Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-19

Hopes for the free public library
system to provide adequate library
facilities for war-crowded Wash
ington and to meet increasing de-
mands of Government war agen-
cies for technical information have
virtually been blasted on the basis
of the 1914 District budget now
before Congress.
The worst blow suffered by the
library was disallowance of funds
to porvide additional books and
periodicals, and to put branches
at Chevy Chase and Woodbridge on
a 72-hour instead of a 40-hour
week operating basis. The library
also was refused funds it sought
to open another branch at Langdon
Terrace, housing development for
colored persons.
Despite these handicaps facing
| the library in the fiscal year begin
ming July /, Miss Clara w. Herbert,
librarian, is pleased that the bud
get provides four additional en-
ployes to operate a war reading"
room which will serve primarily
as an official information center for
the local Office of Civilian Defense.
Purchase Item Cut $1,000.
Miss Hebert takes the reduction
in the library budget somewhat
philosophically. ANY cut is a ter
rlble blow to u.s." she said. I'VE
really have never managed to run
the library adequately as a public
service. Demands on the library
are much more urgent than ever
before. We need more money, but
If we can't get it, what can we do?"
The new budget allows the
library $4,000 for purchase of
books, periodical, etc, in the H.
month period beginning July /. It
had 1000 for the same purpose in
the present fiscal year.
Even though realizing the need for
increased funds for the purchase of
books and periodicals, the Commits
sioners found it necessary in the
last-minute slashing of the District
budget TO lop $1,000 off this item.
In fact, the Commissioners, in sup
port of more money needed by the
library for purchase Of books and
| periodicals, said:
In recent years the book fund
has lost ground even in comparison
with 1878. at the depth of the de-
preston. Since 1881 the popula-
ton OF Washington has increased
SO per cent Ito January l, 1912; the
number of borrowers registered at
the library has more than doubled
Ito July l, 1912, and the number of
agencies to be supplied from the
book fund has increased SIS per cent.
In the face of these pressures, the
book fund was actually 8 per cent
less in 1923 than it was in 1912,
| and the per capita expenditure for
books has declined from 107 cents
IN 194l and 6.3 cents in 1912.
Meanwhile the cost of books is
rising sharply"
The budget provides $30,000-the
same amount as appropriated for
the current fiscal year-for binding
old books, although the Commits
sioners originally requested $4,000
for this purpose to aid the library
in catching up on it's work in re-
newing the much-used books.
The Commissioners pointed out
that appropriations for binding in
the 10 years before 1912 were so
small the library accumulated 81 900
volumes in need of binding and
repair.
Only seven additional employees
were wanted to extend the services
at the Chevy Chase and Wood
ridge branches. Each of these
branches, the Commissioners said,
has carried circulation of about
100000 for several years, and the
communities in which they are To-
Gated are growing so rapidly a full
| 72-hour week service is required.