bookmobiles started with State appropriation, one in 1953 and the other in 1955. Since approval of the State plan in the summer of 1957, four additional bookmobiles have gone into operation. Maryland: * * * The Library Services Act has not only provided the financial means for beginning programs, but the need to plan carefully for its use has stimulated in more people over the State more thinking and more planning and more excitement about the future development of library services than we have seen in a decade. Massachusetts: We are delighted that statistics all testify for us in making a 5-year summary report on the results of the Library Services Act program in Massachusetts. Results cannot always be measured in terms of figures, however. Many byproducts of the program such as the awakened and increased interest in cooperative library efforts, the beneficial effects on local library programs of librarians' participation in inservice training workshops and clinics, the gradual moving ahead toward attainment of national standards of local public library service, the growing awareness of the public library's important place in the community's total education picture these items do not lend themselves to statistical analysis, but they are very real qualitative results of this State's participation in the Federal grant program. Michigan: During the first 5 years of the Library Services Act program many projects to extend and improve library service in Michigan's rural areas were developed. Over 500,000 people received library service for the first time or received improved library service with the assistance of funds, materials, or services provided by the Library Services Act. Two new county libraries, seven new local libraries, and four new deposit stations were established. Minnesota: In the first 5 years of the Library Services Act, the rural library development program established in Minnesota under the LSA State plan has had an impact out of all proportion to the amount of money involved. The most important single event was the establishment by the 1957 legislature of the first State aid to public libraries in the history of the State. Although this has not been a large sum, averaging only about $125,000 a year, it has enabled Minnesota to match the Federal funds available, thereby greatly increasing the money for establishing and improving public library services in the rural areas. Mississippi: During the first 5 years of the LSA, the State agency has been strengthened by the addition of professional staff members, increased book purchases and essential equipment. The statewide conference on book selection has resulted in improvement of book resources. Two inservice training conferences have been held and 20 library staff members attended a regional workshop on service to young adults. With the help of LSA funds the State agency has been able to establish a statewide book pool for storage of little used books from local public libraries. Missouri: Activities conducted under LSA to strengthen the State library include employing 5 additional staff members; adding 5,166 reference books; adding office equipment and publicity pieces; producing 3 filmstrips on library development; and producing 2 kinescopes on library development. Circulation from the State library has increased 14,456, and interlibrary loans have increased 11,942 between 1957 and 1960. Montana Since the beginning of the Library Services Act, four bookmobiles have been purchased and offer a most welcome service. One county with 2,798 population is receiving library for the first time, 17 counties with 149,779 people now have greatly improved service. Six counties have secured a county tax where earlier no tax was levied. Local funds throughout the State show a 22percent increase over 1956. Nebraska The greatest result of the Library Services Act has been the renascence of interest in library development in Nebraska. This quickened interest is evidenced by greater interest in library planning and development on the part of librarians, trustees, and lay groups; increased membership in the Nebraska Library Association; the organization of a growing trustees section of NLA; and a notable increase in attendance at district and State library meetings. Nevada: The Library Services Act program has made possible progress which was undreamed of by most Nevada library people 5 years ago. Most significant is the increased vitality of Nevada libraries and their subsequent success in making more books available to more readers. By making more money available for library services on a State and local level, and by dramatically pointing up the value of, and the need for libraries, the Library Services Act has proved itself as one of the most significant educational developments in the 100 years of Nevada's statehood. New Hampshire: New Hampshire is proving for the third time in its history that money available at the State level will enormously stimulate local library growth and improvement. In the 1890's and 1930's some giant steps forward were taken in New Hampshire libraries and renewed progress continued in the late 1950's. Because the Library Services Act has been extended, we see the next 5 years full of achievement for New Hampshire, based on a sound plan of progress already largely in existence. New Jersey: The first federation of libraries in New Jersey was established in Bergen County, and the first joint library in the State was established in Mercer County. Six other successful referendums either changed the status of association libraries to municipal or established libraries where none had existed in the past. Municipal and county library appropriations for communities under 10.000 population showed an increase from $1,661,046 in calendar 1947 to $2,823,653 in calendar 1961, an increase of 76 percent. New Mexico: For the first year of the program, 1956, the New Mexico State Legislature appropriated $25,671 as emergency funds to match Federal funds of $40,000. Successively the State legislature has appropriated more than enough to match Federal funds. The State funds in the last year were $54,000, making a total of $127,444 with Federal funds. In 1956 there were five counties without local public library service. These counties now have public library service. Forty-four percent of the people of New Mexico were without local public library service. To date, only 6 percent are without local public library service, and this 6 percent is in the area where regional library service under the Library Services Act has not yet been established. New York: The Federal grant-in-aid has had a favorable result on the State agency itself-stimulating it, improving it, strengthening it. The emphasis on new projects, new plans and experimentation is healthy and rewarding. A new chapter in statewide leadership has opened. A change in attitude and new dynamics are evident. North Carolina: Services at the State library have been greatly expanded and improved by supplementing the book and film collections and by adding personnel to every division. The present North Carolina State Library was formed by a merger of the North Carolina Library Commission and the former State library in July 1956. LSA funds have enabled the new agency to take on its added responsibilities in a shorter time than would otherwise have been possible. In both the State library program and that of the public libraries, LSA has made possible in 5 years what might have required 10 years without it. North Dakota : Statistics show that in 1956, before library development under the Library Services Act, the circulation in the first 7 counties amounted to 102.118. By comparison, in 1960 the circulation in the same area of the first 7 counties had climbed to 291,044, an increase of 188,926, or over 185 percent. In other words, the organization and development of county and regional libraries with distribution of books by four bookmobiles in this area of the first seven counties had resulted in a circulation figure that is almost three times as large in 1960 as it was in 1956 before the bookmobile service started. In 1961 the circulation climbed to 364,540, an increase of 262,422, or 257 percent over 1956. Thus the total circulation in this area during 1961 was 321⁄2 times what it was in 1956 before the bookmobile service was started. Ohio: Beginning in 1957, a major part of the LSA program had been the expenditure of funds to build up the book resources of the State library. When the amount of money spent for books at the State library is added to the amounts spent at the two centers and the three bookmobiles, the total amount spent for books in 5 years is $339,242 or 35 percent of the total amount of LSA funds allocated to Ohio. Oklahoma: The Library Services Act has served to focus greater attention on libraries in Oklahoma. In all probability it encouraged a favorable vote on the library tax amendment to the constitution, and the successful efforts in McClain and Tulsa Counties. Oklahoma has had a multicounty library act since 1955 but it is doubtful if a single multicounty library district would have been formed in the next decade, in spite of all of the work by the State library extension staff and the Oklahoma Library Association, without the assistance of LSA grants. Oregon: Jackson County which received a grant-in-aid for 1960-61 through the Public Library of Medford and Jackson County both to strengthen its member libraries' resources and to offer cooperative cataloging to the Ashland Public Library in Jackson County, immediately raised the county support of the library to enable branches to keep open longer hours so that patrons would have readier access to the enhanced book collection. That people will take advantage of such an opportunity has been amply demonstrated with a 112-percent increase in branch book circulation for 1960-61 over the previous year. Pennsylvania: Strengthening the State library took the form of adding staff to the extension and general library divisions, and the augmentation of the State library's book collection through the addition of subject materials in depth. Results were (1) the improvement of advisory services from the State library; (2) improved interlibrary loan services with the filing of a greater number of interloan requests; (3) locating unusual books through an arrangement with the Union Library Catalog of Philadelphia; (4) improved communications between the State library and other libraries in the State through a publication program, including an annual compilation of public library statistics; and (5) the conducting of an informal training program through workshops for librarians and trustees, including two governor's conferences for public library trustees. Puerto Rico: One hundred and ninety rural traveling librarians have gone out to the field from our office since February 1958. These collections with their choice variety of books have proved most useful to our rural communities. They have been assembled at an average cost of $250 and are transported from place to place with great ease. These traveling libraries have rapidly become favorites of our country people. Rhode Island: The battle is not won, but just begun. Communities are becoming more aware that their libraries are not adequate-in books, in hours open, in service, and in financial support. Under the Libraries Services Act, books, information, and services have reached more people more effectively. South Carolina: The beginning of the Library Services Act program in 1956 lent impetus to the entire public library program. A plan designed to correct the major deficiencies in public service in the State was immediately adopted and put into effect. The very fact that the Federal Government believed in the necessity for good public library service and was backing this belief with hard cash gave status and authority to public libraries. South Carolina's public library program began to move ahead-not in new directions, but on a well-surveyed route to a higher level of service for all the people. The South Dakota: The State library continued the classification and cataloging service for regional and other public libraries requesting the services. The project was started in 1957 and since then has produced over 80,000 catalog cards for more than 22,000 titles. The Northwest Regional Library was inaugurated in fiscal 1957 and was established permanently on January 1, 1959. Brown County Regional Library began in fiscal 1958, and was permanently established by law on July 1, 1959, with tax revenue becoming available 1 year later. The Tri-County Regional Library was inaugurated in fiscal 1959, and comprises the counties of Corson, Dewey, and Ziebach in June 1960, in accordance with State laws. Tennessee: Two-year demonstrations financed with Federal funds were conducted in 12 rural counties. Each demonstration county was attached to one of the regional systems and the demonstration was conducted by the regional librarian. These demonstrations, which would have been impossible without Federal funds, are perhaps the most dramatic success of the 5-year program. Most of the demonstration counties were small, extremely poor rural counties in which it would have been very difficult to establish public library service without a demonstration. The response of people who, as one library trustee remarked, had never had anything to read except the Bible and the mail-order catalogs was truly wonderful. At the end of the demonstrations, all 12 counties appropriated local funds to continue the service. Their appropriations were at a much higher level than those in most of the other counties. Texas: At the beginning of the Texas State Library development program, there were 181 predominantly rural counties with no library service or inadequate library service. Of this number, 43 counties have been served with demonstrations. Staff work toward other demonstrations of various types is in progress in 10 others. Utah: One of the most significant developments in Utah from the Library Services Act was the creation of the Utah State Library on July 1, 1957. Although the Utah Library Association had tried several times previously to secure the establishment of a State library, it was the impetus of LSA that finally urged the legislature to pass the bill creating a Utah State Library with the authority to administer Federal funds for libraries. *** it may be stated that under LSA, Utah has come to life and is making good progress in the library field. Vermont: Vermonters borrowed two books more per capita in 1960 than they did before the Library Services Act funds were available. The circulation of books from the free public library service increased 25 percent during this period. More books were available because of the increase in the book budget. Also these books were more readily available from five new large bookmobiles with more staff to give guidance in the selection of books. Virgin Islands: Because of specific designations regarding population made by the act, the islands of St. Croix and St. John are considered wholly rural and the LSA program has been concentrated on these two islands. Many innovations have been made in order to carry these services through. The library at Frederiksted moved to new quarters and much was done in the way of repairing and furnishing the library to attract more patrons, both young and old. The new location and separation of age groups were also important factors in attracting newcomers. New equipment was purchased; centralized processing was started in order to insure uniformity in all the branches; and a union catalog was established. Virginia There is no doubt that interest in library organization and development has increased greatly during the past 5 years. In April 1961, the first Governor's Conference on Public Library Service was held in Richmond. This was sponsored by the Virginia Library Association and financed by Federal funds. Approximately 200 trustees, friends, and librarians were in attendance, and group participation exceeded all expectations. The progress of Virginia's public libraries during the last 5 years, while not spectacular, has been sound. The future looks encouraging. The extension of the Library Services Act for another 5-year period will enable Virginia to continue its demonstration program, which seems to be the only effective means we have of establishing libraries in rural areas. Washington: The Library Services Act left its mark upon the library world of Washington State, primarily because it made possible the Columbia River regional library demonstration. This resulted in the establishment of the north-central regional library, a five-county library district. The development was a significant step in implementing Washington's regional library plan. The success, to date, of Washington's program, under the Library Services Act, serves as impetus for the continuation of its plan for library development as a means of providing good library service for every citizen in the State. West Virginia: LSA funds have helped the West Virginia Library Commission to exercise a leadership role in stimulating statewide library development through conducting workshops, exhibiting bookmobiles, working with advisory committees, preparing a manual for regional advisory committees, sponsoring a film of a West Virginia regional library development program, and publishing various informational items about the work of the Commission and the library program. The improved quality and expanded quantity of Commission services to rural libraries is indicated by such activities as: providing basic reference collections to 16 small tax-supported libraries in 1957, emphasizing interlibrary loan services from the Commission, assigning special personnel to the interlibrary loan program, sponsoring statewide workshops which have been well attended, and giving improved consultant services to every county in the State by staff members who were assigned geographical territories for this purpose. Wisconsin: The Commission's ability to meet its responsibility for training librarians and library board members on the job has been improved through these increases in staff and materials, and by the availability of funds for extensive travel and other operating expenses. Workshops related to various aspects of the LSA program have been held in all parts of the State; statewide programs have included a conference on work simplification in libraries, and a Governor's conference for library board members. Wyoming In July of 1960, Wyoming's first library field consultant began a tour of the 65 county and branch libraries scattered over an area of 97,411 square miles. Since then, this consultant has traveled 4,513 miles, visiting 30 county and branch libraries. Some of these were revisited for followup work. Many librarians and trustees, who hadn't felt the need of a consultant back in 1956 (when we circulated a questionnaire), are now eagerly waiting for a second or third visit. The consultant has helped with book selection, cataloging, weeding, public relations, and building programs. During the 2 years of our program, various staff members have traveled a total of 9,169 miles, and have given consultative service to 44 county and branch libraries. Eight workshops in library problems and procedures were presented with a total attendance of 223 librarians and trustees. LIBRARY SERVICES ACT (PUBLIC LAW 597, 84TH CONG., AS AMENDED) |