Evening star., 1953-08-30
Library Seeks
More Service
By BoOkmobi|e
Branch Building
Far Off, Additional
Trailer Is Sought

service to readers during fiscal
1858, the District Public Library
needs a second bookmobile be-
fore it can begin to meet the
demand for books in outlying
areas of the city.
Harry N. Peterson, librarian,
underScored this point in his
annual report, released yester-
day
AS Mr.. Peterson sees it, book
mobiles serve as temporary sub
stitutes for branch libraries, long
badly needed, especially in GER
tain sections on the far side of
the AnacoStia River.
Building Deferred to 1861.
He pointed out in his report
to the Commissioners that, as
Stunning Congressional approval
of the Districts proposed $332
million public works improve
ment program, work on the
branch library aspect of the pro-
gram won't even begin until
1861. That would leave three key
areas-CongreSs Heights, Fair
fax Village and Benning-with-
out any branches at all, and
without adequate service of any
kind.
The immediate answer for
these sections, the librarian ad-
viSed, is a second bookmobile.
Not only is the present lone book
mobile showing signs of wear"
but the reader-d demand is so
great as to be more than even
a second vehicle could handle"
500 Ask Service
Mr.. Peterson recalled that one
Southeast community, Brad
bury Heights, petitioned the
Commissioners recently for book
mobile service. The names of
500 adults and children were
signed to this request.
Admittedly" Librarian Peter
son said, "bookmobiles cannot
take the place of branch libraries.
However. such vehicles serve as
temporary substitutes until nee
eSsary branches can be opened.
While the bookmobiie offers no
reference service, it at least
makes it possible for boys and
girls and men and women to OBJ
tain books for home reading"
Aside from serving as a tenn
porary fill-in for branches, the
bookmobile fits into the perma-
nent picture. Re-evaluationS of
branch needs in the last five
years have cut the projected
branch construction program,
first 81 to 10 new buildings, and
more recently down to six-the
number now appearing in the
public works program.
The present building project
is so. established that only the
most populouS sections would get
branches. The rest, Mr.. Peter
son believes, would be adequately
served by two bookmobileS.
Would Test Service Needs.
And while the branch con-
struction program is still pend
ing. the librarian added, a sec
ond bookmobile-lik the first
would be used to test various
areas to help determine the need
for permanent library branches.
What the library system has in
mind for its second bookmobile-
specifically requested again in
the fiscal 1855 budgets a big
tractor trailer type that would
cost about $4,000. An outsize
vehicle of this sort would double
the 1900 to 1900 book capacity
of the present bookmobile. 1t
would also allow more browsing
space.
OF branch needs, the library
reported that in addition to
brand-new buildings across the
Anacostia, three others are
needed to replace existing struc-
lures in the AnacoStia, Tenley
and Woodbridge areas.
Space Utilization Pressed.
MI. Peterson reiterated the
need for extending the Central
Library building in Mount Ver-
non Square. The librarian noted
that while there have been no
recent Developments Oh the eX-
tension survey. a proposal has
been made that indoor parking
space might be allocated in the
Mount Vernon Square project to
provide room for 210 cars, This
could be leased by the District
for $4,000 yearly. under Mi.
Petersons plan, so that the cost
of the library extension would
be liquidated ultimately.
Further steps to put existing
space in the Central Library to
better use include continued
microfilming of newspaper ed1-
tions ard reorganization OF open
shelf book storage by subject
divisions.
Federal librarian commented
"The rearrangement effected
seems to me to constitute truly
remarkable conquest over waste
space"
Librarian Peters, pro-
nounced the new photo-charging
of books a distinct success in
freeing personnel to provide
other services. Other manage
ment improvement measures
prompted one visiting college
librarian to observe that the Dis
trict Library system is in the
vanguard" of libraries employ
ing better management practices.