EXTENSION OF LIBRARY SERVICES ACT

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 1960

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

SUBCOMMITTEE ON SPECIAL EDUCATION

OF THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND LABOR,

Washington, D.C.

The subcommittee met, pursuant to call, at 10 a.m., in room 217, Old House Office Building, Hon. Carl Elliott (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding.

Present: Representatives Elliott, Giaimo and Wainwright. Also present: Representative Bailey, of the Committee on Education and Labor.

Also present: Mary Allen and Sue Leonard, staff members. Mr. ELLIOTT. The Subcommittee on Special Education of the House Committee on Education and Labor will be in order.

We are happy to have with us today the Honorable Cleveland M. Bailey, a Member of Congress from the State of West Virginia and a member of the Committee on Education and Labor, and chairman of the General Education Subcommittee.

Mr. Bailey has been interested in better library services for rural people all these years. He is the sponsor of one of the bills before the subcommittee.

May I say to you, Congressman Bailey, we are very happy to have you. You may proceed to say in behalf of your bill, or in behalf of the legislation generally, whatever you desire at this time.

STATEMENT OF HON. CLEVELAND M. BAILEY, A REPRESENTATIVE

IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA

Mr. BAILEY. Mr. Chairman and members of the subcommittee, for the purpose of the record, I am Congressman Cleveland M. Bailey of the Third West Virginia District.

I appear, Mr. Chairman, this morning in support of the legislation you now have under consideration. You will recall that I sponsored the first attempt to liberalize our library service back in 1956. We lost the fight by a margin of two votes, and later on, I think, you took over the sponsorship. At any rate, it resulted in the approval by the Congress of a very worthwhile and workable program of enlarging our facilities for rural libraries.

I want to place my stamp of approval on the legislation and on the legislation that is pending.

I cosponsored the legislation which you introduced and I felt it was necessary to come over and show my interest, as you suggested in your opening remarks that I have been a long-time supporter of this type of legislation. I feel I would be remiss in my duty to the

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American people if I did not come before your subcommittee and say that I think it is good, wholesome legislation and should receive a unanimous report of the members of this subcommittee and of the full Committee on Education and Labor.

Mr. ELLIOTT. May I say to the gentleman a fact that he already knows, and that is that the interest of the American people in their public libraries has grown immensely since we lost that battle back in 1949 or 1950, by two votes, to pass a bill similar to the one we have under consideration now and similar to the one passed in 1956.

The gentleman's interest in this subject matter through all the years has contributed a great deal to building a better library system for America, and I thank him for coming down to visit with the subcommittee.

Mr. BAILEY. May I have the privilege of filing with the committee a report of the operations of the legislation in my State of West Virginia?

Mr. ELLIOTT. We would be very happy to have it.

Mr. BAILEY. I shall submit it for inclusion, along with my testimony.

Mr. ELLIOTT. Thank you. We would be happy to have you sit with the committee, Mr. Bailey, if you would like to do so.

Mr. BAILEY. I might for a few minutes.

Mr. ELLIOTT. Thank you.

(Statement and report referred to follow :)

STATEMENT OF HON. CLEVELAND M. BAILEY, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS
FROM THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA

Mr. Chairman and members of the subcommittee, I welcome the opportunity to appear before you today in support of H.R. 9812, the bill to extend the Library Services Act of 1956, which provides for the extension of public library service to rural areas without such service or with inadequate service. As you know, I have also introduced a companion bill, H.R. 11423.

The Library Services Act expires on June 30, 1961; however, unless early action is taken on the legislation here under consideration, the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare will have no authority to include any funds for the Library Services Act when the Department starts work in June 1960 on its estimates for the fiscal year which begins on July 1, 1961.

The results that have been obtained in the short period since the original enactment of this law are in and of themselves ample justification for the continuance of this beneficial program under which 30 million Americans in rural areas are getting new and improved library service. There are some 200 new bookmobiles traveling rural routes, bringing public library service to people in remote areas. Over 280 separate project activities to extend and develop rural public library service were included in the 50 State plans for 1959.

As you know, the Library Services Act was not passed until the middle of 1956, and most of the 36 States which participated during the first fiscal year, ending June 1957, did not receive funds until January 1957, or later. Today, all our States are participating under this cooperative State-local-Federal program which has brought public library service for the first time to over 1 million rural children and adults.

In spite of this marvelous record of achievements in so short a span of time, there are presently 25 million people in rural areas without any public library service. Some 21 million more people still have had no opportunity to benefit directly by cooperative local-State-Federal library development projects. There are still 253 counties throughout our country without any public library service.

It is significant that since 1956 State appropriations for public library service to rural areas have increased 54 percent. In my own State of West Virginia, whereas 5 counties had library service in 1956, today 22 counties are receiving

library services. Our State has increased its per capita expenditure for public libraries from 26 cents in 1956 to 45 cents in 1959. This amount, however, is only one-third of the minimum national standard.

The progress which our States have made under the Library Services Act of 1956, in promoting the expansion of free public library service to our country's rural areas, is the best answer to those who argue that the granting of Federal aid will reduce local effort. The legislation here under consideration will help our communities to continue the services already developed and will permit the extension of this service to the millions who still lack library facilities. For these reasons, I respectfully urge that you give favorable consideration to this legislation.

WEST VIRGINIA LIBRARY COMMISSION

FACT SHEET

What the West Virginia Library Commission accomplished for Library Service in West Virginia under the Library Services Act:

1. Established four regional libraries from 1956 to 1959. Two new regions are planned for 1961, making a total of 22 counties receiving regional library service. Compare this figure with five counties served in 1956.

2. In 1959 the library commission consultant staff made 162 field trips to public libraries.

3. The headquarters staff ordered and cataloged 40,000 books, for use in the regional libraries.

4. Two workshops were held. One for library trustees to study extension of rural library service and one for inservice librarians.

5. Per capita expenditure for public libraries has been brought from 26 cents in 1956 to 45 cents in 1959, but this is still only one-third of the minimum national standard.

6. State government departments used 10,317 books from the library commission's collection compared to 4,639 books used in 1956.

The above projects were accomplished by the commission with the Federal funds provided by the Library Services Act supplementing their State budget. Mr. ELLIOTT. Our next witness this morning is Hon. James C. Oliver, a Member of Congress from the State of Maine.

Mr. Oliver, we are glad to have you with us.

STATEMENT OF HON. JAMES C. OLIVER, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF MAINE

Mr. OLIVER. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. ELLIOTT. Mr. Oliver, may I say, is also a sponsor of one of the bills now pending before the subcommittee, H.R. 10117.

Mr. Oliver's interest in this subject is appreciated by the subcommittee and we are very happy to have you come before us, Mr. Oliver. You may proceed in any manner you see fit.

Mr. OLIVER. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the opportunity of appearing here in behalf of a constructive measure of this kind.

Also, for the record, I think I should say that following our distinguished colleague from West Virginia, Hon. Cleveland M. Bailey, I feel even more impressed with the importance of this legislation and his leadership in making this type of activity effective so far as the country is concerned, which is just another indication of the most constructive congressional work which he has been doing here over the past 12 or 14 years, or whatever it may be.

I am very happy to be able to follow him.

I have a statement which is rather brief and I would ask permission at this time that it be inserted in the record as part of my remarks.

Mr. ELLIOTT. Without objection, the statement to which the gentleman from Maine refers will be made a part of the record at this point.

(The statement referred to follows:)

STATEMENT OF HON. JAMES C. OLIVER, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF MAINE

Mr. Chairman, I appreciate this opportunity to testify in support of legislation to extend the Library Services Act for an additional 5 years, through 1966. I have introduced a bill similar to legislation sponsored by the distinguished chairman of this subcommittee to accomplish this objective. It is particularly fitting that we discuss this important means of strengthening our Nation's libraries on National Library Week.

During the 4 years this program has been in effect, my State of Maine has benefited extensively. The Maine State Library has been successful in expanding its services into those regions where there are no public libraries. The State now has a total of five bookmobiles, serving approximately 100,000 people in 170 towns without local libraries. Two of these bookmobiles were started and the services of the other three were greatly strengthened by the present Federal program. Cooperation with New Hampshire and Vermont on a film-circuit project and cooperation with other New England States on a film relating to library development has been encouraged through funds provided by the act. The State book collection has been expanded and a statewide library newsletter has been initiated. In addition, the State library has been able to strengthen its advisory service through the addition of two staff members who serve as consultants to Maine's many small libraries.

During this period, when it is imperative for all American citizens to receive the best possible education available, every effort must be made to increase the opportunities for obtaining this knowledge. Unless the Federal Library Services Act is extended, the Maine State Library will not be able to increase its present services, an expansion which is urgently needed. The material assistance to small libraries which now serve more than half the population of my State, in my opinion, speaks most eloquently for the continuance of this program. The Library Services Act has effectively assisted rural areas in their educational development. To fail to continue the activity that has so proved its great value, especially at a time when our country is engaged in an ideological struggle of worldwide proportions, should be characterized not only as tragic, but as utter folly. I urge the enactment of this bill for the general welfare of our country and specifically as an effective means of assisting the residents of rural America in obtaining the broad education which is needed to compete in a world of ever-increasing complexity.

Mr. OLIVER. There was one point that, perhaps, briefly I would like to touch upon, Mr. Chairman, and that is this: As a member of the Subcommittee on Postal Operations of the House Post Office and Civil Service Committee I have become very conscious of the need of bringing to our people to the greatest extent possible literature which is really good. During the past several months I have been engaged, along with other members of this subcommittee, in going over the country and trying to evaluate what is happening insofar as material which is far from being good as we find it today on our newsstands and in our drugstores and so forth in every locality of this country. As a counteraction, it seems to me we have to put before our people good literature in an increasing volume as compared to what we are doing. I would, therefore, think that this kind of legislation which we have before you here today and which is envisioned in the extension of this already most constructive legislation, that in doing this we may be bringing to people all over our country the type of books and the type of literature that is necessary to, as I said before, counteract the poisonous material which is so obviously available in every nook and

cranny of this country. For that reason, I take additional satisfaction in appearing here this morning to make this statement for what it may be worth.

I appreciate this opportunity more than I can say.

Mr. ELLIOTT. I would like to say to the gentleman from Maine that I appreciate his activity in trying to develop some method or means to get this terrible trash and obscene literature off the stands, and I agree with him that a good strong system of public libraries such as we are trying to build through this legislation will do as much to counteract that as anything I know. He and I are working toward the same goals with respect to what can be done.

I now recognize the gentleman from Connecticut, Mr. Giaimo. Mr. GIAIMO. Mr. Chairman, I have no questions to ask of our colleague, but I do want to thank him for his interest in this type of legislation and for his support. I do believe I would like to ask him one question: How do you feel that our New England area—yours and mine-accept this legislation? Can you tell us whether or not this type of legislation is acceptable and whether they feel there is a need for it in their States?

Mr. OLIVER. So far as the State of Maine is concerned, Congressman Giaimo, there is no question in my own mind whatsoever that this legislation has been most valuable and most effective in bringing to the rural areas of my State the type of books and the type of literature which is envisioned in the mind of everyone when they think of a public library.

I feel that the State of Maine has benefited immeasurably as a result of this legislation during the few years it has been in effect, and I think it would be the greatest mistake in the world for us at this time when we are confronted with such a challenge as we are confronted, if we did not make available to all our people in the rural areas, particularly the literature which is made available to them as a result of these what you might call mobile libraries and the extra part which is put in by our State officials as a result of this and the cooperation which they get from the Federal Government. I cannot imagine why anyone would for a moment think in my State at least that this is not money very well spent and is an investment in the future. It certainly is not a cost. It will pay back manifold the few dollars, relatively, we are putting into it in my opinion.

The State of Maine wants this legislation, I may say, and I think that pretty much goes for the entire northern part of New England. Mr. GIAIMO. Do you think without Federal legislation this program would necessarily have to be curtailed by the States?

Mr. OLIVER. I know from the statements of my State librarians and the people who are associated with that department, there is no question but that their efforts would be seriously curtailed if this is not extended and I might say in my opinion, reasonably expanded if that could be done.

Mr. GIAIMO. Thank you, sir.

Mr. ELLIOTT. I recognize the gentleman from West Virginia, Mr. Bailey.

Mr. BAILEY. Mr. Chairman, I would like very much to thank the gentleman from the State of Maine for his commendatory remarks of my efforts in the field of education. I appreciated them very much.