Evening star., 1949-09-04
D. C.. Library Reports Record
In Borrowings by Children

The District Public Library cir
culated more books to children In
the fiscal year ended June 80 than
ever before, according to its an
nual report.
In supplementing the work Of
the public schools, the report said.
the library made 1,533,515 loans
of books to children during the
year. The figure represents a
1898 per cent increase over the
year before.
Total circulation showed an in
crease of 1886 over the previ-
Gus fiscal year. OF 2.853,943 book
loans for home reading, or 3.3 per
capita. 1,533,515 were taken out
by children. OF the adult books
circulated, 81 per cent were nom
fiction.
New Facilities Requested.
The report noted that additional
branch facilities have been re-
quested by individuals and groups
of citizens for various parts of
the city now lacking such serv-
ices.
The Bookmobile included in the
1949 budget is expected to be
delivered during the next fiscal
year. Schedules then will be set
up to bring books to District areas
which need library service. al
though this will not be considered
a substitute for branches.
Hope was expressed that "a
few definite steps" can be taken
soon toward planned expansion OF
library services. The report SAID
specifically that branch agencie.
should be constructed in Cleve-
land Park. Benning and Anacos-
tia as soon as possible.
1882 Registered in Year.
Total active registration at thu
close of the fiscal year was 16l..
sos. During the year. 51,82:
readers registered, of whom &c..
s73 were adult and 11,S49 chill.
dren.
Added during the year were &c..
521 books, for a total of 778,477
Most books were lent for two
weeks. The statement of receipts
turned over to the Collector o1
Taxes includes 47.605.24 in fines
$2,216.33 for lost books and $685.
for non resident fees.
The report, however, notes:
The significance of the Public
Library Services cannot be COM
puted statistically.
This is true even in the CASE
of circulation. To be sure, it Ii
possible to tabulate the number
of books and other materials
charged out for home use. But
there is no way to determine
whether a given book was actual.
ly read Or not; or whether, If read
the contents were aSsimilated; OF
whether the book was read only
by the person taking it out, OF
by two, four or six other members
of his family.
Reading Stressed in Schools.
Again, it is fairly simple
matter to enumerate the readers
who have registered as borrowers
But who can tell how many others
use the reference facilities and
reading rooms throughout the
system without bothering to regis
ter? There is reason to believe
there are a great many in this
category"
Increased use of the children's
department d was attributed in part
to the emphasis schools have
placed on reading. and the effort
by teachers to acquaint children
with the 1ibrary's services.
Besides conducting 610 story
hours attended by 1924 children,
the library gave individual as
sistance on juvenile books and
children's reading to numerous
parents, teachers, social workers,
church workers and others. The
Juvenile Library Extension Divi-
sion carried juvenile library SER
vice to summer camps, day nurse
ries, church schools, Gallinger
Hospital, Glenn Dale Sanatorium
and Christ Child Farm.
Desfite the marked increase Of