APRIL 14, 1960. Hon. CARL ELLIOTT, Chairman, Special Committee on Education, DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: I appreciate the opportunity you have extended to me to express my views on legislation before your subcommittee to extend the Library Services Act. The extension of the Library Services Act for another 5 years will insure the continuation of more adequate library coverage throughout the Nation by providing library services to millions of Americans who are still without adequate access to a local public library. It is especially important that library services be strengthened in view of the increases of school population and the complexities of our time. A strong public library system can help with basic education needs. While all thinking people realize it is essential that we expend every effort and the necessary funds to keep this Nation free, I am confident you will agree that the institutions-among them the public libraries of the United States-which provide information to help our people make intelligent decisions and keep informed on current issues are also vital for the preservation of our precious democratic way of life. I am very much aware of the many fine benefits which the Library Services Act has brought to the rural areas in Massachusetts and I would urge the committee to extend the act for another 5 years so that the rural areas in the United States can continue to realize improved library services. With every good wish, I am EDWARD P. BOLAND, STATEMENT OF HON. DONALD J. IRWIN, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT Mr. Chairman, I am proud to express my wholehearted support for pending legislation to extend the Library Services Act. I sincerely believe that continuance of the library program is of tremendous importance to guarantee progress in the art of understanding, so vital today when distance has been virtually eliminated as a barrier between peoples of the world. There can be no improvement in understanding unless books and other materials are made readily available and in our country this can be done best through our libraries. And yet we are told that 25 million people in this Nation do not have access to libraries or library services. During the 4 years since the start of the library program under the Library Services Act, tremendous strides have been made. We cannot and must not stop now. An estimated 30 million Americans living in essentially rural areas have been provided with new or improved library services since 1956. Approximately 200 new bookmobiles have been put into use and State library agencies have increased their field personnel by some 80 percent. States have spent 54 percent more and local communities have spent 45 percent more money for rural public library services. Funds provided under the act are not used to purchase land or to build libraries but rather for books, equipment, salaries, and other operating expenses. This has created conditions conducive to State and local action. I urge the committee to report favorably on legislation extending the act so that we may continue to provide what is essential for our progress. STATEMENT BY HON. JAMES H. MORRISON, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF LOUISIANA Mr. Chairman, in support of bills to extend the Library Services Act for a period of 5 years, I wish to submit a statement prepared by the Louisiana State University, and request that it be made a part of the record. (The statement follows:) LOUISIANA STATE LIBRARY, BATON ROUGE, La. A. MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS I. Library demonstrations UNDER THE LIBRARY SERVICES ACT AS OF JUNE 30, 1961 With funds available under the Library Services Act, Louisiana is continuing its demonstration plan at quickened speed, opening libraries in those parishes without service and bringing books and reading to the thousands of persons unserved by public libraries. The program is a cooperative one with support for the trial year coming from local, State, and Federal funds. After a successful 1-year demonstration of library service, local taxpayers are willing to vote continuing support for their public library. Total number of parishes (counties) now receiving library service which were unserved prior to program (assuming that demonstrations will be opened in Lincoln, Ascension, and St. James), 10. Persons in these parishes to whom service is now available (including the population of the three parishes mentioned above, but excluding the population of the parish seat of Lincoln, which is over 10,000), 152,207. Parish with some service prior to program now receiving improved or extended service, one. Persons in this parish to whom this service is available, 30,000. Parish library demonstrations since 1957 financed with local, State, and Federal funds: Allen, Caddo, Cameron, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, Vernon, Grant, Jackson (to open March 5, 1960). Four of these Vernon, Allen, St. Bernard, and Caddo are now supporting their service entirely with local funds. It is anticipated that by the end of June 30, 1961, four others-Cameron, Grant, Jackson, and Plaquemines-will have provided local support for the library's continuing operation. It is the hope of the State library to open three additional demonstrations by the end of fiscal 1961. Although there is library interest in all parishes without service and very enthusiastic activity in a number of these parishes, the exact areas of these demonstrations are as yet undetermined. II. Film project Production of a 20-minute color film, "Libraries for Louisiana." Final print to be delivered February 15, 1960. The purpose of the film is to illustrate how a demonstration library is set up and planned, to depict the services it offers, and to point up the relationship between the demonstration and the State library. The film will be used on television and for showings before the many clubs and organized groups in parishes without libraries. It should be extremely useful and highly effective in informing Louisianans about the value of library service. It is hoped it will also be useful in other States. III. Recruiting project Louisiana has high hopes that the recruitment project initiated September 1, 1959, will do much toward relieving the critical shortage of librarians. It is the purpose of the project to interest qualified persons, or those interested in qualifying, in rural library work as a career. It is believed that programs and materials developed in Louisiana may prove helpful to other States in alleviating the acute shortage. B. UNMET NEEDS 1. Louisiana's demonstration program would have to be considerably curtailed should the Library Act not be extended beyond June 30, 1961. Either the quality of the service in demonstrations would be less or the number of demonstrations would have to be reduced. 2. Deficiencies anticipated on July 1, 1961, in the following areas: Number of people unserved: 223,773 (rural population in 11 parishes excluding town of Opelousas, which is over 10,000). 1 All demonstrations except that in Caddo were parishwide. The Caddo bookmobile demonstration was designed to reach the 30,000 persons in rural areas outside Shreveport and without easy access to the branch libraries outside the city. Number of people inadequately served: 988,047 (rural population). This figure represents all the rural population presently served by public libraries. None of Louisiana's library service to rural areas meets ALA standards. Books: In 1960 only 55,656 books were added in rural areas. According to ALA standards, 188,743 should have been added to the collections of those libraries serving rural areas. Other material (film, records, etc.): 150 additional films and 300 additional records should be added to State library collection regularly and widely used by rural libraries in Louisiana. Bookmobiles: 39. 3. Additional staff members needed to carry on plans for extension service: 74 needed to bring public libraries serving rural areas up to ALA standards; two additional field persons needsd on State library staff. C. The extension of the Library Services Act should make it possible to bring library service to the entire population of Louisiana. With only 14 parishes still unserved (only 11, it is anticipated, as of July 1, 1961) this goal should be achievable. Hon. CARL ELLIOTT, Chairman, Special Education Subcommittee, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. APRIL 5, 1960. DEAR COLLEAGUE: I should like to have included in the record of testimony that will be submitted before your committee on April 5-7 on H.R. 9812 my endorsement of that and similar bills to extend authorization for appropriations. for a 5-year period by amendment to the Library Services Act. I have already indicated my interest in this program by introducing H.R. 11424, which is similar to H.R. 9812. In the past 3 years $33,390 was spent directly by eight county libraries for extension and improvement of public library service in the State of Nevada. For the first time, thousands of Nevadans have had their first look at a bookmobile, which is a service enabled by the Library Services Act. In three counties libraries were reorganized and public use, therefore, has skyrocketed. Washoe County, one of the two heavily populated counties in Nevada, instituted mobile libraries-the closest Nevada has to a bookmobile. I could go on and enumerate the many advantages to my State under the present act, but I am sure others have included this information in their testimony, so, in order to forbear repetition, I should like at this time only to urge that the act be amended in order that necessary funding can be extended for the next 5-year period. Sincerely, WALTER S. BARING, Congressman for Nevada. STATEMENT BY HON. HARLEY O. STAGGERS, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA I very much appreciate this opportunity of filing with the Subcommittee on Special Education a statement in favor of extending the Library Services Act. As the subcommittee knows, I have introduced a bill, H.R. 11120, that proposes a 5-year extension of this legislation, which will otherwise expire on June 30, 1961. Public Law 84-597, known as the Library Services Act, was written into the statutes after committees of both Houses had weighed the testimonies of numerous witnesses who described the discouraging and, in many cases, shocking situations of many rural libraries. At that time, in rural areas, some 26 million Americans had no access to a public library and some 50 million other Americans had inadequate library service. Since 1956, in spite of the fact that only twothirds of the Federal money authorized has been appropriated, reinforcement of State funds with Federal grants has stimulated 4 years of very constructive activity by State library extension agencies. Testimony from the States has indicated that free library service has been brought to over 1 million rural people for the first time and that substantially 54418-60-10 improved services have been obtained by another 71⁄2 million. Plans to bring new or additional improvement to the library systems of millions of other rural people have already been set into motion. And while we can hardly measure the benefits of these programs in dollars and cents, we can, on the other hand, hardly overlook the enthusiasm of State and local governments which have, on the average, matched every Federal dollar with $2 of State and local money. In fact, since 1956, on an overall basis, appropriations for libraries have risen 54 percent at the State level and 45 percent at the local level. Not only have the programs aided by the Library Services Act established new or improved service for many communities, but in addition, a number of State library agencies have, for the first time, received real impetus and support for experimenting with modern methods and techniques in an attempt to provide the rural public with services that can keep in step with the demands of the space age. Also, several impressive "firsts" can be chalked up to the influences of the Library Services Act. Among these, according to information supplied by Dr. Derthick's office during the 1959 House hearings on Department of Health, Education, and Welfare appropriations for 1960, are the following "firsts": 1. Utah's adoption of legislation establishing its first State library, and 2. Arizona's initiation of its first rural public library extension service. and 3. Minnesota's and Oregon's first appropriations for library grants-in-aid. With such events the Library Services Act has blazed a chapter of hope and accomplishment into the history of America's rural public libraries. We are in the midst of a promising development of rural library services, but we are yet far from having finished the job we set out to tackle in 1956. Why are we so concerned with this problem? Many of us live in urban centers where we can freely choose between different libraries and between various bookstores, whose shelves offer us a wide selection of volumes. Many of us can rapidly obtain the books that have kindled our interests and enthusiasms. These lucky Americans, unless they have seen it for themselves, cannot easily visualize the disheartening paucity of library books in some rural areas; the scarcity of adequately trained library personnel; and the heartbreaking difficulties of trying to answer a community's library needs with makeshifts and with out-of-date, uninviting or meager collections of books. "Before we can have a man thinking, we must have a boy reading," states a recent issue of the West Virginia Library Commission Newsletter, quoting Max Lerner. Let us not talk of "mine" and "thine" here: we are thinking of all American boys and girls, and all American men and women, each of whom should have the chance, if it is so desired by them, to explore both the world and the self by reading. As we review the results to date of the Library Services Act, it is not hard to understand the awakened enthusiasm and pride of rural people in America who have experienced some of the benefits of its programs. We can also understand their interest in extending the act and their concern lest this fine program be curtailed prematurely. Recent figures suggest that nearly 25 million Americans as yet have no library services; while almost 46 million others are still struggling to improve substandard facilities. We are well supplied with reports and statistics which record the pulse beat of programs under the Library Services Act. To me, these have indicated most importantly two things: First, that the Library Services Act has proved itself to be very valuable and constructive, and second, that the need for it still remains. Statistics, after all, are a form of shorthand. It is when we hear the details of the accomplishments summarized by statistics that we get a heart-warming and most gratifying view of the act's effects. That is why, with mingled feelings of humility and pride, I wish to discuss the record of my own State, West Virginia. Beginning with a quick sketch of some of my State's current problems, let me start by saying that West Virginia's libraries include: (a) Regional libraries, (b) county libraries (which by means of branches, stations, and bookmobiles, etc., provide service for all or a major portion of a county), (c) libraries that given only partial county service, (d) city and town libraries that are tax supported, (e) city and town libraries that are endowed, and (f) public libraries which are sponsored and supported by local community clubs. In 1959, nine counties still had no public library service whatsoever. During the 1960 fiscal year, with the initiation of the Fayette County demonstration project, the number of counties without service will be reduced to eight. However, of West Virginia's 55 counties, something like two-thirds of them supply less than 50 percent of their populations with library services, with many of the percentages supplied amounting to as little as 3 percent, 7 percent, 13 percent, and 24 percent, according to a map in the library commission's annual report for the year ending June 30, 1959. The 1958-59 annual public library statistical reports compiled by my State show that while there are 997,766 people in the State now receiving some public library service there are 1,007,786 people who still have none. In some counties, the only public library facilities available are those sponsored and supported by local community clubs. Figures in the 1959 West Virginia bluebook indicate that a number of these have collections of less than 500 volumes and expenditures of less than $50 per year. Yet, during the past year, one of these brave little libraries created by publicspirited citizens who felt compelled to do something in the face of a desperate gap in library facilities-had a total circulation that exceeded by four times the total number of volumes. Now, let me turn to the happier side of the picture and show how the Library Services Act has benefited my State. Although, as you remember, West Virginia was one of the three hardest hit areas in the United States during the recent recession and some of its counties still suffer keenly, its per capita expenditures for public libraries have jumped from 26 cents in 1956, to 38 cents in 1958, to 45 cents in 1959. The State library commission has now a basic minimum staff of professional librarians and clerical assistants. Each of the 55 counties in West Virginia has been assigned to one of the 4 field consultants employed by the library commission. Between July 1958 and June 1959, 58 of the 69 public libraries in the State were visited by 1 of the staff consultants. Last May, the library commission sponsored a very successful statewide 2-day workshop for librarians, with expenses allowed for one delegate from each public library. As I mentioned above, a demonstration project is providing Fayette County with its first library service. Fourteen potential regional libraries are planned for West Virginia. Fayette and Raleigh Counties comprise one of the areas slated for regional library development. These two counties have been badly crippled by unemployment and are experiencing economic difficulties due to the changing status of the coal mining industry. Until regional library services can be further developed, some attempt is being made to strengthen services in Raleigh County, while in Fayette County a part of the current appropriation is being used to furnish a library room that has been vacant since it was constructed 10 years ago. These are just a few of the details of how the Library Services Act has helped my State to improve library services for its rural citizens. Mr. Chairman, members of the subcommittee, nearly every State participating in this program has been able to relate equally dramatic and encouraging stories of its activities on behalf of better rural library systems. Unquestionably, a great contribution has been made by the Library Services Act. This program of Federal aid has been a very fine one, and I feel that H.R. 11120 and other bills proposing continuation of this legislation are extremely deserving of our support. STATEMENT OF HON. D. R. (BILLY) MATTHEWS, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the committee, I greatly appreciate the privilege of appearing before you today in support of H.R. 11526, which has for its purpose an extension of the Library Services Act for a 5-year period. I have been very pleased with the progress that has been made in recent years in developing and extending public library services to rural areas without such services, or with inadequate service, under the provisions of Public Law 597, 84th Congress. The eighth District of Florida, which I have the honor to represent, consists of 15 counties, comprising numerous sparsely settled rural communities which, until the passage of the Library Services Act in 1956, had most inadequate library facilities. I am pleased to say, Mr. Chairman, that this situation is rapidly changing, partially as a result of benefits derived from the Library Services Act. |