Senator CAIN. Let me see that, if I may, please. I would like to have that in the record very much, if you please. (The document is as follows:) THE PUBLIC LIBRARY, 1937-47 THE PUBLIC LIBRARY, AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION The act of Congress which created the Public Library created it as "a supplement of the public educational system" of the District. In carrying out that mandate the library offers information service through its reference facilities; informal adult education through reading guidance to individuals and groups, and through study and discussion groups; technical and Vocational materials to business and industrial workers, and professional men and women; to the homemaker, service in problems of child care, nutrition, health and budgeting, and recreation; to the citizen, materials on questions of the hour, in local, national, and world affairs. It renders to children and young people service directed to fostering good reading habits, in order to develop an adult population that knows and appreciates the value and use of books and other materials in making for better living and citizenship. The library operates through a central library and 13 neighborhood branches. Through the extension service, collections of books are sent to schools, colleges, hospitals, camps, orphanages, penal institutions, and other agencies. INCREASES IN APPROPRIATIONS, 1937-47 The accompanying table shows appropriations for each year 1937-47 with increases as follows: The organic act states: "Said library shall consist of a central library and such number of branch libraries so located and so supported as to furnish books and other printed matter and information service convenient to the homes and offices of all residents of the District." In this period two large branches were built and one small one established in a rented store building, and longer hours of service were given in two other branches. Appropriations were made for sites for additional branch libraries in Cleveland Park, Brightwood, Wodbridge, Anacostia, Brookland, Benning, and Tenley at a total cost of $155,000. Money for plans and specifications was appropriated for buildings in Pleasant Plains, Anacostia, Cleveland Park, Benning, Woodridge, and Brightwood at a total cost of $50,000. The first unit of the new main library was constructed at a total cost of $1,178,000 including plans and specifications. Personal services OPERATING EXPENSES (a) There has been a growing recognition of the library as an educational institution, especially for post classroom education requiring a higher grade of reference and advisory work. (b) Increased number of employees due to new agencies and services. (c) Reclassification of library service by Civil Service Commission survey. (d) Pay bills of 1945 and 1946. Other increases Average cost of books: $1.09 in 1937, $1.60 in 1947. Average cost of binding (8-inch book): $0.55 in 1937, $1.25 to $1.75 in 1947. Maintenance costs (fuel, supplies, etc.) have all risen in price. Requirements for future Tentative capital improvements, next 6 years, $4,390,488. Tentative increases in annual operating expenses, $1,790,000. Comparison with comparable cities, see attached table based on 1940 census. THE PUBLIC LIBRARY, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA The library was established by act of Congress, June 3, 1896, as "a supplement of the public educational system" of the District of Columbia. Analysis of increased costs, 1937-47 Personal services: 1937: 217 employees_. 1947: 280 employees ($656,778 regular, $99,512 deficiency). $352, 020 756, 290 To meet increased demands for reference and advisory 14 A large part of the increased cost is because of two new pay bills and reallocations brought about by a survey of positions by Civil Service Commission. Books and periodicals: 1937_ 1947 $60,000 94, 585 To meet increased cost of books for library system which added three new agencies in this 10-year period. In 1937 the average cost of a book was $1.09; in 1947 it is $1.60. Binding: 1937. 1947_ $20,000 40, 000 Binding costs have increased from 55 cents for rebinding an 8-inch book in 1937 to $1.25 to $1.75 in 1947. Maintenance: 1937_ 1947 $36, 500 60, 577 The cost of all maintenance items has increased. Three new agencies have been added and some of the older buildings are in need of major repairs. Capital improvements.-Total for 10-year period $1,563,000, as follows: Senator CAIN. Thank you for coming, Miss Herbert. Senator CAIN. May we now ask Mr. Roland Brennan, the purchasing agent, who, perhaps, can tell us how to purchase more for considerably less, and that would help to solve our problems, to come forward and be the next witness. (Statement later received for the record from the Public Library, District of Columbia.) 1938: The appropriation for 1938 included 20 additional positions for most urgently needed reinforcements in administration, book purchasing, cataloging, and public services, and to enable the central library and 5 major branches to resume 12 hours' service every weekday. It also included a sum for the original book stock for a new major branch library in Petworth area. 1939: The 20 new positions in the 1939 appropriation covered the staff for the new Petworth Branch Library for 6 months. January to June 939. The 1940 act provided 12 months' service. 1941: This year's appropriation provided 20 new positions for the new southwest branch plus $25,000 for the original book stock for that branch. 1943: A staff of eight for the new Anacostia Branch Library was provided and 5 additional positions to meet increased demands for general reference and advisory service. The sum of $22,000 covered overtime. 1944: A new position was provided for a special reading room of war information. The cost of overtime was provided to $63,700. 1945: Nine positions were provided-seven to open two small branches longer hours and two to provide extra service at Langston and Southeast Branches. Overtime was continued. 1946: Overtime was discontinued but FEPA added $112,000. Survey by Civil Service Commission added $20,000 (partial). Two new catalogers were added in 1946 but there was a cut of $16,800 in regular appropriations causing a loss of 11 employees. STATEMENT OF ROLAND M. BRENNAN, PURCHASING OFFICER, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Mr. BRENNAN. My name is Roland M. Brennan, purchasing officer, District of Columbia. Mr. Chairman, I have a prepared statement here, reading time about 12 minutes, which I would like to present. Senator CAIN. I think if you would speak in order that everyone may hear you, that it would be worth while listening attentively to your brief statement. Mr. BRENNAN. To begin with, the Purchasing Division as established by law is a service of supply for about 70 District agencies from the largest, the public schools, to the smallest, the Board of Tax Appeals. Senator CAIN. You do not mind my interrupting occasionally? Senator CAIN. It is an all-inclusive purchasing service? Mr. BRENNAN. That is right. Senator CAIN. Not a nickel's worth of anything is purchased for any agency of the District of Columbia except through your establishment? Mr. BRENNAN. For supplies, materials, and equipment. Mr. BRENNAN. As early as 1887, a property clerk was appointed in the District of Columbia and given limited authority over the procurement of supplies. The work was expanded in 1912 when the title of property clerk was changed to purchasing officer for the District of Columbia. This was accomplished by the act of Congress approved June 26, 1912, which provided: Hereafter the Purchasing Officer shall, under the direction of the Commissioners, supervise the purchase and distribution of all supplies, stores, and construction materials for the use of the government of the District of Columbia, and shall give bond in such sum as the Commissioners may determine. Under this authorization the Purchasing Officer is required to purchase all of the supplies, materials, and equipment required for all agencies of the District of Columbia, about 70 agencies in number, including requirements of the public schools, libraries, public health, safety, welfare, correctional, public works, recreational, administrative offices, etcetera, embracing all types of commodities and equipment; practically everything from cotter pins to heavy machinery, and, under services, meals for prisoners at police court and in policestation houses, to transportation of crippled children and undertaking services. On October 18, 1945, the responsibilities of the purchasing officer were increased by action of the Board of Commissioners in delegating to the purchasing officer certain of their contractual powers under the provisions of the Hébert Act of December 20, 1944. Under this authority it is the duty of the purchasing and contracting officer to award all contracts for the procurement of supplies, materials, and equipment and for certain services. It should be noted, however, that there is no legal and binding obligation on the part of the District of Columbia in the cases of supply and service contracts of a valuation of $1,000 and over, until the Commissioners have approved the formal contract documents. All procurement for the District of Columbia is subject to the provisions of law, such as section 3709 of 'the Revised Statutes of the United States; the act of Congress which requires the District of Columbia, as far as possible, to make purchases from the general schedules of supplies of the Bureau of Federal Supply, formerly Procurement Division, and from Federal prisons; the statutory limitation on the price of typewriters, which was amended recently; Public Act 600, approved August 2, 1946, which covers, among other items, purchases up to $100 in valuation without competition and purchases from a single source of supply upon certification of purchasing and contracting officers of the Government; the act of March 2, 1911, establishing a revolving fund of $50,000 in the Purchasing Division for the purchase and distribution of certain types of construction materials, and they are granite curbing, sewer pipe, sewer brick, etc.-this fund had a book value of about $116,000 on June 30, 1946-compliance with the 8-hour law, the Walsh-Healey Act, and others. Purchasers are also governed by policy recommendations of the purchasing officer which bear the approval of the Commissioners; decisions of the Comptroller-General of the United States and regulations of the Commissioners. Contracts for supplying the needs of the District of Columbia are required to be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder after proper advertising, based upon clear and definite specifications which permit of fair and open competition, setting forth a complete statement of what the buyer requires of the vendor. Where competition is not practicable, the law permits purchases to be made from only one source of supply upon written certification of the contracting officer. Purchases are also made from such special sources of supply, such as the Government Printing Office, Post Office Department, Bureau of Federal Supply Stock, Bureau of Federal Supply Fuel Yard, District of Columbia penal institutions, and War Assets Administration. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1946, the total valuation of all purchase orders amounted to $6,300,000, of which approximately 55 percent were open-market purchases on competitive bids by the District, and 45 percent from special sources of supply. The total valuation of purchase orders for supplies, materials, services, and so forth, for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1937, amounted to $4,900,000. The appropriation for salaries in the Purchasing Division for the fiscal year 1937 amounted to $57,000. We have no money appropriated to us to buy supplies for the departments, but only for salaries. At that time, there were 29 employees on the statutory roll. The total appropriation for the current fiscal year amounts to $77,827 for 30 employees including 3 at the property yard, 2 inspectors and 1 property yard keeper. Senator CAIN. Thirty as opposed to twenty-nine in how many years? Mr. BRENNAN. Ten years. Senator CAIN. You have just one additional? Mr. BRENNAN. That is right. I would like to explain that during that period, the Chief of the Division of Printing was transferred from the Purchasing Division pay roll to the Executive roll. One new order writer was authorized, and one employee to assist in the procurement of surplus war property. Senator CAIN. The volume of work, however, which presumably goes through your hands today, is considerably heavier than it was 10 years ago, am I correct? Mr. BRENNAN. There is no doubt about it, sir, especially during and after the war years. Senator CAIN. You have mainly become more efficient? Mr. BRENNAN. I hope so, Mr. Chairman. Senator CAIN. That is an interesting period of 10 years in which your organization work increases and you find it possible to do an effective piece of work with the same personnel. |