Patterns of Organization and Administration Some of the most impressive results of the Library Services Actbrought out in all of the State programs in one aspect or another-can be found in those parts of the programs which are concerned with the strengthening of the State agencies (often with the establishment of auxiliary State agencies or branches), in the demonstration and development of county and regional library systems, and in the initiation and development of federated or cooperative projects. Strengthening of State Agencies It was understood from its very inception that a good program of extension of library services to rural areas could not be successfully administered by a weak State library agency hindered by legal, financial, and other obstacles. Leadership, initiative, and hard work were necessary in developing and administering State plans. Stronger State library staffs were an immediate need-people with administrative ability, subject specialists, fieldworkers, technicians, and clerical workers. In filling one of the most pressing demands, some 90 fieldworkers or consultants were added to State agency staffs, an increase of 80 percent over total field staff in 1956. There are many examples of how the States added to their staffs, reorganizing in some cases in order to offer better services and resources to the libraries in their States. Idaho employed its first trained administrator and three more professional librarians. In Kansas in 1956, the Traveling Libraries Commission had one trained librarian on its staff. The commission has subsequently added two field librarians and two clerks. In Mississippi, the State agency has been strengthened by the addition of six professional staff members, which included four field librarians. Seven field advisory positions were added in New York, including specialists in young adult, reference, and children's services. Rhode Island and Texas set up special units which had the specific purpose of working with the libraries in their States on all matters concerned with the Library Services Act. This unit in Rhode Island is named the Public Library Services in Rural Areas section. In Texas, a special staff of 10, including a director, 2 regional supervisors, and project and bookmobile librarians, was added for rural library service to work in close cooperation with the extension division. Nebraska's Public Library Commission employed a Library Services Act consultant to supervise projects under the program. Fifteen States, in addition to adding staff and resources to their central agencies, have established or strengthened regional branches or extension 2 4 6 8 12 Millions of dollars Chart B.-Expenditures under State plans for fiscal 1957, 1958, and 1959, by source of funds 10 0 1957 1958 1959 SOURCE.-Reports filed with the U.S. Office of Education by participating States and outlying parts under the Library Services Act. NOTE. These are provisional figures, subject to final review of State reports. offices of their State agencies. There were different types of auxiliary branches. In Colorado, four field librarians were added by the State library to work with four regions of the State. In Illinois, the southern Illinois regional library service was made a permanent State regional branch serving 34 counties. This service included consultant service to com Chart C.-Expenditures under State plans for fiscal 1957, 1958, and 1959, by categories Millions of dollars 9 0 1957 1958 1959 1957 1958 1959 1957 1958 1959 NOTE. These are provisional figures, subject to final review of State reports. 1957 1958 1959 munity development teams, bookmobile service to participating libraries, some technical processing service to libraries in the region, and consultant and advisory service for all libraries requesting it. In Kansas, a western Kansas extension office was opened in the college library at Hays. In New Mexico, four regional branches of the State library have been established, serving 21 of the State's 32 counties. In New Jersey, a State agency tricounty library service center was set up in southern New Chart D.-Expenditures of funds, by source, under State plans for fiscal 1957, 1958, and 1959, by individual participating States and outlying parts SOURCE.-Reports filed with the U.S. Office of Education by participating States and outlying parts under the Library Services Act. NOTE. These are provisional figures, subject to final review of State reports. Alaska, Florida, Guam, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Utah, Virgin Islands, and Washington submitted plans for the first time in fiscal 1958, the second year of the act. Delaware, Indiana, and Wyoming did not participate during this first 3-year period. Jersey with a staff of six and a bookmobile to serve Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem Counties. Book loans exceeded 113,000 in less than 11⁄2 years. The New England States are implementing more rapidly their longstanding concept of the auxiliary State branch. Where the State is fully covered, as in New Hampshire and Vermont, there is a development in quality of service. Establishing and Strengthening of County and Regional Libraries A major overall effort in State plans has been the demonstration and development of county and regional library systems. Over 400 counties in the United States and 645 New England towns are participating in this type of project by means of bookmobile service, library branches, or library stations. Over 70 counties, which are, in most cases, parts of regional library systems, have already decided to continue these new or improved library services with local funds as against 8 counties which have decided against doing this. The extension and improvement of rural library services was often accomplished by the addition of counties to already existing regional libraries, as in Alabama where the Cross Trails region was formed by merger of Covington-Crenshaw and Coffee-Geneva Regional Libraries; and the Horseshoe Bend Regional Library, by adding two counties to the former Lee-Tallapoosa region. Florida organized its first regional libraries: Suwannee and St. LucieOkeechobee. In Illinois, Warren County assisted neighborhood Henderson County, which had no library, to establish countywide service. The result was a successful vote in Henderson County and continued cooperation between the two counties. In Kentucky, 6 regional libraries, the State's first, are being developed and include 34 counties. Louisiana has accelerated its demonstration program. Five demonstrations were undertaken in the period 1956-59; Allen, St. Bernard, and Vernon have been successfully completed and two are still under way. A bookmobile service demonstration was successfully completed in Caddo Parish with an appropriation of $56,000 before the end of the demonstration period. Two new regional libraries, serving five counties, and two single-county libraries were established in Minnesota. In North Carolina, rural library service improved in 82 of the State's 100 counties under plans submitted by 64 counties and 8 regional library systems. Three regional libraries of three counties each have been established in Missouri. In this State, four independent town libraries have merged with their respective county libraries, resulting in strengthened services for all. In Washington, the Columbia River Regional Library, covering an area of 15,000 square miles, has been organized. |