Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-09-23
Library Budget 0mits
Renovation Request
For Main Building
By Jerry OLeoY, Jr.

the commissioners today Wert
asked by Librarian Harry N. Peter,
son to approve sl,2sa,000 budge'
estimate for operating the city!
public libraries during fiscal veal
1850, with no request made fol
money to renovate the new main
library building next year because
of the Districts fiscal plight.
Pointing out that the need fol
more space for public service has
been evident for 20 years at the
Central Library on Mount Vernon
SQUARE at Ninth street NV, Mr.
Peterson told the city heads the neeo
is more urgent now than ever.
To accomplish limited number
of renovations in the basement OF
the Central Library building ano
to finance Encouragement of read
ing rooms, the Commissioners were
asked to authorize s34, 400 in the
next fiscal year.
The solution to all the library
systems difficulties, however, would
be in the new main library building
at 499 Pennsylvania avenue NV.
Twice the Floor Space.
During the last two or three
years, it was hoped that the first
unit would be made available for
library purposes" Mr.. Peterson SAID
in his fiscal forecast. Since the
floor space at 499 is more than twice
as much as the whole of the toid)
central building, this unit would OBJ
viously afford space for growth for
some time to come.
Before the new building at 499
could be used for library service,
minimum number of renoVations
would cost s36S,00O Present esti-
mates would probably run CONSIDER
ably closer to 100000
Mr.. Peterson said no request Is
being made in the 1850 budget Tor
money to renovate the first unit OF
the new building because OF the
financial condition of the District
and the need for strictest economy.
He emphasized that the proposed
renovation will take care OF public
service needs for several years, but
is nevertheless temporary meas
ure and does not eliminate the
necessity for new main library
building in the future.
Increase of So, 900.
The s1.29S,0OO sought for fiscal
1850 is S97 900 more than the library
system received this year for oper-
ating expenses, purchase of books,
recordings and films, maintenance
and rent. Mr.. Peterson asked a
total of s65.010 for renovations to
buildings and grounds and special
repairs.
He said $4,000 should be author
lied for approach grading, concrete
work and exterior painting of the
Chevy Chase branch. now located
In the Chevy Chase Community
Building, formerly E. V. Brown
School. Other special repair funds
requested are as follows:
Central Library building $12 STA
for badly needed modern lights to
replace the l8-year-old fixtures;
Georgetown, $1,750; Northeast
branch, 1850; Southeast branch.
rSl.100; Southwest branch. 500;
Mount Pleasant branch, $500; Ia
.kolna Park branch, s1,436, and Pet
worth, $500.
The librarian asked tine Commits
sicners to authorize s65.832 for
equipment, $4,000 of which would
be used to cover the increased cost
OF books Most of the SYSTEMS
1854 volumes circulated three
times for every District resident dur
ing, the past year, although the
library has only 10000 registered
Borrowers. = =
ss6f,77s for Salaries.
Salaries alone will cost the library
system $961,778 in fiscal 1950-s2S.-
77S more than this year Within
grade salary increases will cost
$26,4e9. while the rest Of the in
crease will comprise s8,172 in nigh.
differentials.
Rental fees will cost the library
only $500 next year-a decrease of
$500 from the $4,000 the library
system must pay for leased space
this year. The fact that it is no
longer necessary to pay S4,500 year
for the Chevy Chase branch fbe-
cause the E. V. Brown School is now
Governmental owned and requires no
rent) is balanced by small rent in
creases for the buildings occupied
by the Woodbridge and Anacostia
branches.
The rest of the $4,000 increase
asked for fiscal 1850, the estimates
revealed is attributed to increased
costs of electricity, telephones, post
age, supplies and almost all general
obligations.
Part-time Workers.
Mr.. Peterson asked the city heads
to approve $4,000 for continued EN-
ployment of 20 part-time depart
mental workers to meet peak circula-
ton loads in the evenings when
schools and Offices are closed He
also requested $17414 for the five
employees in the library binding plant
an increase of S1,253 over this year
Another item requested in the
budget estimate is $4,000 to keep the
main library open on Washington's
Birthday and Armistice Day from
l to 9 pm. and to provide custodiai
service at the main building on all
Sundays and legal holidays