Evening star., 1943-10-24
D. {. Library Report
Cites Aid in Problems
OF Wartime Living

SoAc C. JoNciiiAo dcllilQutllCy, IdIlOlllllS
budgeting and other problems of
wartime living was a major task
of the District public library sys-
tenn during the last fiscal year,
Theodore w. Moves, president of
the Board of Library Trustees, in
formed the Commissioners in his
annual report yesterday.
Miss Clara w. Herbert, librarian,
In her report to the trustees, de-
clared 80 per cent turnover in the
library staff during the year had
thrown exceptional burdens on the
senior staff" but that they had done
more than meet the challenge.
They have voluntarily under
taken new enterprises; they have
kept the libraries open longer hours
and on holidays; they have COL
lected and sorted $4,000 books given
through the Victory Book Cam
paign; in their private capacity they
have taken part in civilian defense,
in civic and Red Cross activities,
and in donations to the Blood Bank;
and they have given generously to
all war funds" Miss Herbert wrote
the trustees.
Conditions More Difficult.
Reviewing the 194243 fiscal year,
Mr.. Moves stated:
Washington became the residence
OF countless thousands of new Gov
ernment employees, hours of work
were extended, transportation was
seriously affected by gas shortage.
The schools changed their curricula
to speed up preparation for armed
or industrial services. Conditions of
living became more difficult and
complicated with dislocation of fam
lily life through the drafting Of men
and the taking on Of war jobs by
many mothers. Problems of child
care and juvenile delinquency be-
came pressing. Rationing and budg-
citing were matters of daily concern.
The requirements for informa-
ton to meet these new factors and
conditions we're the outstanding
characteristics of the year The ref
erence and advisory service was
called upon to supply every kind
of information in regard to the war
civilian defense, technical and voca-
tional needs, languages, children,
home activities. nutrition, Victory
gardens and allied subjects. The Ii
brary became truly an information
center. Its service was geared to
supplying quickly authoritative
knowledge in ways most readily us
able by persons of all intellectual
levels
Regular Work Carried On.
Mr.. Moves said that in spite of
the unusual pressure" of wartime
demands, the regular activities of
the library were carried on; the work
with the children and with young
people and with readers turning to
the library for recreational. cul-
tural and inspirational books" He
termed the opening of the sub
branch in Anacostia last November
as "one Of the most important de-
velopmentS Of the year"
Mr.. Noyes reported that the per
capita cost Of library service, based
on a population of 100000, was IT
cents" less than the price of ad-
mission to two evening movies"
IF the per capita appropriation
met the standards Of the American
Library Association of 81 for limited
or medium service, $3.50 for reason
ably good service, or 81 for superior
service branches could be operated
in the many neighborhoods which
now are not so served; the subject
specialization, at present limited to
a few fields, could be greatly eX-
banded; and book collections made
more adequate better to perform
the educational work for which the
library was created by act of Con-
eress."
More Space Needed.
Although space for the admins
trative Offices Of the central library
were acquired at TOT Mount Vernon
place NV, thus releasing space in
the library, Mr.. Moves said that
more space is sorely needed and
the trustees look forward with eager
ness to occupying the new central
building at the termination of the
war" He also reported that nearly
2,50O.000 volumes we're loaned for
home or Office use, and that the
number of registered borrowers was
176,086.
In acknowledging gifts, Mr. Noyes
said that the most notable was
one of $4,000 from Mrs. Hattie M.
Strong for library service to handi-
capped children. Other gifts noted
were the valuable private library of
Miss Sophy Carr Stanton" with a
fund of 5000 from her friends, to
develop a memorial collection on the
Near East and Far East; $3.50 from
Mrs. Eugene Meyer for the purchase
of technical books: print collec-
ton given the art division by the di-
rector of art projects for the WPA;
annual gifts Of 709 volumes from
The Star and 145 from the Post; S100