made under the provisions of the Library Services Act, yet there are still other areas where there is no service and many areas where service is still so poor that it amounts to no service at all. The Library Services Act authorized the appropriation of $72 million each year for a 5-year period. Unfortunately, Congress has failed to appropriate the authorized amount for any of the first 4 years of the program. Much that could have been done with the full appropriation has yet to be accomplished. It is indeed gratifying to learn that the House Appropriations Committee has just recently recommended for the first time the full amount of $7,500,000 for fiscal 1961. It has taken almost the entire life of the legislation to get the appropriation up to the level which was authorized. In the first year only $2,050,000 was appropriated and the second year saw the appropriation raised to $5 million. The third and fourth years had appropriations of $6 million each. Thus appropriations for the first 4 years have been almost $11 million short of the authorized amount. In Accomplishments under the act prove the validity of the testimony given at the time the Library Services Act was being considered for adoption by the Congress. It was stated that Federal funds on a matching basis would stimulate States and local communities to spend more for public library service. the first 3 years, States and territories had increased their appropriations by 54 percent and local communities had increased theirs by 45 percent. Over a million rural Americans-adults and children-now have access to public library service for the first time and the quality of the existing services rendered to several million additional rural Americans has been vastly improved-all a direct result of the Library Services Act as envisioned by the proponents of this legislation. In order to serve these people in rural areas, approximately 200 new bookmobiles have been placed in operation and over 5 million books and other informational materials have been made available during the first 3 years alone. More than 500 additional people-professional and nonprofessional-have been employed to handle the expanded library service at the State and local level. The first 31⁄2 years of operation under the Library Services Act have served to quiet all fears of those original objectors who were sure that adoption of this legislation would result in Federal control of matters constitutionally reserved to the States: selection of staff, selection and purchase of books and other library materials, types of programs, and methods of operation. In spite of all this progress, the original aims of the Library Services Act have not been fully accomplished. There are still approximately 22 million rural Americans who have no local public library service at all and 50 million more who still receive very poor service. In conclusion I should like to urge the subcommittee to take favorable action on this legislation which would extend the Library Services Act for another 5 years with the hope that the full amount of the authorization will be appropriated annually during the extended period. In no other way will it be possible to maintain the momentum created during the original period so as to bring about a substantial realization of the purposes of the act. Hon. CARL ELLIOTT, NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, April 4, 1960. Chairman, Special Education Subcommittee, Committee on Education and Labor, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: I should appreciate it if this letter, stating the views of the National Education Association on the extension of the Library Services Act, could be included in the record of hearings before your Subcommittee on Special Education. The National Education Association is a voluntary organization of more than 702,000 members of the teaching profession. Affiliated with it are 64 State education associations and more than 7,100 local education associations. The policy of the association is set forth in its platform and resolutions which, in turn, are subject to review and change by the annual representative assembly of 5,095 delegates elected from the State and local associations. The 1959 NEA representative assembly meeting in St. Louis unanimously adopted the following resolution : "Rural library service.-A strong public library system is a vitally necessary adjunct to the operation of public schools. A person's residence should not deter mine his access to books, periodicals, audiovisual materials, and other published sources of information. The association believes that Federal grants to assist the States to develop and maintain their rural library services are a necessary step toward the goal of equal educational opportunity for all children. It urges the Congress to appropriate funds for this program in the amount necessary to carry out the objectives of the Library Services Act of 1956." The subcommittee has before it H.R. 9812 introduced by its distinguished chairman, Representative Carl Elliott. The NEA is pleased to note that Congressmen from both political parties have joined Representative Elliott in introducing similar legislation. Thus, H.R. 9812, as should be the case with all soundly conceived educational legislation, has bipartisan support. The NEA strongly endorses the principles contained in H.R. 9812 which would extend Public Law 597, 84th Congress (20 U.S.C. 352), for a period of 5 years, beginning July 1, 1961, and authorizing an appropriation of $7,500,000 a year for the 5-year period. The free public school and the free public library have grown up side by side in the United States. They stand together as symbols of our determination that the accidents of geographical location or economic circumstances shall not impede an individual American's opportunity to make his way in the world. The transmission of knowledge through the written word has been fundamental in our history. Of all the methods of recording the written word, books have proved to be the most durable. Books are of value, however, only insofar as they are available to be read. The Library Services Act was passed in 1956 to make them more readily available to the rural people of America. The judgment of Congress in passing the original act has been rewarded. Books, and the knowledge contained therein, have been brought closer to rural America and the foundations of our Nation have been strengthened as a result. More than 1 million persons now have library service for the first time. Some 66 counties formerly without any public libraries now are receiving service. More than 200 new bookmobiles are bringing books and information to our rural citizens. Rural America's hunger for books and information has been emphatically demonstrated. Significant as has been this progress, there are still many sections of the United States where the ideal of equality of educational opportunity has been but imperfectly realized. As more persons recognize the values of a library, the needs for improved service will increase. All Americans should have the opportunity to enjoy the enrichment that library services can bring them. Good schools and good libraries are both essential to the development of a responsible and productive citizenry. The association accordingly urges the subcommittee to extend the Library Services Act for an additional 5 years. Respectfully yours, WILLIAM G. CARR, Executive Secretary. STATEMENT OF SALLY BUTLER, GENERAL FEDERATION OF WOMEN'S CLUBS Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, I am Sally Butler, director of legislation for the General Federation of Women's Clubs. The general federation was chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1901. The purpose, as defined in the charter of the organization, is "To unite the women's clubs and like organizations throughout the world for the purpose of mutual benefit, and for the promotion of their common interest, education, moral values, and fine arts." The general federation has a membership of approximately 5 million women in the United States of America. Education is a necessary requisite for the preservation of the democratic way of life. All people in every community must have the opportunity to acquire all the education that is offered in our public schools and the additional opportunities that can only be given through the library services. The Library Services Act sets up machinery by which the facilities of libraries can reach a broader base than it has in the past. However, no matter how much machinery is set up for this or any purpose it is of little service unless there are sufficient appropriations granted so the job can be done. Since the president of the General Federation of Women's Clubs, Miss Chloe Gifford, repeatedly says that education is the first line of defense for our Nation, we believe library services to the States and communities must not be curtailed. The resolutions of the General Federation of Women's Clubs form the policy of the organization. We do have a resolution that urges economy in govern, ment but we feel it is false economy to jeopardize the education, health, and welfare of the people. We urge you gentlemen of this committee to recommend that the full appropriations as authorized by the Library Services Act be granted. STATEMENT OF WALTER J. MASON, LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATIVE, AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR AND CONGRESS OF INDUSTRIAL ORGANIZATIONS For a number of years the House Labor Committee has heard testimony as to the shortage of classrooms and of qualified teachers throughout the United States. This serious situation is one luxury we cannot afford. As a nation we have come to realize that failure to obtain adequate educational opportunities in any section of the country becomes, likewise, a problem of all citizens. The inadequacies that exist cut across State lines and their effects are felt in all directions. In the very complex and changing world in which we live, education plays an increasingly important role in the lives of all. And we realize that adequate school facilities and qualified teachers, as important as they are, alone do not complete the job of educating our youth. Public libraries are a direct adjunct to our school system. Students can expect, under favorable conditions, to advance their education through books in public circulation as well as in their classroom and homework assignments. In this regard, adequate public library facilities for people in rural areas are an essential aspect of everyday life of all young people aside from the benefits derived by adult readers. Future scientists, doctors, historians, and educators will have to be developed from among the boys and girls in our rural areas as well as those in the metropolitan sections of the country if we are to meet the challenge of the years ahead. With the Federal funds allotted to them as a result of the library services bill passed by Congress in 1956, the States have accomplished remarkable things in this partnership of State, local and Federal Governments. New programs have been instituted in county and regional library development projects which have benefited millions of Americans living in rural areas through new or improved services available to them. State appropriations for public library services to rural areas have increased 54 percent during the past 3 years vividly demonstrating the desire for books and information by adults and children in all sections of the Nation. The increase in this neglected activity is all the more amazing when we realize that only a little over 63 percent of the total annual Federal authorization has been appropriated during the past 4 years. Yet, we must realize how much more has to be done in this area. In 1959 there were 25 million people in rural areas throughout the country who still were without any public library service. That is a fantastic figure when you realize that percentagewise it means that 1 out of every 7 persons living in the United States does not have any public library service at all. This, however, is only part of the story. An additional 21 million people have received no direct benefits by cooperative State, local, or Federal library development projects under the Library Services Act. The appropriation of $7,500,000 annually for 5 years beginning July 1, 1961, to the States for rural public library improvements and services is allocated to the States on a matching-fund basis. It represents a Federal investment of approximately $.09 per person, in bringing books, information and other library serv ices to children and adults in rural areas. The returns on this investment are immeasurable. Our rural populations should have the same right to opportunities as do the other segments of society. In view of the acute shortage of adequate public library facilities in rural areas, this right is not being realized. We urge the extension of the Library Services Act because the AFL-CIO believes it is necessary in a democracy to provide everyone with adequate educational facilities to develop themselves to their fullest extent. The Elliott bill (H.R. 9812), which provides a 5-year extension of the Library Services Act, will be another step in approaching this long-sought goal. The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations urges immediate enactment of this legislation. HENDERSON COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY, Hon. CARL ELLIOTT, Chairman, Special Education Subcommittee, DEAR SIR: As you are about to hold hearings on the Library Services Act extension, I thought you might be interested in knowing of our experience with State and Federal library aid, and what it has meant to us. We are basically a rural county with a population of some 31,000 and our town, the county seat, has about 6,000. Up until 10 years ago the library was strictly town operated with a budget of but $3,500. We did not have the services of a professional librarian, or rural service, and but meager funds for now books. In 1950, with the help of State aid, we undertook a joint city and county library project. The county appropriation was but $1,500, and we even lost that 1 year and had to raise it by public subscription. Since then we have moved steadily forward as we have sold the people on library services. We are now a county library, tax supported with a budget of $15,000 of local money, plus State aid, plus Federal aid. This year, besides our regular operating budget, we plan a $12,000 addition to our building with a good part of the money raised by the friends of the library. I mention these things only to show you that by tripling our local funds we are doing our part and not lying down on the job. The first year we had Federal aid, we used it toward purchasing a much needed, modern bookmobile. The one we had was purchased secondhand and over 10 years old. The next year we used the funds to add another person to our staff, and this current year to bolster our book budget. This coming year we hope for help in getting equipment for the new addition. I wish to assure you that without the sympathetic understanding and material aid to our own State library, plus Federal aid, that we could not possibly have accomplished what we have. The State and Federal aid have been a source of inspiration and stimulant to us to do more for ourselves. We feel this the best form of aid-help to help oneself. Surely the answer to such a project is the overall good accomplished. I feel there must be hundreds of small, struggling libraries like ours that not only are greatly benefited by the material aid, but even more important, are inspired to greater efforts on their own part. The end results are that not only are our communities made better places in which to live, but our Nation is made stronger, and that is all important, believe me. Very truly yours, WALTER K. PIKE, Chairman of the Board of Trustees. P.S.-The full board of library trustees wholeheartedly endorses this letter and join me in asking your careful consideration and approval of the bill if possible. STATEMENT OF DR. HOWARD A. DAWSON, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF RURAL EDUCATION, NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION The department of rural education of the National Education Association supports the extension of the Library Services Act as provided for in H.R. 9812. The membership of our organization is composed primarily of county superintendents of public schools. Without exception, these educational leaders are enthusiastic about the success of the Library Services Act and are unanimous in their support for H.R. 9812. The results of the original act are already being felt in the improved cultural and intellectual climate in the rural communities and in the open country which the bookmobile program serves. It is our belief that no other single act of the Congress has had more far-reaching effect in such a comparatively short time for such a small investment of funds. However, the act must be extended and, we believe, made a permanent part of the national cultural policy if the initial success is to be maintained. We congratulate Representative Carl Elliott, as well as all who have joined with him, in the successful development of this program. We urge the committee to report this bill as soon as possible and offer our assistance in any way to work for early passage of this measure by the Congress. The attached clipping from our department publication, Rural Education News, for May 1958 may be of interest to the committee as evidence of our consistent and continuing concern. "LIBRARY ACT HELPFUL 1 on ""The Rural Library Services Act, passed in 1956, has already proved to the rural families of America. The most obvious evidence of this program are the many more bookmobiles observed in the rural areas of the Nation, br, g the world of books closer to the American farm family. "The rural area school, because it also most usually serves as a community center, is a popular stopping place for the bookmobiles. This, of course, is a valuable aid to the rural teacher and the rural children. Caution must be exer cised, however, to see that rural school boards are not tempted to use the rural public library services as a substitute for the rural school library. The respon sibility of a rural school board to provide a permanent library within each school is in no degree lessened by the bookmobile service. The traveling library can and should be used to supplement, but not supplant, the school library in the rural and small community school. "The American Association of School Librarians recently endorsed the illow ing statement from the American Library Association publication, Public Library Service; A Guide to Evaluation With Minimum Standards, 195 ""Public library service to schools is not a substitute for a library within a school. The public library activities should be designed to encourage the growth of school libraries.' "In those areas or counties where effective intermediate units are in opera tion, the area or county school libraries should continue to expand services to the component schools. In those areas where such organization does not yet exist, it is reasonable to expect that the bookmobile program will stimulate the de velopment of a county or area school library as the appetite for good books is whetted by the experience of the children and adults who are served by the rural library service bookmobile program. This is, in part, one of the purposes of the Rural Library Services Act. There is already some evidence that such stimulation is being achieved. For school librarians and public librarians in rural areas, there are many questions relating to the improvement of school libraries and public library service to children which need exploration through cooperative State and local meetings." STATEMENT OF ASSOCIATION FOR CHILDHOOD EDUCATION INTERNATIONAL The Association for Childhood Education International wishes to file a statement supporting H.R. 9812, a bill to provide for the extension of the Library Services Act. The association is an organization concerned with the education and well-being of children from 2 to 12 years of age and with the adults who work with them. The association has nearly 80,000 branch members in the United States in urban and rural areas who can profit from library services for themselves and the children with whom they work. Since books play an important role in the education of young children, it is to be hoped that library services will be extended and improved, especially in neglected rural areas. ALBERTA L. MEYER, Executive Secretary, Association for Childhood Education International. (The subcommittee adjourned at 12:20 p.m.) |