Evening star., 1945-09-18
Library Seeks
S1,201,216 10
Build New Units
S2,0S4, ,329 Budget,
More Than Double
That Of 1916, Urged
BY CAMBRIDGE CRIST.

has been included in the $2,O84, 80!
budget of the Public Library fol
1947 calling for starting the con.
struction of the second and thirc
units of the new Central Library ano
building branch libraries in Ana.
costa, Cleveland Park and Pleasant
Plains.
The new budget is more than
double that of the 1916 appropria-
tion of 1886 800, of which only $l57,.
300 was for capital outlay. The
Commissioners also released the 1947
budget request of the Department
OF Traffic and Vehicles, which is
seeking $649,978, compared with
$444 900 appropriated for the cur
rent year.
Library officials have asked for
$50O,000 to start construction of the
second and third units of the new
Central Library and to complete
alterations to the existing unit at
499 Pennsylvania avenue NV, now
being used by the Office of Emer-
gency Management. Total cost of
the structure was set at $4,000 900.
The completion of the new Cen
trail Library is the first priority on
the Board of Trustees building pro-
gram and is on the Commissioners
postwar construction program" the
budget statement said. plans and
specifications are ready for imme-
diate use in meeting the anticipated
problem OF unemployment"
Seek Branch Libraries.
An additional s577 500 is sought
by library officials for construction
of branch libraries in Anacostia,
Cleveland Park and Pleasant Plains
for remodeling the present Takoma
Park building. For the Cleveland
Park Library, $751; 500 is asked.
Residents of the area raised S30,-
600 for the library site to match
District funds, but this proved in
sufficient and library officials have
asked for $4,000 of additional funds
for the Brookland, Tenley and
Cleveland Park sites. The budget
statement said it was hoped a 1916
supplemental appropriation would
provide planning funds for the
Cleveland Park building.
The three new branch libraries
would cost S187 500 each, while re-
modelling and equipping Takoma
Park library would cost $4,000
Planning funds for Anacostia and
Pleasant Plains already are avail
able, it was said.
operating expenses of the library
are estimated at $883,113 for 1947.
compared with s679,000 appropri-
ated this year Sixteen new posi-
tions have been requested by the
Central Library, including person.
mel for the music and art di-
visions, wolk interests rooms, So
cioiogy division, reference depart
ment. technology department, fc-
tlcn division. Washingtoniana di-
vision and information service.
Book Circulation Rises.
Pointing out that the home circu-
latlon OF books for the last fiscal
year of 1945 was 2,482,3 300, an in
crease Of 145,368 volumes more than
in 1894, the budget statement
added:
There has been an even greater
increase in quantity and in i'm
portance of reference questions. in
bibliographies requested by indi-
viduals and civic groups and in CO.
operation with District agencies.
Special attention has been given to
the needs of veterans and displaced
war workers and to those of high
school students and young workers.
Service to this important group has
been better organized and better
standards developed"
New positions sought include a
discussion leader. hospital librarian
. to aid the program of furnishing
library service to tuberculous pa
tients at Glenn Dale Sanatorium,
Gallinger Municipal Hospital and
Freedmen's Hospital two advisers to
work with youth, an assistant for
the school division, an assistant
personnel officer, and a book exam
liner for the binding division.
Library officials also have asked
for $4,000 with which to purchase
branch library sites in Congress
Heights, lexington and in the vi
cinity of Pennsylvania avenue and
Eighteenth street NV. These areas,
1t was said, are being built so rapidly
that sites should be purchased at
the earliest possible moment to avoid
additional costs of improved prop
erty. The next branch libraries on
the trustees program are in north
western downtown to serve the area
OF Seventeenth street, Twenty-fourth
street, Constitution avenue and K
street NV, and lexington and
Congress Heights.
S23,716 Asked for Plans.
An additional $23,716 was re-
quested for drawing plans for new
branch libraries at Benning, Bright
wood, Woodbridge and the remodeling
the Mount Pleasant branch's sun
room.
The Department of Traffic and
Vehicles has asked for additional
engineering personnel in an ATTEMPT
to meet the criticisms earlier this
year Of the House Subcommittee
on District Appropriations, which
charged there is lack of necessary
general overall planning with re-
spect to the traffic conditions within
the District with too much time and
effort Eeing devoted to what seems
to be piecemeal planning"
In 1ustifying the new personnel,
the department said that with the
present extremely small staff of
this (engineeringl division. ADEQUATE
study and planning are impossible
The present personnel of five per-
sons, together with the vacancies
of four traffic enumerators. is far
too few for the problem. The addi-
tlonal positions requested represent
the bare minimum necessary to
carry out adequate planning"
aew positions sought include an
operating engineer, an associate
planning engineer, two assistant en-
gineers, Junior engineer, a design
craftsman, an engineer aide, three
craftsmen and four traffic enumer-
ators. In regard to the motor We
hicle inspection service, the depart
ment has requested five new in