Evening star., 1949-01-09
DC. Library Surveys so Years
OfGrowth, CitesNeedf forF Funds

oIofOWIn/SnC
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 Wed with S. Weir
Witchell and Mrs. Humphrey Ward
for inches in the literary hall of
fame, and a man with the improb-
able name of Mark Twain was the
American literary celebrity.
On January 10, 1899, the Washing
ton Public Library had a collection OF
1888 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
$1,000, there was enough left to
pay the assistants 5000 and s720 re-
spectively, leaving $4,000 for all
other expenses.
The late Theodore w. Noyes. 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 post the rest of his life.
In that time he saw it grow from
small unit-one room in temporary
quarterS-to the Central Library
and 13 branches with more than
100000 volumes.
DcS SlIlulilS WAS NkOuCSt.
For an institution which was sup
posed to supplement the educational
system of the District, 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
a vital part of the community.
I 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 building, If Congress would
give the site, and not less than
$4,000 a year for maintenance.
! Congress acted promptly to accept
me offer, and in 1908 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.
1t was in this building that a
proclamation was issued recently by
the District Commissioners, con-
graduating the library on its 5Oth
anniversary and urging the citizens
of Washington to get re-acqualnted
with its services.
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. It's stock OF
books now stands at 754,6l4 volumes,
located in IA branches in addition
to the Central Building.
It's staff today numbers 334 full
time, and 29 part-time members,
and the lowliest page receives a
considerably higher wage than the
librarian 50 years ago. For the
! fiscal yea - 1949 the District Gov
ernment ,.opriated 81 POI 900 for
the libraii, OF which nearly $1,000, =
900 will be spent il laries.
They would a." ind that the
library, mindful s role as an
educational institu,. y, is more than
a dusty collection of books. A visit
to the Central branch would ac-
quaint them with the e'staff of spec
ially-trained personnel on hand
there to advise teachers and par
ents on the best reading matter for
Youngsters. They would find fllm
| 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 librarys $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 boon to visiting musicians
who are looking for a group to prac-
tice with.
In its main business-the circu-
lation Of books-the library and its
branches are doing booming bus
iness in a period of great public
demand for information. Since
1899 some 75,000,000 books have
been circulated to Washington cit