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A South Dakota film entitled, "The Open Door," was produced to dramatize library development in that State, and Missouri has produced two filmstrips with accompanying phonograph recordings to explain the operation of a regional library. Similar films produced under State plans have been reported in the earlier editions of this publication.

Radio, television, and newspapers have all been effectively used by many of the demonstration projects. The preparation and distribution of special booklists has been an important service of many of the regional libraries. The New Hampshire contract with a professional public relations firm has continued to be successful, not only in the direct preparation of informational materials, but also in helping local libraries to do a better job in interpreting their services to the public. Using the services of a publicist, Michigan has issued a wide variety of attractive and useful brochures and pamphlets on library organization in that State. Many State libraries use the annual report submitted to the library services branch as the basis for a report to their own State on the progress of library development. At least three States have expanded on the five-year summary contained in this volume and reproduced it for wide distribution.

NEW STATE PLANS

Previous editions of "State Plans Under the Library Services Act" have included the general aims and policies, the methods of administration, and the initial programs as defined in each approved State plan. Three States have begun participation in the LSA program since the publication of the last supplement: Delaware on July 1, 1959; Indiana on March 1, 1961; and Wyoming on July 1, 1959. Outlines of the approved plans for each of these States have been appended to the summary report published in this volume.

THE STATISTICS

The statistical summaries following each State report and the tables giving State, regional, and national data provide impressive documentation to the impact of the Library Services Act. Thirty-six million rural people now have either new or improved public library services available to them. Approximately 115 rural counties and more than 120 New England towns formerly without any public libraries are now receiving library service. More than 8 million books and other library materials have been added to the resources of rural libraries. About 300 bookmobiles, purchased under the program, are helping to make library collections more conveniently available to rural residents.

Highlighting the partnership aspect of the Library Services Act is the fact that, in most cases, State and local governments are continuing their efforts to support good libraries. Since 1956, State appropriations for the development of rural public library service increased 75 percent and local funds for the same purpose increased 60 percent since that date. The 115 field consultants employed under State plans have been a highly important factor in making possible the progress described in the State reports.

The many positive achievements of the program up to this time should not, however, be allowed to overshadow the size of the job yet to be done. Some 16 million rural people still have no public library service locally available. Millions more have libraries offering only weak and limited collections which are often ill housed and understaffed. The States, working closely with their governmental partners at both the local and Federal levels, are now moving toward satisfactory solutions to these pressing problems.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE

LIBRARY SERVICES BRANCH, OFFICE OF EDUCATION, AND THE OFFICE OF THE
ASSISTANT SECRETARY (FOR LEGISLATION)

PRICES OF LIBRARY MATERIALS—ADEQUACY OF PUBLIC, SCHOOL, AND
COLLEGE LIBRARIES

(Charts prepared for the 1962 hearings to amend the Library Services Act (H.R. 11823))

"The Nation's investment in public libraries is a most direct and effective investment in our vital intellectual resources. Historically, the public library has served as both school and college for millions of Americans. Increasingly, the

well-stocked library is a source of books and materials required to keep abreast of technological and professional advances in a wide range of essential occupation *** Good, modern public libraries play an important role in the whole spectrum of adult and continuing education, with tangible benefits to business, industry, and the professions.

"Our libraries are struggling to keep pace with a population that is growing by 3 million persons each year and with book and periodical prices that are rising more rapidly than consumer prices generally. Our major library needs today are not limited to rural areas * * * 120 million of our population have inadequate library services or none at all. One-half of these are in urban areas. "Standards for library services for the public and for students in schools and colleges have been developed by the American Library Association after careful study. We regard them as being sound judgments of desirable levels of service. About two-thirds of all the elementary schools in the country are without libraries, and many college libraries are inadequate. Such inadequate school libraries place additional, and often very severe, burdens on the public libraries.

"Books and buildings alone do not make a library. Men and women of high professional ability are required, with sufficient supporting staff, to plan and carry out library development and services. ***"

(Excerpts from statements by Sterling M. McMurrin, Commissioner of Education, and Wilbur J. Cohen, Assistant Secretary (for Legislation).)

Mr. COHEN. Yet much remains to be done to bring adequate library services to all Americans. In the past 15 years library expenditures have risen from $66 to $260 million. But, in view of the fact that our population is increasing about 3 million persons a year and the increases taking place in the cost of library materials, depending upon the standards used, we probably should be spending as a nation two to three times as much in order to maintain adequate libraries in this country.

Book and periodical prices have risen markedly in the past 10 years. Since 1947-49 prices for science books have increased 85 percent and for all books, 46 percent. The general increase for all periodicals has been 47 percent, but chemistry and physics periodicals have increased 74 percent.

Those facts, Mr. Chairman, are presented in this chart right here in which I think it is quite significant. On this bottom line you can see all items in the Consumer Price Index which, during the period since 1947-49, have risen about 27 percent, as I recall it, during that period. But the prices of books and the prices of periodicals that have to be purchased for libraries and by private consumers, of course, have risen more markedly than the cost of all the consumer items in the index.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Why should science books have gone up so much more than regular books and why should chemistry and physics periodicals have increased so much? What is the difference between one type of periodical and the other?

Mr. COHEN. I do not know that I can answer that. I can give to you the price increase for all the different classes of books.

There is a markedly great differential in the price increase during that period of time in all of the books.

I will say this: I looked at a series of economics books in the last week, which is my own field. They contain many more charts and colors in the books than ever before.

It is possible that by the use of color and by the use of graphic illustrations, the prices are increased.

Index: 1947-49-100 Prices of Library Materials and of Consumer Goods and Services 175

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Source: U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Office of Education, Library Services Branch.

Data reported by the State Library Agencies based on their criteria for adequacy of service. The majority of these
agencies followed American Library Assoc standards for Public Libraries which appear in Public Library Service; a quide
to evaluation with minimum standards. (Chicago A.L.A. 1956) with supplement Cost of Public Library Service in 1959. (Chicago ALA 1960)
("Rural"-Area with 10,000 population or less; "Urban"- Area over 10,000 population as defined in the Library Services
Act regulations)

88630-62- 3

Title II

PUBLIC ELEMENTARY AND
SECONDARY SCHOOL LIBRARIES

Existing Library Service and American Library Association Standards

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Source: U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Office of Education, Library Services Branch
Public School Library Statistics, 1958-59 (OE-15020, October 1960).

The survey covered about 15,500 school districts (36 percent of all public school districts)
and 29.5 million pupils (97 percent of all pupils in public schools in the US. in the school year 1956-57).
American Library Assoc. standards appear in Standards for School Library Programs (Chicago A.L.A. 1960)

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