Evening star., 1947-09-27
Library
Continued From First Page)

loaned.
For the new fiscal year, beginning
next July /, the total library appro-
priation requested by the board OF
trustees is s3,623 900. This is 81. .468,-
400 more than the $1,154 800 which
the library is spending during the
current fiscal year.
Proportionately, the requested in
crease is the third largest in the
staggering $144,000, 900 total budget
estimate before the Commissioners.
Capital outlay for new construction
and the acquisition OF branch Ii
brary sites accounts for 81 ,965 900
of the increase. No appropriation
for construction was made this year.
To Occupy Entire Block.
The first unit of thu projected
new central library building. design
ed to occupy an entire block north
of Pennsylvania avenue between
Sixth street and John Marshall
place NV. was started before the
war, but work was halted when the
building was about half finished
because Of wartime shortage Of
materials. = .-....
Arrangements later were made for
its completion with the understand
ing the Federal Government would
use 1t, during the emergency. The
Pu blic Buildings Administration
then farmed the building out to q
succession Of Government agencies,
last of which was Nelson Rocker
feller's state Department. Once Of
er-American Affairs.
Two years ago, the library finally
regained toe-hold on its own
building access to the fifth floor and
half of the fourth floor. But the
inter American office-since divided
into the Institute of Inter American
Affairs and the Inter American
Education Foundation, affiliated with
the State Department hung onto the
rest.
Trustees are Hopeful.
Hopefully, the library trustees re-
port in the budget estimate their
expectation that the whole of the
first unit of the new main library
will be turned over to the library
in a matter of a few weeks"
tZpoedr
A Public Buildings Administration
official said today, however, no new
quarters for the diplomatic tenants
of the building are in sight and
that no move can be made until such
quarters are found.
At the same time, since the build
ing was completed as an office rather
than as q library, the municipal
architects office has estimated
1898 900 will be needed to put 1t
back into shape. In the wartime
agreement between the Federal Gov
ernment and the District, the Fed
eral Government placed itself under
no obligation to help out by taking
down partitions and other unwanted
Improvements erected during its
tenure.
The Board of Trustees explains
Vic SOVU,OOV StdLt VA SOlloeA OStAAlS
the second unit of the building is
imperative ito hasten the day when
all the library services may be
brought together under one roof"
But the transfer of services from
the old central building in Mount
Vernon square will begin as soon as
the first unit is ready, the board
adds.
Large Sum for Branches.
AS in previous years, the budget
estimate for 1949 includes a large
sum for branch libraries. Up to now,
most of these requests have been
disallowed.
This time, the board proposes to
spend $1,008, 900 building branches
at Eighteenth street and Good Hope
road Sc. Fairmont street NV.
between Georgia and Sherman ave-
nues and Connecticut avenue and
Macomb street NV. and remodel
ing branches at Sixteenth and
Lamont streets NV. and Seventh
and D streets Sc.
It also asks $4,000 to buy sites
in the Brookland and Tenley areas.
For operating expenses, the library
seeks $l,658, 900 for 1949 as against
the $1,154,600 received for 194S
This is an increase of $503 400.
Biggest item in this increase Is
one of $273, ,099 for the salaries Of
100 new permanent employees, in
cludings $7,102 director for the
library's great books program" and
IS persons to operate public services
in the new main library. For addi-
tional enliir,ment S1A2 FAD is sought