development such as the eastern, Mason City, and Raccoon ones will be developed in these undeveloped areas.

Kansas

Due to the conservative way in which we have been using Federal funds, having them cut off would really make progress difficult. I felt that I had considerable building up to do here in the traveling libraries commission before I ventured into more elaborate projects at the local level. I think that really by June 30, 1961, I will be ready to start on demonstrations which will at least solve some our Kansas problems.

Louisiana.

The extension of the Library Services Act after 1961 will make it possible to bring public 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.

Maine

While we may be in a position to maintain present bookmobile service with State funds, we need to think in terms of expanding our bookmobile areas into regional systems that would serve the areas with inadequate library services, as well as those with no local library service.

Massachusetts

In Massachusetts, activity under LSA has definitely reawakened an interest in a State grant-in-aid program for local public libraries. It has also sparked interest in the need for development of library systems and greater concentration on cooperative efforts. If Federal funds cease in 1961, I fear the present impetus given the library legislation and library development program will lose ground.

Michigan

Aside from the very definite loss in library service, the State library agency would suffer a great blow if we were forced to discontinue our projects in 1961. Because of the financial difficulties in which the State has been plunged for the last 2 or 3 years, we have been unable to obtain the release of needed funds and have been unable to proceed as rapidly and as normally as we would like. This has meant that we have not been able to keep our commitments within the time schedule we have set. If, in 1961, we were forced to discontinue all projects, many people in the State would seriously doubt the State library's ability to hold to any kind of promise for assistance. Many of our projects are complex and have required a good deal of preparation time. By 1961, they will be just at the point of completion. Without an additional 5 years in which to finish them, we will lose a great deal of money and effort which has already gone into the area.

Minnesota

The general opinion here in Minnesota is that it would be a real tragedy if LSA were to end. It has taken the first 3 years to get the program really going. We are just beginning to get a really widespread response from the general public in areas which are difficult to reach with the vital information concerning the advantages of regional library systems.

Mississippi

"There is a tide in the affairs of men, which taken at its flood ***" and this is the floodtide of library development in Mississippi. If this present momentum is not continued, and the almost unbelievable local community efforts now being exerted, is not capitalized upon the possibility of good library service in Mississippi will probably not be realized in our generation.

Missouri

We would lose the advantage built to date of momentum in spirit for upgrading and improvement of service. We would not be in a position to complete the program and local projects generated by the new revitalized strength of the State agency.

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Montana

If the Library Services Act should terminate in 1961, the most immediate and devastating effect would be upon the State agency.

We have every hope that soon the State will assume headquarters costs but we need time to develop the program and to convince the State legislature of the importance of library service. We are assured of good local and State support and a fine future, but time is essential to us here and our situation would be critical indeed should the Federal funds cease.

Nebraska

Plans for six regional or multicounty library systems would be abandoned. If the Library Services Act is discontinued in 1961 the process of strengthening the reference collection and reference services of the commission to public libraries will be drastically cut.

Nevada

This program has been a tremendous boost for public library services in Nevada the past 3 years-it would be a catastrophe to cut this off next year. New Hampshire

A survey of all library services in New Hampshire is now underway. The final report should be made sometime in 1960. The recommendations of this report will to a great extent influence the direction our program will take from that time onward. There is no doubt that some of these recommendations can only be implemented through the use of Federal funds.

New Mexico

Public libraries with inadequate service and funds which are being served by the regional libraries will be cut off from the strength and support of the regional libraries. This would react unfavorably to the State agency and library

service in general.

New York

Would delay development of library systems, because of resultant inadequate consultant staff.

Would mark a major reverse for continuing library progress through strong State library extension division leadership.

Would cripple development of training program for nonprofessional community librarians.

North Carolina

In spite of the slowness of the process, it was the North Carolina policy to educate the citizens concerned to the point where they were convinced that a regional library or large system was better for them. It has taken 5 years to achieve this in a few areas. If Federal funds cease in 1961, it will be like dynamiting the bridge into the promised land on the same day as the ribbon cutting.

North Dakota

Library development will be slowed considerably without the Federal funds. *** In conclusion, judging the success of our rural library service by the patronage, as well as financially, it is a "surprising success" (Clarence Poling, Williams County commissioner and library board member).

Ohio

Regional reference service to be established in 1961 on an experimental basis. Rather than duplicating the present reference collections which exist in each area, a reference librarian will be located in strategic parts of the State where all the resources of the area can be used, rather than just those of one library. If material is not available for loan, copies can be secured for the patron.

Library progress in Ohio in the past 3 years has been tremendous. If Federal funds were discontinued all these gains would probably be erased for we have not had time to consolidate them.

Oklahoma

Demands for improved library service will continue to increase, as the success of our present projects becomes wider known. We believe we will have improved State laws to provide further incentive for larger systems of library

service. We should be in a better position to utilize Federal funds for grantsin-aid than ever before.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is only on the verge of major progress in public library development. At this stage, cessation of Federal aid could very well disrupt all current planning and set the State back to its 1956 level. The Federal funds have yet to affect local attitudes regarding library service. This effect will come both through continuing a program of demonstrations and through continuing to offer advice and counsel to librarians, boards of trustees, and lay groups on library problems. Both efforts would probably fall flat if the Federal funds were withdrawn in 1961.

Rhode Island

If the Library Services Act is not extended, I dread to think of the loss. Our program, begun in January 1958, is just reaching full momentum. In our efforts to improve the climate for libraries here, we have made a good foundation, but we have not reached the point of fully alerting our citizens to the vital role of libraries and the need to give them their due support.

For us in Rhode Island such a termination will come after only 3 years and a few months of participation, when we have not realized fully our aspirations for permanent, concrete accomplishment.

South Carolina

Should Federal funds cease in 1961 before we have had an opportunity to carry out the full program envisioned with the full appropriation authorized under the act, the blow to further public library progress in South Carolina would be a severe one.

I know that public libraries in the State would continue to make progress, but this program would be too slow to keep up with the rapidly increasing demands made upon them by the industrialization in the Senate.

South Dakota

Actually the whole program of library development has just started in this State ***

There still remain 15 counties without any library service of any kind, and with the exception of 3 to 5 of the 88 public libraries the library service extended to the people is not up to national standards.

Tennessee

Federal funds have stimulated an upsurge of public interest in libraries. If these funds were discontinued on June 30, 1961, this momentum would be slowed down before it has had enough time to produce sufficient results. Since very little was accomplished the first year, the plan has been running in high gear only 4 years. Although much has been accomplished, much still remains to be done.

Texas

There are 181 Texas counties with predominately rural populations which have no library service or inadequate library service. Plans for the formation of regional or multicounty library systems would be abandoned if the Library Services Act is not extended beyond June 30, 1961.

Wyoming

Seven counties are at present not participating in the program. It is possible that by 1961 these counties will still not be participants.

Vermont

If Federal funds are not available after June 1961 we would have to struggle to keep nine positions. It would be a setback to all library services in Vermont-bookmobile, books, consultative services.

Washington

We cannot say we would abandon plans, but our pace would be reduced to a crawl again.

West Virginia

The Library Services Act is really beginning to make an impact in West Virginia. Areas which have never before seemed concerned are becoming aware

of the Library Services Act and are asking. When can we have a survey of our county? Can we join the region in our area? How do we go about getting service for our county? Can you send a staff member to talk with us?"

Library service is beginning to be thought of as necessary to hold population, to improve employment situations, and to make for communities that will attract industry.

Wisconsin

Because of a very small appropriation in the first year of LSA, and the time required for organization, the State of Wisconsin has not had a full opportunity to see the benefits of LSA's incentive grant program. There has been a lack of time for demonstrations. Our present programs are finally in full operation, but there remain only 18 months for concentrated effort in these areas; and there remain nearly 2 million citizens of the State with no library service or inadequate service.

Mr. POWELL. If, with the aid of the extension of the Library Services Act will provide, we can provide service to areas not now receiving it, and can help the local communities strengthen the facilities they have, we should emerge with a permanent system of rural libraries. We have not been reading enough in America, and our form of society, in order to succeed requires an informed public. We shall not make all rural people-adults, young people, and children-into readers, but a large percentage of them want to be informed and will read in order to be informed, the farmer no less than the professional man. The Library Services Act is the most effective means thus far devised for convincing the people of America that they can afford to have books within reach.

For these reasons, the American Library Association urges strongly that the subcommittee act favorably on the proposed extension of the Library Services Act of 1956.

Thank you very much for allowing me to present the views of the American Library Association on this important legislation.

Mr. ELLIOTT. Mr. Powell, one time when I rode a bookmobile and stopped at Poplar Springs in Winston County, Ala., a man with a walking cane who I believe said he was 85 or 86 years old appeared at the bookmobile and said he had thought he would pass away before this space age became important, but he had decided that the space age was here and that he was still living and had to learn something about it. Therefore, he wanted a book on the space age.

Mr. POWELL. Well, this world is becoming so complex there are a lot of questions that people need to have information on which they seemed to be able to get along without a quarter of a century ago. Mr. ELLIOTT. Mrs. Green, do you have any questions?

Mrs. GREEN. First, I think you have outlined very well the benefits that have been obtained from the Library Services Act, Mr. Powell. In the public works program we always are required to present a cost-benefit ratio before we can justify a particular project to our colleagues in the House of Representatives.

It seems to me that here is a program where the benefits are tremendous at a very, very tiny "cost" to the American people.

Mr. Powell, in the bill which was passed a rural area was defined as an area that did not have more than 10,000 population. We are about to have another census. From various States I have had reports that some of the programs would be eliminated if we did not insert in

the new bill a provision freezing eligibility to districts under the 10,000 population figure according to the 1950 census.

Do you have any figures in your own State of North Carolina or other places as to programs that would be eliminated?

Mr. POWELL. No, ma'am; I do not. I do not think any town in North Carolina has grown very much, except the towns that were much above this size in the beginning. I do not have any figures, but I would guess that there would be very few in my own State that have grown in excess of 10,000 which would be eliminated.

Mrs. GREEN. In your association have you discussed this particular problem and the advisability of keeping the definition according to the 1950 census at least until we have a chance to reevaluate the situation after we get the 1960 figures?

Mr. POWELL. Yes, we have discussed that. There are advantages, I think, to staying with the 1950 figures. It would mean that if we departed from those that some districts that have been enjoying this assistance would be eliminated. I would think, however, that it might be preferable to stay with the census, if that is possible, and that we do not have any figures on the number-I do not personally here— of cities that would be eliminated or rural communities if we used the 1960 census instead of the 1950 census.

Mrs. GREEN. I do not know whether I understood you correctly. You said it would be better to stay with the 1960 census?

Mr. POWELL. I believe it would be better if we could follow the 1960 census instead of the 1950 census, although there would be some disadvantages also.

Mrs. GREEN. Let me read from different reports which I have received along that line: The California report says that the 1960 census will remove most of the currently eligible cities from that category. From Colorado the report is that under the present population limitation of 10,000, 10 cities now eligible for receiving direct assistance would become ineligible for help when the 1960 census becomes official. In Hawaii they say there will be little change. In Idaho it will affect some 40,000 persons in the State if the limitation were raised to the category of 25,000-they are not even desirous to have it left at the 10,000 figure. They would like to have it raised and state that another 90,000 persons would be affected by the availability of Federal funds.

In Connecticut-Mr. Giaimo's area, if the population figure remains at 10,000, there will be 25 towns now in the Federal plan which will no longer be eligible, and from this State also comes the statement that if the population figure is raised to 25,000, these 25 towns, plus 6 additional towns, would be eligible for inclusion.

In Delaware they would abandon 8 to 10 libraries which would probably fall into that category. In Florida the fiscal limitation of the plan becomes more involved, and they state that to date they have not worked with a county where the major public libraries remain outside the project operations. Therefore, it would be easier without the 10,000 limitation.

In Kentucky the 1960 census figures are due to alter the picture in Kentucky considerably. Urban areas are increasing in population, and rural areas are decreasing. Kentucky is going to have to deduct