National Defense Education Act

(1) Only 34 percent of the elementary schools surveyed had school libraries while over 10 million pupils were enrolled in elementary schools without school libraries

Senator YARBOROUGH. Pardon me. How many children are enrolled in elementary schools in the Nation at this time? What is the total number?

If 10 million are in schools without school libraries, I wonder how many have school libraries. Do you have that figure available? Mrs. BOMAR. No; I do not have this information at this time. I can get it for you.

Senator YARBOROUGH. All right.

Senator MORSE. The staff will get it and will supply it for the record.

Mrs. BOMAR. Thank you.

Of the schools surveyed, only 42.4 percent were served by school librarians while over 47,000 schools surveyed with libraries had no qualified librarian. Furthermore, in 1961 21 States still have no school library consultant at the State level.

For these compelling reasons the association wishes to recommend that a title XII be added to the National Defense Education Act for the purpose of strengthening school library resources needed for teaching and learning. At this time I should like to make this proposal a part of the record.

Senator MORSE. That will be made a part of the record.

Mrs. BOMAR. This amendment proposes that matching grants be provided to the State educational agencies to be used in accordance with a State plan for acquisition of library materials, renovating and/or equipping of library quarters, institutes for training school librarians, and school library leadership services at State and local levels.

Further to guarantee effective selection, organization, and utilization of materials is the provision in the proposed amendment for institutes for training personnel. National standards, published in 1960 by the American Association of School Librarians, call for approximately 112,000 qualified librarians to serve the Nation's schools; 1958-59 statistics reveal only 19,000 fully qualified school librarians. To accomplish the work, institutes to train library employees at various levels of service are both practical and necessary. In view of the facts we have presented, the American Library Association and its division, the American Association of School Librarians, therefore urgently recommend that you incorporate these proposals in the National Defense Education Act.

if the teaching of English is to be improved throughout the country, bold and immediate action must be undertaken on a national scale.

Thank you for the privilege of presenting our views on the pro posed legislation to extend and amend the National Defense Edu cation Act.

Senator MORSE. Mrs. Bomar, we are happy to have you with u and the best way I can tell you of my evaluation of your testimony is that I believe the burden of proof is on those who propose not t include library aid in the bill.

Senator Yarborough?

Senator YARBOROUGH. This is a very fine statement and I think it proves the case without further comment.

Mrs. BOMAR. Thank you very much.

Senator MORSE. Senator Case?

Senator CASE. Thank you. I have no questions.

Senator MORSE. Thank you very much, indeed.

(The prepared statement of Cora Paul Bomar, including the attachment, follows:)

PREPARED STATEMENT BY CORA PAUL BOMAR, SUPERVISOR OF SCHOOL LIBRARY SERVICE, NORTH CAROLINA STATE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION

My name is Cora Paul Bomar. I am supervisor of school library service. North Carolina State Department of Public Instruction. I represent today the American Library Association, a nonprofit, professional association of more than 25,000 members, consisting of librarians, trustees, and laymen interested in the development, extension, and improvement of libraries as essential factors in the educational program of the Nation. I speak in particular for one of ALA's divisions, the American Association of School Librarians, which is interested primarily in improving and extending the services of the school library so that it fulfills its role as an educational force in the school program.

The American Library Association officially endorsed the objectives of the National Defense Education Act in 1958 and has had a continuing interest in the act. It favors its extension and improvement as proposed in the bill. S. 1726 but wishes to propose a further amendment.

Our reasons for this stem from experience to date under title III of the present act. Although this title has recognized in some degree the important role of printed materials in strengthening instruction in science, mathematics and modern foreign languages and some materials, printed and audiovisual, are being purchased in certain areas, nevertheless, there is urgent need for large numbers of additional printed materials and guidance in the selection, organization, and effective utilization of them. A good school library can provide these materials and this guidance.

Provision in each school of a good school library administered by a qualified librarian is the best assurance that an abundant collection of well-chosen books and other essential materials for learning will be well organized and readily! accessible. The school librarian, a specialist trained in the selection and interrelated use of books and other materials, provides resources, help, and rein-1 forcement that no teacher should be expected to do without. Together, teacher and school librarian provide the means whereby each child, including those with special talents, may proceed at his own pace and derive the fullest benefit from classroom instruction.

A good school library program costs money-but it is still only a tiny fraction of the total school expenditures. Yet this comparatively small investment increases the value of each dollar paid in teachers' salaries, because the library arms the teacher with a powerful array of teaching tools.

Today American schools fall far short of providing the kind of school libraries needed. Many schools have inadequate, crowded, and poorly equipped libraries. whereas many schools have no library quarters. The Library Services Branch of the U.S. Office of Education recently conducted a statistical survey of school libraries in the United States in public school districts enrolling 150 or more pupils. This survey showed, among other things, the following acute deficiencies: (1) only 34 percent of the elementary schools surveyed had school libraries while over 10 million pupils were enrolled in elementary schools without school libraries, (2) of the schools surveyed, only 42.4 percent were served

by school librarians while over 47,000 schools surveyed with libraries had no qualified librarian. Furthermore, in 1961, 21 States still have no school library consultant at the State level.

For these compelling reasons the association wishes to recommend that a title XII be added to the National Defense Education Act for the purpose of strengthening school library resources needed for teaching and learning. this time I should like to make this proposal a part of the record.

This amendment proposes that matching grants be provided to the State educational agencies to be used in accordance with a State plan for acquisition of library materials, renovation and/or equipping of library quarters, institutes for training school librarians, and school library leadership services at State and local levels.

Although an adequate supply of materials is a prime necessity for the school library, equally important is the need for competent supervisory personnel at both the State and local level. By supplying the leadership now lacking in many States the orderly and effective use of funds for materials and other elementary and secondary school library purposes can be more readily assured. Further to guarantee effective selection, organization and utilization of materials is the provision in the proposed amendment for institutes for training personnel. National standards, published in 1960 by the American Association of School Librarians, call for approximately 112,000 qualified librarians to serve the Nation's schools; 1958-59 statistics reveal only 19,000 fully qualified school librarians. To accomplish the work, institutes to train library employees at various levels of service are both practical and necessary.

In view of the facts we have presented, the American Library Association and its division, the American Association of School Librarians, therefore urgently recommend that you incorporate these proposals in the National Defense Education Act.

In addition, the American Library Association also endorses an amendment proposed by the National Council of Teachers of English to include English in the subjects listed under title III because it agrees with the statement of the council that, “if the teaching of English is to be improved throughout the country, bold and immediate action must be undertaken on a national scale." Thank you for the privilege of presenting our views on the proposed legislation to extend and amend the National Defense Education Act.

PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO PUBLIC LAW 85-864, 85TH CONGRESS,
SEPTEMBER 2, 1958

AN ACT To amend the National Defense Education Act in order to include Title XIISchool Library Programs: Strengthening School Library Resources Needed for Teaching and Learning

Be it enacted by the House of Representatives and Senate of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That section 101 of the National Defense Education Act of 1958 is amended by inserting between the first and second 5 paragraphs the following new paragraph:

"The Congress hereby finds and declares that the fullest development of the mental resources and technical skills of the Nation's young men and young women can best be achieved when the schools have the full complement of library resources, personnel, and services. This fact holds true for the multitrack curriculum, ability groupings in subject areas, the expanded and intensified science program, the toughening of the intellectual content in all courses, advanced placement and accelerated programs, the development of the disciplines of critical thinking, the teaching of reading, the provision of a challenging education for superior students, and meeting the needs of all students no matter what their abilities may be. Serious deficiencies exist in school library service to elementary and secondary schools. Many schools have inadequate, crowded, and poorly equipped libraries, whereas many schools have no library quarters. Statistical surveys by the U.S. Office of Education indicate over 10 million pupils were enrolled in public elementary schools without school libraries; only 40 percent of schools were served by school librarians; average size of book collection was less than half the recommended standards; and average amount spent per pupil for library materials was only about a quarter of the amount in recognized standards; and 21 State departments of education have no school library supervisors and most local school systems lack the services of school library supervisors.

"TITLE XII-SCHOOL LIBRARY PROGRAMS: STRENGTHENING SCHOOL LIBRARY RESOURCES NEEDED FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING

"PART A-STATE PROGRAMS

"APPROPRIATIONS AUTHORIZED

"SEC. 1201. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated $45,000,000 for the first fiscal year ending June 30, 1962, and for each of the three succeeding fiscal years, for making grants to State educational agencies under this part to assist them to establish and maintain programs of library service in public elementary and secondary schools.

"ALLOTMENTS TO STATES

"SEC. 1202. From the sums appropriated pursuant to section 1201 for any fiscal year the Commissioner shall reserve such amount, but not in excess of 1.5 per centum thereof, as he may determine for allotment as provided in section 1008, and shall reserve 12 per centum for loans authorized in section 1204. From the remainder of such sums the Commissioner shall allot to each State an amount which bears the same ratio to the amount of such remainder as the school-age populations of all of the States. The amount allotted to any State under the preceding sentence for any fiscal year which is less than $60,000 shall be increased to $60,000, the total of increases thereby required being derived by proportionately reducing the amount allotted to each of the remaining States under the preceding sentence, but with such adjustments as may be necessary to prevent the allotment of any such remaining States from being thereby reduced to less than $60,000.

"STATE PLANS

"SEC. 1203. (a) Any State which desires to receive payments under this part shall submit to the Commissioner, through its State educational agency, a State plan which meets the requirements of section 1004 (a) and—

"(1) sets forth a program of library service in elementary and secondary public schools to meet the library needs of all students and to provide the facilities and resources for challenging education for superior students. Funds paid to the State from its allotment under section 1202 shall be expended solely for projects approved by the State educational agency for (A) acquisition of library materials (printed and audio-visual) and library equipment suitable for use in providing resources for teaching and learning, (B) establishment and/or improvement of local school library supervisory services, (c) minor remodeling of existing space used for library quarters, and (D) establishment and/or improvement of library supervisory services within the State educational agency and administration of the State plan; "(2) provides for the establishment of State standards for school libraries (elementary and secondary);

"(3) sets forth principles for determining the priority of such projects in the State for assistance under this title and provides for undertaking such projects, insofar as financial resources available therefor make possible, in the order determined by the application of such principles;

"(4) provides an opportunity for a hearing before the State educational agency to any applicant for a project under this title.

"(b) The Commissioner shall approve any State plan and any modification thereof which complies with the provisions of subsection (a).

"PAYMENT TO STATES

"SEC. 1204. Payment under this part shall be made to those State educational agencies which administer plans approved under section 1203. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1962, such payments shall equal the amount expended by the State in carrying out its State plan, and for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1963, and for each of the two succeeding fiscal years, such payments shall equal one-half of the amount so expended; except that no State educational agency shall receive payment under this part for any fiscal year in excess of that State's allotment for that fiscal year as determined under section 1202.

"PART B-LIBRARY TRAINING INSTITUTES

"APPROPRIATIONS AUTHORIZED

"SEC. 1205. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1962, and $10,000,000 for each of the three succeeding fiscal years, to enable the Commissioner to arrange, by contracts with institutions of higher education, for the operation by them of short-term or regular session institutes for the provision of training to improve the qualifications of school librarians, or individuals preparing to engage in school library work. Each individual, engaged, or preparing to engage in library work in a public elementary or secondary school, who attends an institute operated under the provisions of this part shall be eligible (after application therefor) to receive a stipend at the rate of $75 per week for the period of his attendance at such institute, and each such individual with one or more dependents shall receive an additional stipend at the rate of $15 per week for each such dependent for the period of such attendance."

(NOTE.—This would require some technical changes in the general provisions of the National Defense Education Act, such as secs. 1004, 1008, etc.)

STATEMENT OF DON WHITE, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, NATIONAL AUDIOVISUAL ASSOCIATION, INC.

Senator MORSE. Our next witness will be Mr. Don White, executive vice president of the National Audiovisual Association, Inc.

You may proceed in your own way within the time limitation. Mr. WHITE. Mr. Chairman, I have a detailed statement here to present for the record, but in the interest of serving the subcommittee's time, if it is agreeable to you, I will simply deal as briefly as possible with the principal recommendations we have to make.

Senator MORSE. Your full statement will be included at this point in the record.

Mr. WHITE. Thank you, sir.

(The prepared statement of Mr. Don White follows:)

PREPARED STATEMENT BY DON WHITE, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, NATIONAL AUDIOVISUAL ASSOCIATION, INC.

The National Audiovisual Association is the national organization of companies who distribute and produce audiovisual materials, such as educational films and filmstrips, and audiovisual equipment such as projectors, tape recorders and language laboratories. Our membership comprises some 615 companies, including 418 audiovisual dealers who distribute our specialized types of products, plus 197 film producers, manufacturers, and other suppliers.

Our association and our members have probably been as closely involved in the implementation of the National Defense Education Act as any other group of businessmen in the country. We are glad to be able to report to you that it is excellent legislation. It is serving a great need in making funds, leadership, training, and services available for the improvement of education. And the administration of the act has been carried out in such a way as to reflect the highest credit upon the U.S. Office of Education.

The massive movement toward better instruction which is resulting from this act is far out of proportion to the amount of money which is being spent under provisions of the act. The National Defense Education Act has sparked a revolution in instructional methods, a reexamination of educational programs, and a determination to apply everyday instruction in our schools the full benefits of modern technology.

In the interest of conserving the time of your committee, I am going to limit my testimony to a few specific suggestions for changes and improvements in the act. We are primarily concerned about titles III and VII.

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