Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-01-09
DC. Library Surveys so Years
OfGrowth, CitesNeed for Funds

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OfGrowth,Cite
When the Washington Public Lii
brary first opened its doors so years
ago, people were most interested in
reading about the Spanish-American
War.
when Knighthood Was In Flow
err" by Charles Major and Richard
Carvel," by an American Winston
Churchill, headed the best-seller
lists for fiction, and the demand for
the Browning Letters and Tenny-
sons Memories was considerable.
Rudyard Kipling We'd with S. Weir
Witchell and Mrs. Humphrey Ward
for inches in the literary hall Of
fame, and q man with the improb-
able name of Mark Twain was the
American literary celebrity.
On January 10, 1899, the Washing
ton Public Library had collection OF
1858 books, most of them left over
from the Washington City Free
Library" formed by group OF cit
liens four years earlier.
Had One Librarian.
They were housed in a physicians
converted home located at 1926 New
York avenue NV, and watched over
by one librarian and two assistants.
The appropriation for the library
in that first year was $6,720. After
the librarian was paid his salary of
$500, there was enough left to
pay the assistants 5000 and $720 re-
spectively, leaving $1,000 for all
other expenses.
The late Theodore w. Moves, edi-
tor of The Star, who died July 4,
1916, at the age of 88, was leader
in the campaign for tax-sustained
free public library.
Mr.. Moves became president OF
the Board of Trustees in 1896 and
held that pest the rest of his life.
In that time he saw it grow from a
small unit-one room in temporary
ouarters-to the Central Library
and Is branches with more than
100000 volumes.
Beginning Was Modest.
! For an institution which was sup
posed to supplement the educational
system of the Di~trict, the begin
ming of the Public Library was a
modest one. But even then events
were taking place which were to
shape the destiny of the library as
vital part of the community.
On January II. 1899. The Star
carried the story of a fateful meet
ing between B. H. Warner. vice
president of the library board and
Andrew Carnegie.
They met by accident at the
White House while both were wait
ing to see President Mckinley on
different matters. Mr.. Warner
started the conversation by speak
. ing of the subject he was most in
terested in at the time: the need
for a suitable home for the public
library here. Mr.. Carnegie prompt
ly offered to provide at least $3.50, 900
for q building, If Congress would
give the site, and not less than
$4,000 a year for maintenance.
Congress acted promptly to accept
the offer, and in 1903 the library's
growing collection and staff were
transferred to the imposing building
on Mount Vernon Square which
serves as the center of its activities
today.
Library Congratulated.
It was in this building that a
proclamation was issued recently by
the District Commissioners, con-
graduating the library on its 50th
anniversary and urging the citizens
of Washington to get re-acquainted
with its services.
i Those citizens who act on the
Commissioners suggestion would
find that the library in the course
of the last half-century has grown
up with Washington. Its stock OF
books now stands at 54,6l4 volumes,
located in IA branches in addition
to the Central Building.
Its staff today numbers 1874 full
time, and 20 part time members,
and the lowliest page receives
considerably higher wage than the
librarian of so years ago. For the
fiscal year of 1949 the District Gov
eminent appropriated $l,20l 900 for
the library, of which nearly $1,000
900 will be spent in salaries.
They would also find that the
library. mindful of its role as an
educational institution, is more than
a dusty collection of books. A visit
to the Central branch would ac-
|. quaint them with the staff OF spec
tally -trained personnel on hand
there to advise teachers and par
ents on the best reading matter for
youngsters. They would find a film
library, where educational reels are
available for loan to schools and a
growing collection of recordings
ranging from Bach to the score of
"Carousel."
$4,000 Compositions.
The nbrary's $4,000 musical COM
positions has proved equally val
liable to beginning piano students
and the National Symphony Or
chestra, and its file of string quar-
tets is a boon to visiting musicians
who are looking for group to prac-
tice with.
In its main business-the circu-
lation Of books-the library and its
branches are doing a booming bus
mess in period of great public
demand for information. Since
1899 some 100000 books have
lbeep circulated 70 Warrington eit-