In spite of the rapid progress made, however, the goal of libraries adequate for the future educational and economic growth of our State and Nation cannot be reached without the additional stimulation which would be provided by passage of the comprehensive amendments in H.R. 11946. We are thankful for statesmen who uphold the importance of continuous selfeducation through books and reading and we are particularly grateful to you for your contributions to improved library service in Missouri. The following resolution was passed unanimously at the regional board meeting on Wednesday, July 18: Resolution: The Scenic Regional Library Board hereby expresses strong support for H.R. 11946, a bill to amend the Library Services Act, introduced in the House of Representatives on May 31, 1962, by the Honorable Morgan M. Moulder. The board members agree that the bill will encourage and promote improved library service and thereby strengthen our democracy through betterinformed citizens. Enclosed you will find a printed folder describing this library. The two hardest problems to solve in this region have been (1) finding trained staff members, (2) providing adequate service to children who attend schools without school libraries, and at the same time building up a good service program for adults. Both of these problems can be quickly solved if your bill is passed. Sincerely yours, Mrs. FRANK W. JENNY, President, Scenic Regional Library Board. LUCY LOMAX, BOARD MEMBERS Franklin County: Mrs. Edwin Bebermeyer, New Haven. Marshall Jackson, St. Clair. O. E. Burke, county superintendent of schools, Union. Mrs. Frank W. Jenny, Union. Mrs. Carl Miller, Pacific. Gasconade County: Mrs. Howard Brandt, Rosebud. Mrs. William Harrison, Hermann. Joseph E. Murray, Owensville. Warren County: Mrs. S. W. Joost, Warrenton. Mrs. Melvin Rapp, R.F.D. 2, Warrenton. Edwin Roloff, Marthasville. Urban Ruether, Dutzow. Regional Librarian. BROWN UNIVERSITY, Providence, R.I., July 11, 1962. HON. CLEVELAND BAILEY, Washington, D.C. DEAR CONGRESSMAN BAILEY: The Rhode Island Library Association has officially gone on record in support of the extension of library service by the Federal Government to all libraries, regardless of population. We endorsed a memorial from the Rhode Island General Assembly requesting such action by the Congress. We are happy that your bill has been having hearings, and hope that it will continue to move through congressional action until such a bill becomes law. We are happy that among the many other Congressmen that have entered identical bills, Congressman Fogarty, from our State, is included. Sincerely yours, K. K. MOORE, Chairman, Committee on Government Relations, Rhode Island Library DEPARTMENT OF LIBRARIES, Frankfort, Ky., July 9, 1962. Memorandum to: Hon. Cleveland Bailey, chairman, House Education and Labor Committee, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. From: Margaret Willis, State librarian, department of libraries. Subject: Statement of the department of libraries for the House Subcommittee on Education. The Kentucky Department of Libraries is grateful for the show of interest in library development for all citizens by the Congress through the introduction of the Omnibus Library Services Act. Particularly are we grateful for title IV, which sets up library training institutes for the training of librarians to serve in all types of libraries. We recognize fully the need for the improvement of school libraries and college libraries, without which no educational program can progress. We concur with the appropriations to be provided for each. On a basis of need, however, public libraries stand at the top of the list, since they are seriously handicapped in many States by the methods necessary to finance the libraries. Adequate support involves the participation, education, and understanding of all citizens-a highly difficult task. In Kentucky, the largest portion of State revenue is going to schools and colleges. By far the largest portion of city and county revenue goes to public schools. Public libraries face a monumental "selling" and organizational job which has just begun to show some effects. Based on what existed before the Library Services Act, Kentucky has progressed considerably with the small amount of money available through the Library Services Act. The amounts have been as follows: 1956-57: Books purchased for regions. 1957-58: 4 regions started_. 1958-59: 4 regions continued; 2 regions started. 1959-60: 60 regions continued; 1 region started. 1960-61 7 regions continued; 2 regions started with State funds__. 1961-62: 9 regions continued; 1 region started with State funds‒‒‒‒‒‒‒ $40,000 146,000 173, 000 221, 000 221,000 205, 000 With this money Kentucky has begun to develop 10 library regions comprising 51 counties. The extent of improvement has been great. The quality of service available in library regions is still, of necessity, far below standard service, set by the American Library Association. All that can be said is that service is better than it used to be, and interest has skyrocketed. The Federal funds, under the omnibus bill, would provide an increase of $138,324 over the present annual allotment of $205,000-for improvement of public library service. The adding of the responsibility to develop urban as well as rural areas will make it impossible to improve the quality of library development, but will perhaps require an even greater expansion of the extent of the program, making the program perhaps even thinner than formerly. With many States facing tightly constricted State revenues, it is going to be more and more difficult to obtain more funds from the State to help us to continue developing in new areas. Sixty-nine counties in Kentucky have still received no help through the Library Services Act-after 6 years of hard work. Improvement of the quality of service in areas now developing regional li braries is important, and every effort is therefore being made to increase local support for the programs. Some successful results are being obtained, but they are, of necessity, slow and limited. The addition of $138,000 to the present program could definitely improve the quality of service in libraries and on bookmobiles, in each area already developing regional libraries, but such a policy would still leave the 69 undeveloped counties untouched. Good school and college library service will not reduce appreciably the load carried by public libraries. Where such adequate libraries already exist, demands on public libraries are still tremendous, since more people proportionately in these areas have developed the habit of reading and use of libraries. With the development of greater interest and greater demands, the present public library facilities, though improved, are now faced with overtaxed, small staffs, and an inability to serve everyone adequately. With the new Federal support from the omnibus bill for both urban and rural public libraries, the per capita Federal support will increase almost none. It will remain at approximately 10 cents per capita. When one realizes that $3 per capita is needed for support of adequate public library service, the Federal support to be provided cannot be decisive to any great extent unless the extent of improvement is sharply curtailed. The high cost of good public library and bookmobile service is fully realized by only a very few people. Only quality service can bring this understanding to millions of people. With the limited funds planned, at least 50 years will be required to bring public libraries in Kentucky and many other States up to standard in local, State, and Federal support, and only if the leadership and efforts continue to be aggressive, determined, enlightened, and constant. The quality of public library service to adults for a continuing education and for supplementary service to children and young people should at least be on a par with the service provided in school libraries and colleges. It cannot be, under the omnibus bill. It is, therefore, our urgent request that 20 cents rather than 10 cents per capita be considered as a supplementary Federal appropriation for the extension and improvement of public library service to both urban and rural areas, with provisions for equalization grants going to States having a low per capita income. It takes time, experience, and continuous work to get the greatest possible results from Federal aid to public libraries. The States now have had 6 years of experience and now are in a position to evaluate what they have done and to go forward much more quickly-if adequate funds are available. We cannot be expected to improve both the quality and the extent of library service in public libraries and on bookmobiles with the additional $138,000. The legislation under consideration is vital to the preservation of a vigorous democracy, to the economic well-being of all areas, and to the development of each individual's full intellectual capacity. It faces in a positive and preventive way problems of apathy, ignorance, delinquency, and crime-all enemies of an effective democracy. The recognition of this emergency need by the Congress is to be commended by all citizens everywhere, but we urge that the appropriation for title I be increased appreciably to allow for the accelerated improvement of public library service to all. STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF DR. R. JEAN BROWNLEE, CHAIRMAN, HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE; DR. MAYCIE SOUTHALL, CHAIRMAN, ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION COMMITTEE; MRS. WALTER M. BAIN, CHAIRMAN, COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN Although it is unnecessary for us to identify the American Association of University Women to the majority of this committee by which we have been so courteously received in our many appearances in the past, we do so for the record. The American Association of University Women is an organization of over 150,000 college women graduates organized into approximately 1,500 branches in the 50 States, Guam, and the District of Columbia. For over eight decades the association has pursued a study-action program. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries its program was devoted primarily to the improvement of education. This interest in education continues to be one of the principal concerns of the association. In our opinion public and school libraries and those of higher education are of paramount importance to the advancement of this Nation's educational, social, cultural, and economic goals as well as to our national security. Because we believed so firmly in the need for access to information, the association worked for the enactment of the Library Services Act in 1956 and through its branches for its full implementation. This forerunner of H.R. 11823 has been far more successful than its sponsors had dare hope. However, this 1956 act is limited in its application to areas of 10,000 population or less, thus leaving the needs of a large segment of the country's population untouched. We believe these areas must receive library service in the national interest. The development of public libraries and those of our educational institutions has not kept pace with our growing population and with the trend to urbanization. Witnesses appearing before this committee have pointed out that of ap proximately 8,000 public libraries, roughly 100 are able to provide a high quality of service. Yet students, business and industry account for greater use of our public libraries than do those who read for recreation-in spite of soaring statistics on retirees who do and will increasingly need access to library facilities. In addition, the new emphasis on continuing education in adult years, both formal and informal, is putting new demands upon the Nation's libraries. We are equally concerned with the failure, or perhaps we should more justly say inability, of the majority of our elementary and secondary school and college and university libraries to meet the demands placed upon them by enrollments which are doubling in less than three decades. This inability to keep up has contributed greatly to the increased demands upon public libraries, often resulting in the displacing of adult users by students. It is to be remembered that nearly two-thirds of our elementary schools are without libraries. In our opinion, access to books, periodicals and technical materials is second only to access to an adequate teaching staff. Of almost equal value, it seems to us, is the provision carried in the legislation for the operation of library institutes. The present shortage of librarians indicates a need to attract and hold personnel in the profession for the demands made upon libraries today require staffs competent in both subject matter and library skills if library materials are to be made truly accessible to the student, the businessman, the technician, the researcher or the individual who reads for his own pleasure. In view of this demonstrable need for library development and improvement, of spiraling costs connected with libraries, and in view of the straitened financial circumstances in which most communities as well as educational institutions find themselves, we wish to express our hearty approval of all the titles of H.R. 11823. As we have said in our opening statement, the precedent provided by the Library Services Act of 1956 proves the practicability of a coordinated program for development of our libraries on a national scale which is outlined in the several titles of H.R. 11823. Hon. CLEVELAND M. BAILEY, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. CORNELL UNIVERSITY, Ithaca, N.Y., July 27, 1962. DEAR CONGRESSMAN BAILEY: I have noted with great interest the introduction of your bill, H.R. 11823, and in particular title III which would make available Federal grants to colleges and universities for the purchase of library materials on a matching basis, provided the institution meets certain conditions regarding its own expenditures for library purposes. The expense of maintaining library collections at a level to meet the needs of the students and faculty of a large university and to keep pace with a constant flow of new important publications is difficult to meet. This provision for assistance from the Federal Government would provide a new source of much needed funds when the required conditions are met. May I express to you Cornell University's interest in the proposed legislation and our hope that your efforts to secure its enactment will be successful. I am sending copies of this letter to several members of the New York State congressional delegation in the hope that they too will lend their support at the appropriate time. Cordially, DEANE W. MALOTT. COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, STATE LIBRARY, Hon. CLEVELAND M. BAILEY, Chairman, Subcommittee on Education, House Office Building, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. BAILEY: This letter is to express my strong support of H.R. 11823, but also to record my equally strong belief that the bill should be amended in one respect. Title I, as I understand it, removes the present population limit on the use of Library Services Act funds. That would both simplify the administration of the public library programs which are now being aided and expand the potential effect of the act. I favor this title. You may know that Pennsylvania has made rapid strides toward public library development in the past 5 years. Much of the impetus for that progress has come from the Library Services Act. As a result of the Library Services Act, the Pennsylvania State Library was brought to the fore in the State government and received the administrative attention necessary to make it an effective center for library planning and development. I believe there is general agreement among the people concerned with State libraries that this kind of effect in several States has been one very important result of the Library Services Act. Title IV, as presently worded, would tend to postpone or discourage State responsibility in regard to education and training of librarians. Aside from the specific ill effect which this title could have on Pennsylvania's present activities and plans, I believe it is generally unsound to bypass the State governments. Title IV, however, has the effect of doing just that. Title IV would be improved if it were to include, beginning on line 12, an amendment such as the following: "to enable the Commissioner to arrange contracts, on the basis of a plan developed by the State educational agency, with institutions of higher education for the operation by them of short-term or regular session institutes. * * *” The wording suggested here may not be entirely satisfactory, but I believe the intent is clear. While some States may not be prepared to assume this responsibility immediately, bypassing them will not encourage them to become the strong partners with local and Federal agencies they should be. Sincerely yours, RALPH BLASINGAME, Jr., State Librarian. [PEL State Bulletin, January 1962] THE FIT INHERITANCE-PENNSYLVANIA'S NEW PLAN FOR LIBRARY DEVELOPMENT PENNSYLVANIA'S PLAN FOR LIBRARY DEVELOPMENT The library code, enacted with bipartisan support in the 1961 general assembly and strongly advocated by Governor Lawrence, is more than a simple codification of existing library laws. Additionally and more importantly, it is a comprehensive program designed to initiate improvements in public library service throughout the Commonwealth. LIBRARIES-PAST AND PRESENT Deficiencies in facilities and support That library development is needed in Pennsylvania was the conclusion of a special 1958 library survey commissioned by the State librarian at the request of Governor Leader. Among the survey findings: Nearly 20 percent of Pennsylvania's citizens have no local library service whatsoever; Of those who do, 65 percent are dependent on grossly inadequate facilities; The five largest Pennsylvania cities, with but 26 percent of the State's population, are responsible for 62 percent of all local library expenditures; Pennsylvania's 91 cents per capita annual expenditures for libraries compares with a national average of $1.45; This level of library support ranks the Commonwealth among the dozen lowest States in the country. Libraries in existing statutes Acts of 1917 and 1931 formed the nucleus of current library law although other provisions throughout the statutes also relate to public libraries. With but minor modifications and with clarifying changes, these laws have been codified and incorporated into the 1961 library code. The 1917 law and subsequent amendments authorized counties and municipalities to maintain their own or to support other privately sponsored free public libraries, either by the levy of a special property tax up to 2 mills or by an |