to devote the same energy and resources toward revising the concepts of metropolitan library organization and translating the concepts into action that during the generation past have been concentrated on library service to rural areas." Facing the 1960's: The public library in Wisconsin, 1960—Bureau of the Government, University of Wisconsin "An area of weakness in the provision of public library service from the State point of view *** is that Federal aid had been used to equalize public library service in the rural areas of the State. This has tended to deemphasize the importance of the need for assistance of the more populous southeastern section of the State." Ralph Blasingame, Pennsylvania State librarian, as quoted by a USOE-OC regional representative "He offered as one suggestion for the improvement of the Federal Library Services Act, the elimination or modification of the 10,000 rural figure as the point below which services are designated as rural *** he believes that the problems of suburban libraries are just as much present and just as hard to solve as they are in rural areas. He said that in very many suburban towns the population has exploded *** and libraries have a tendency to be neglected." New York State Progress Report, 1961 "The structure of cooperation is almost complete; the work of over a decade of organization is almost done, but the attainment of structure does not yet mean the attainment of quality service. A new phase begins, when effort can be placed on the improvement of reader services." Cuyahoga County, Ohio LETTERS TO THE PRESIDENT-1981 "The one medium that can do more to educate all people is being sorely neglected * * *. Each of my visits to the branch library has left me with a feeling of disappointment and a thought sa to what was wrong. It seems incongruous that a community as large as ours cannot do better in providing a more suitable and better equipped home for the advancement of knowledge." Nassau County, N.Y. "We are mostly parents who came to this area to better the lives of our children. In many ways we have succeeded. But we have come to a blind alley in obtaining a library." Statement on school library services—council of chief State school officers "In urban and other nonrural communities the recent tremendous increase in the number of students using the resources of community libraries has pointed to the need for cooperative planning by school, college, and public library administrators concerning library services to students within the same geographic areas." California-Library group has been designated to examine interlibrary relationships with the following specific charge "The Whittier Area Library Development Committee as presently constituted shall study the library facilities, county, city, elementary and high school, junior college and/or any special libraries within the area (Union High School District to study and assess facilities and services and) to recommend solutions to the reference, lending and usage problems of the libraries as well as suggestions for new facilities that may be needed." Ralph Blasingame, Allerton Park paper "*** in this respect, I should like to express my belief that Federal funds in the future should be granted so as to make possible even more experimentation than has been carried on so far. The Library Services Act has made us focus on the weakest point of public library service. Experimentation at the strong points might, in the long run, be more successful." Sam Prentis, Allerton Park paper "Since it is becoming increasingly difficult, if not impossible, to separate the problems of large libraries from small libraries, or urban libraries from rural libraries, even as it is becoming less and less feasible to separate the basic interests of public libraries from academic, special or school libraries, the research program should concern itself with all kinds of libraries." Lowell Martin, Allerton Park paper "And, to my mind, one of the most promising and not necessarily new forms is the building of county units upon strong city libraries-the possibilities of which I hope can be fully opened by adjustments in the unreal urban-rural distinction that has existed in the Federal act." "To build our foundations first, to add to strength rather than combine weakness, even if this means that we will not start as many new library units in these next 5 years *** to look freshly and imaginatively at the possibilities for new forms of coordination so that we will consolidate our strength rather than extend our weakness." Mel Scott, lecturer in city planning, University of California, Berkeley (Source: News Notes of California Libraries, Summer 1961) "I believe, however, that in the not too distant future there should be such aid, other than that provided by the Library Services Act. The metropolitan problems of California-and our most serious problems are metropolitan problems are created by exactly the same nationwide forces that have produced our rising national income. If the Federal Government, taxing income as its chief source of revenue, is going to be the main beneficiary of an expanding income base, then it should assist to an even greater extent with the solution of metropolitan problems, including the library problem. The Congress acknowledges a responsibility of the Federal Government to encourage the construction of homes. It should by all means bear some of the financial burden of providing the community services these thousands of new homes require, among them library service ***" Mrs. Gretchen Schenk, paper delivered at New York State Systems Staff Conference, March 1961 "The need for improved library service even in areas that have been enjoying good quality service for years is a problem faced by administrators in many places today ***. The need for extending library service in depth, the need to improve the quality of such service as we have, is becoming more and more insistent particularly with the increased level of our general education * Libraries for Florida, May 1962 "In the field of economic development of the community," says Governor Farris Bryant (Florida), “the public library is considered by business and industry to be as essential as an excellent school system. It is recognized that a good public library is included in the making of a good community and an alert citizenship." PARENTS' MAGAZINE & BETTER HOMEMAKING. June 28, 1962. Hon. CLEVELAND M. BAILEY, Chairman, General Subcommittee on Education, House Committee on Education and Labor, Washington, D.C. DEAR CLEVELAND: I am writing to express my approval of your bill, H.R. 11823. to amend the Library Services Act. While supporting this legislation in general I particularly commend title II which extends the provisions of the act to public elementary and secondary school libraries. Enclosed is a statement on this by the American Parents Committee, of which I am chairman. Will you please see that this is placed in the record of the hearing. I am personally most appreciative of your leadership in behalf of improved educational services and congratulate you on sponsoring this legislation. Sincerely yours, GEORGE J. HECHT, Publisher. THE AMERICAN PARENTS COMMITTEE, INC., June 29, 1962. Re the Library Services Act-H.R. 11823. DEAR MR. BAILEY: The American Parents Committee has for many years worked to improve educational services and facilities for all age groups and has supported sound legislation to attain these goals. We wish to express our approval of H.R. 11823 and related bills, because of the need for more and better formal and informal education and the relation of library services to this need. The American Parents Committee is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization working for Federal legislation on behalf of the Nation's children. Our officers, directors, and national council members are leading citizens throughout the United States concerned with the welfare of children. We have had the opportunity to observe the results of the Library Services Act in spreading and improving public library service in the rural areas of the United States and in stimulating State and local support for this service. Last session we were gratified to have the Congress extend the life of this act for another 5 years. At the same time we were distressed by the evidence of inadequacies not only in rural public libraries but in public libraries in America's increasingly populous suburbs and in the city centers as well. The sheer number of library users which our population explosion is generating minimize the effectiveness of those resources which exist. Also, the diversified demands of all segments of the public, more reliant than ever today on the information which books and related materials can supply, place a heavy burden on these services. In addition, more than 60 million Americans outside the rural areas are served by inadequate public libraries or none at all. An expansion of the Library Services Act to stimulate State and local support of public libraries in all areas is desirable. We are particularly interested in expanded library services for public, elementary, and secondary schools. Good instruction must be accompanied by reading materials which the school libraries provide, yet nearly half of our public schools have no school libraries. This means that currently more than 10 million American children go to public schools which completely lack school library facilities. This condition will be aggravated by an increase in the number of children in schools and the increased emphasis on reading and individual study. The dearth of school libraries is a critical situation which is recognized by the parents of school-age children as well as educators and those interested in improved elementary and secondary education. We also recognize that other essential types of libraries have serious deficiencies. The 4-year and 2-year institutions of higher education have grave inadequacies which threaten to become greater as the enrollments increase. The lack of trained staff members is prevalent. This legislation embraces an ambitious program which, if enacted, will provide for a coordinated plan of library services. If it is found that all titles cannot be approved at this time, we would highly recommend the extension of the coverage of the Library Services Act to include titles I and II of these bills. We would appreciate having this letter expressing our views made a part of the hearing record on H.R. 11823, and related bills. Respectfully submitted. Mrs. MARGARET K. TAYLOR, EXCERPTS FROM STATE REPORTS ON PROGRAMS UNDER THE LIBRARY SERVICES ACT, FISCAL YEARS 1957-61 Alabama: We should have an accelerated program and an improved picturewe have so much more to do with. Because of the Library Services Act the whole program has been strengthened. State funds for rural services have increased 50 percent. Alaska: Library service to a handful of individuals in 1955 has increased to over 300 borrowers. Subscription libraries have become free public libraries. These and the newly organized public libraries have expanded their services to include other than lending a few books. Without participation in Library Services Act, public library service in Alaska would not have evolved as it has. Arizona: The general aims and policies established for the first 5-year period will continue to provide valid goals during the next 5-year period. First among these was to establish a library extension agency for the first time in Arizona to provide all library service free of charge. The number of libraries has increased from the original 33 to 134. The bookmobile routes crisscross the State, and circulation is as high as 982 volumes on a 4-day "run" of nearly 600 miles. Arkansas: Prior to 1957 only seven counties in the State had bookmobile service. With Federal aid, 32 additional counties are enjoying bookmobile service. *** Twenty counties have passed the one mill tax for public library support since the beginning of the Library Services Act program. *** State aid has increased from $80,000 per year in 1955-57 to $155,000 per year in the coming biennium, 1961-63. California Intangible results are harder to measure, but a greater awareness on the part of the public of the library as a service agency available to all ages and types of people is shown by the increased use of the libraries in which projects have been conducted. Colorado: The results of 5 years of area work are difficult to assess entirely in concrete terms while the fieldwork is still being continued. However, it is possible to indicate some substantial gains. In the 1955-56 period before the Library Services Act, book loans by the State library to public libraries totaled 22,000 while in the 1959-60 period the same loans came to 100,000-five times the pre-Library Services Act amount. Connecticut: The major accomplishments of the Library Services Act in Connecticut from January 1957 through June 1961 were: (1) The increase in State consultant services; (2) the expansion of inservice training activities for local public libraries; (3) the establishment and growth of a collection of books for loan to rural public libraries; and (4) the beginning of a union catalog and central processing service for: the bureau's central book collection, for its first regional library service center (established in Middletown in October 1955) and its second regional library service center in Willimantic. Delaware: Delaware's State plan under the Library Services Act became effective on July 1, 1959. During the first year, emphasis was placed on strengthening both the quality and quantity of services from the State library. There has been a greatly increased awareness by the public of the State's library activities. This has been a result of our threefold forward step. The increase of State funds in our 1960 budget which enabled us to qualify for Library Services Act funds was a major step which was, of course, supplemented by the Library Services Act funds themselves. Florida: The bulk of Library Services Act funds was used in the form of rural development grants to establish or improve county or multicounty libraries. Prior to this program, only 3 counties, with a total rural population of 69,559, had countywide library service complete with bookmobiles. By 1960-61, 18 counties, with a total rural population of 238,327 had made use of the grant funds and one other county with 6,693 inhabitants gave countywide service but had not participated in the grant program. Georgia: The book collections in local library systems show a net increase of 886,756 volumes. The reference collection at the State Library extension agency has been expanded and is more widely used to supplement holdings in local libraries. The number and quality of reference materials requested show a steady increase at both local and State levels. Evidence of the improved quality of resources is indicated by the fact that circulation was more than doubled in the 5-year period in many libraries. Guam: A large portion of the Federal funds was spent to strengthen the central library. The funds materially helped this library to provide reference materials and books for adult and juvenile readers as well as currently useful pamphlets for the vertical file collection. The purchasing of easy books is desirable in order to interest more children in reading and to help form their reading habits. Hawaii: The use of the Extension Division of the Hawaii County Library, consisting of one branch and six station libraries, has been steadily increasing during the past 5 years. Circulation in the branches was 37 percent greater during the past year than during 1955-56 and loans from the bookmobile, 92 percent greater. The growth of library service in this tri-isle county (Maui County) is quite amazing in view of the fact that there has been a population decrease of 5 percent. Statistics show that in these 5 years the annual circulation rose from 278,818 to 370,784, a general increase of 25 percent, although the book collection grew only 52 percent during this period. The most dramatic increase was on the island of Molokai where circulation went up 63 percent, while the population grew only 17 percent. The total number of reference questions handled increased 214 percent. Idaho: Primary emphasis in Idaho has been given to the development of the State library. Prior to 1957 the State traveling library had no professional staff and devoted its not inconsiderable energy and its meager resources largely to filling requests for materials mainly as school collections. In 1957 with Federal funds, with a newly appointed State library board and a professional librarian as State librarian, the State library moved decisively into the library development scene. Illinois: The Illinois plan for implementing the Library Services Act was begun in 1957 with two pilot projects both of which proved successful, and they have set a pattern for the extension and improvement of library services to rural areas throughout the State. Careful planning was used in setting up the two pilot projects which consisted of experimenting with methods of establishing a tax-supported library district and a means of cooperative support of a regional library program from existing tax-supported rural area libraries. Indiana: Since Indiana began participation in the Library Services Act on March 1, 1961, there was little progress to report by June 30. *** The resources of the State library were strengthened by the addition of $26,593 worth of books and $989 worth of equipment. One professional librarian, one subprofessional librarian, and two clerks were added to the staff. Books amounting to $7,078 were purchased and processed for loan to the new Vigo County Library. Iowa: The Iowa State Traveling Library went from a mail order service in 1956 to the "Reference Shelf of Iowa" in 1961. The latter term was bestowed upon the library by a member of the State legislature. Reference questions in 1956 were approached with outdated books, pamphlets, clipping files, and magazines. In 1961 they could be answered from a well-chosen book collection and current standard periodicals. The service to State officials increased 140 percent in the last biennium. The service to public libraries has increased 35 percent since June 30, 1956. Kansas: Moving the agency into new quarters was planned prior to the acquisition of Federal funds. However, the increased staff and working areas, plus new equipment, including an addressograph machine, audiovisual equipment, two bookmobiles, and two station wagons, have greatly facilitated the work of the agency. The staff has been increased by six positions; three clerical and three professional. About 50 percent of the Federal money has been used each year for books. *** Kentucky: *** The groundwork for future progress is being laid. The greatest single accomplishment has been to bring large numbers of rural peoplefarmers, housewives, unemployed, small businessmen, day laborers, and workers of all kinds into libraries and bookmobiles. Louisiana: With funds available under the Library Services Act, Louisiana continued its demonstration plan at quickened speed, opening libraries in 11 parishes without service and bringing books and reading to almost 160,000 persons previously unserved by public libraries. The program has been a cooperative one with support for the trial year coming from local, State, and Federal funds. In 7 of these 11 counties (4 are still in the demonstration stage), local taxpayers voted continuing support for public library service prior to the close of the demonstration. In one of the current demonstrations, local support has already been voted assuring the continuation of the service. The three other parishes comprise a regional demonstration, financed and directed by the State library for a 2-year period. Maine: The chief goal of the Library Services Act program in Maine has been the expansion of the State library's bookmobile service to the small communities in the State without local library service. There are 246 such communities, all of them too small to support adequate library service with local resources. Of these 246 communities, 74 were previously being served by two 88630-62---12 |