Evening star., 1945-01-06
Library Officials Hope
Congress Will Grant
Funds for Expansion
6-Yeor Building Program
At Cost of Sc, ,454, ,903
Outlined in Report

Hope that Congress this year
would authorize funds to start a
proposed six-year $6,454,9 ,903 build
ing expansion program for the
Washington Free Public Library
system was voiced today by its Of
ficials.
A major portion of the proposed
outlay would be needed to complete
construction of the new Central
Library Building near Pennsylvania
avenue and John Marshall place
NV, one of the four sections of
which already has been built and
is occupied temporarily by Federal
workers.
In addition to completion of this
project, however, trustees of the
system, in keeping with a program
adopted six months ago, are plan
ming the development of 18 addi-
tional branch Libraries and the re-
placement of six existing but tenn
porary branch library quarters.
Outlined in Formal Report.
AS outlined in a formal report
sent to Representative Stefan, Re-
publican of Nebraska, ranking min
ority member of the House Appro-
priations Subcommittee handling
District budget matters, 10 of the
requested new branches and four
replacement projects are included in
the suggested six-year 1946-1951
building program. AS to the re-
mainder, eight of the new branches
and two requirements would be re-
served for later development.
Much of the future program was
given last September by library off,
cials in their original budget re-
quests for the next fiscal year.
In the September requests, it Is
recalled, library officials sought
100000 for continuing work on the
new Central Library Building and
authorization to enter into con-
tracts for erection Of the second,
third and fourth units and necessary
remodeling of the first unit at
total cost of $685., ,000 In addition
funds were sought for sites for per-
manent branches for the Wood
ridge and Brightwood sections, for
planning remodeling of the Takoma
Park and Southeastern branches;
and for plans for the six other
branch libraries.
Six-Year Program.
In releasing the outline of the
whole six-year program, Miss Clara
Herbert, public librarian, wrote Mr..
Stefan: "The Library, created by
Congress as an educational institu-
ton, has an important contribution
to make in these critical years.
Therefore, reinforcement and ex-
pansion Of the service at number
of points are greatly needed"
For the next fiscal year, the pro-
gram contemplated an outlay of
$4,000 for sites for the Woodbridge
and Brightwood branches; s26,211
for plans for branches in Anacostia,
Brookland. Benning, Tenley, Pleas
ant Plains and remodeling at Ia
koma Park and Southeastern; and
s1,l00.000 for continuing construc-
ton of the new Central Building
and s150,000 for a Columbia road
branch.
For 1947 fiscal year proposals
were: $4,000 for purchase of sites
for branches in the Downtown,
lexington, Deanwood, Kalmia, Con-
gress road and Trinidad sections;
s9,125 for plans for three projects,
100000 to build the last two units
of the new Central Building.
1s4S to 1850 Proposals.
For 1948: S11,250 for plans for
the Brightwood and downtown
buildings and 1898, ,750 for construc-
ton of the Anacostia, Brookland
and Columbia road.
For 1949: Some $4,000 for plans
for the Woodbridge, Deanwood, Eek
ington and Trinidad projects and
s580,000 for the Benning, Tenley,
Cleveland Park, Chevy Chase (E. v.
Brown School, Takoma Park and
Southeastern buildings.
For 1850: 1862 500 for construction
Of the Pleasant Plains, Brightwood
and downtown buildings.
For 1851: s500,000 for construc-
ton of the Woodbridge, Trinidad,
Deanwood and lexington build
ings.
Left for later provision, beyond
1851, were branches for East Chevy
Chase, Macarthur boulevard, Massa-
chusetts avenue, Kalmia, Sixteenth
street, Chillum, Langston, Kenil-