This publication on progress during the first 3 years of the Library Services Act was prepared by Helen Luce, Library Extension Specialist, Herbert A. Carl, Research Librarian, and L. Marion Moshier, Consultant, under the general supervision of John G. Lorenz, Director, Library Services Branch. Credit is given to the following for photographs listed by page: Milwaukee Journal, Milwaukee, Wis.... 53 62 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Foreword HIS PUBLICATION is the first formal summation of results on a nationwide basis of progress under the Library Services Act, a Statelocal-Federal cooperative program for extension and improvement of public library services to rural areas. The two previous bulletins of this series have been concerned with plans; this publication is concerned with results. A survey was undertaken by the U.S. Office of Education which confirmed other statistics and information available on the status of public library development in 1956 just prior to the passage of the act. The situation, in brief, was that 26 million people in rural areas were without any public library service, 50 million more had inadequate service as measured by State standards, and over 300 rural counties were without any public library within their borders. Good public library service-freely available to all our people—is a basic part of the Nation's total educational and cultural program. Because most of the people who had little or no public library service lived in nonurban areas, it was for these areas that the Library Services Act was passed by the 84th Congress and signed into law by President Eisenhower in June 1956. A reassessment of the program at this time, through the compilation and analysis of information from State reports, is both useful and necessary. Many sentences in the summaries are taken directly from these reports. This basic information will help in the overall determination of library goals and help guide in the decisions being made in the States and local communities in establishing the best patterns of library organization and the best methods of financial support. Paradoxically, the need for the Library Services Act and the hunger for books across the Nation became more apparent as the act was being put into effect. The real importance of the act was that public library service— either for the first time or with improved resources and services—was being made available to millions of people. The enthusiasm, the hard and devoted work, and the good will with which this program has been received by the States and local communities have been very impressive. This partnership program is doing a great deal in bringing the light of ideas and knowledge to areas where there is need. JOHN G. LORENZ, Director ROY M. HALL Assistant Commissioner for Research PREVIOUS U.S. OFFICE OF EDUCATION BULLETINS ON THE LIBRARY SERVICES ACT U.S. Office of Education. State Plans Under the Library Services Act. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1958. (Office of Education, Bulletin 1958, No. 10) Price 30¢ Summarized in this first publication are the plans and programs of 36 States, submitted to, and approved by, the United States Commissioner of Education by the end of the first year of the Library Services Act: Alabama. Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Supplement 1. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1959. (Office of Education, Bulletin 1959, No. 17) Price 35¢ This supplement includes State plans and programs of the 14 States and Territories (Alaska, Florida, Guam, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Utah, Virgin Islands, and Washington) submitting plans and programs for the first time in fiscal year 1958 (July 1, 1957-June 30, 1958) as well as programs for fiscal year 1958 for the 36 States which began their participation under the act in fiscal year 1957. iv FOREWORD.... ACKNOWLEDGMENTS CHAPTER I. STATE PLANS AND PROGRAMS FOR FISCAL 1957, 1958, AND 1959: AN OVERVIEW. Major Provisions. Partnership Program. Regional Meetings.. Regulations. Initial Appropriations. Participation and Federal Appropriations. Patterns of Organization and Administration Resources and Reader Services. Public Information Projects. Centralized Processing. Personnel and Training. Surveys. Standards. Problem Areas. Impact of the Act. CHAPTER II. STATISTICAL SUMMARIES AND PROGRAM AC- BASIC TABLES 1. Expenditures of States and outlying parts participating 108 113 3. Federal allotments and matching funds for fiscal 1957, 118 4. Federal payments made to States and Outlying Parts for 120 BASIC TABLES-Continued 5. Comparison of State and local funds expended in fiscal 6. Counties and other political subdivisions and population APPENDIX TABLES I. Program budgets of 50 States and outlying parts par- Page 121 122 123 124 131 141 137 II. Program budgets of 50 States and outlying parts par- 138 III. Matching funds for Federal allotments for fiscal 1959. 139 CHARTS A. State, local, and Federal funds expended for rural public 6 B. Expenditures under State plans for fiscal 1957, 1958, and 8 C. Expenditures under State plans for fiscal 1957, 1958, and 9 D. Expenditures of funds, by source, under State plans for 10 |