Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-09-21

WIN the community looking 10
the Public Library staff for the
skilled organization of material
and for expert advice" on its use, it
is necessary that the staff be COM
petent and experienced and to "ac-
|quire and hold such a staff requires
salaries commensurate with the
training and responsibilities in
volved." Theodore w. Noyes, presi-
dent of the Board of Library Trus-
tees, stated In his annual report re-
leased today by the Commissioners
In his report for the fiscal year
ending June 30. Mr. Noyes said in
regard to personnel:
Job descriptions, grades and sal
airy rates had not been reviewed
since 1882. The Commissioners au-
thorized a survey Of the entire Ii
brary personnel by the classification
division of the United States Civil
Service. Reports and recommends
tions Of the investigators were still
in progress at the close of the fiscal
year, but SUFFICIENT work has been
accomplished to indicate clearly the
need for the survey
Agency for Adult Education.
ut is obvious from the daily de-
mands that the community looks to
the library staff for the skilled or
ganization of material and for ex-
pert advice on its use. The library
becomes more and more a pre-
eminent agency for adult education.
and as such 1t is essential that the
professional staff be thoroughly
competent and experienced. To ac-
quire and hold such a staff requires
salaries commensurate with the
training and responsibilities in
volved."
AT the request of Commissioner
Guy Mason" the report said at an
other point, IAN extension program
for postwar development was pre-
pared. This program is in two
parts, covering the service and cap
ital improvements. 1t has been
given to the chairman of the
Library Committee of the Board of
Trade to be represented in the rec
concentrations of the board for the
postwar development program of
Washington"
The report said that the in
creases in the book fund for 1914
and 1945 ARE great boom" but
that even $4,000, the fund for
1945, is 8 cents per capita, as against
IL cents median for other public
Libraries in Washington's popula-
ton class and the Is cents set up
by the American Library Associa-
ton"
Among the conditions cited in the
report calling for heavy expendi-
lures are: Changes, especially in
technical and scientific fields are
so rapid that books must be kept
current to be accurate; postwar
changes will make many books in
the non-scientific field out of date;
materials for audio-v visual use must
be developed; heavy use of books
makes reminding and large with
drawals of books necessary each
year and the life of books is short
ened by wartime paper and narrow
margins.
"The library has functioned re-
markedly well in spite of most
difficult personnel conditions" the
report said. Prom a staff of $50
persons-251 regular and 80 tenn
porary-there were 253 separations.
These included II granted military
leave and 2 who went to the Red
Cross and Once of War Informa-
ton. Appointments numbering BIZ
were made. giving turnover of II
per cent ="
The overcrowding of the Central
Library, the report said, has con-
tinued to limit the development of
service "at this especially impor-
tant time" While it was said that
the branch. libraries are cramped
for book storage space, their at
and friendly atmos-.
phere afford much-appreciated
refuge for many newcomers" Gus
todial care, 1t was said, has been
handicapped by the draft and lack
of manpower and materials have
resulted in an accumulation of re-
pairs and improvements that call
for postwar consideration"
Services Discussed.
Discussing library service toll
adults, the report said that '"the
demand continued to be more for
special information than for gen.
eral home reading"
AS for service to children, it was
reported that home use of 634,922I
volumes was recorded, with the 49,
las books distributed to 1878 class
rooms in 172 schools. Glass instruc-
ton in the use of the library was
given to 1891 children and men
ton was made of the service to
crippled children at Gallinger Hos-l
pital, tubercular children at Glenn