. Ultimately
we will need to have the complet
file from 1857 through 194l. but tn
request for the back numbers /
deferred until conditions are NOR
favorable"
Additional Personnel Sought.
OF the requested increase Q
$48,638 for additional personnel, tn
trustees propose that $26,440 go fo
strengthening the present servict
$10,960 for extending the hours G
service of the Chevy Chase an
Woodbridge sub-branches, $4,530 fo
opening, Of the proposed Langsto
Terrace sub-branch. $4,708 fo
''within-grade" promotions an
$4,000 for Sunday service and sub
stitutes.
Among the new personnel woul
be chief of a new Division OF Pub
lice Administration. Since publ
administration is a principal occu
patton Of the District of Columbia
the board said, "the library shoul
offer competent service to worker
in the District and Federal Gov
ernments, especially now when thou
sands of new workers are trying t
adjust themselves to the compile
scheme of official Washington.
This service, which had bee
planned for the new Central Ii
brary, can be begun in the old build
ing on a more modest scale unde
an assistant competent to build u
the book collection; to answer ref
erence questions and to advise wit
readers who come to the librar
seeking assistance on special prok
lems."
The Commissioners yesterday ais
(see LIBRARY. Page A-l4)