well-stocked library is a source of books and materials required to keep abreast of technological and professional advances in a wide range of essential occupation *** Good, modern public libraries play an important role in the whole spectrum of adult and continuing education, with tangible benefits to business, industry, and the professions. "Our libraries are struggling to keep pace with a population that is growing by 3 million persons each year and with book and periodical prices that are rising more rapidly than consumer prices generally. Our major library needs today are not limited to rural areas *** 120 million of our population have inadequate library services or none at all. One-half of these are in urban areas. "Standards for library services for the public and for students in schools and colleges have been developed by the American Library Association after careful study. We regard them as being sound judgments of desirable levels of service. About two-thirds of all the elementary schools in the country are without libraries, and many college libraries are inadequate. Such inadequate school libraries place additional, and often very severe, burdens on the public libraries. *** "Books and buildings alone do not make a library. Men and women of high professional ability are required, with sufficient supporting staff, to plan and carry out library development and services. ***" (Excerpts from statements by Sterling M. McMurrin, Commissioner of Education, and Wilbur J. Cohen, Assistant Secretary (for Legislation).) Mr. COHEN. Yet much remains to be done to bring adequate library services to all Americans. In the past 15 years library expenditures have risen from $66 to $260 million. But, in view of the fact that our population is increasing about 3 million persons a year and the increases taking place in the cost of library materials, depending upon the standards used, we probably should be spending as a nation two to three times as much in order to maintain adequate libraries in this country. Book and periodical prices have risen markedly in the past 10 years. Since 1947-49 prices for science books have increased 85 percent and for all books, 46 percent. The general increase for all periodicals has been 47 percent, but chemistry and physics periodicals have increased 74 percent. Those facts, Mr. Chairman, are presented in this chart right here in which I think it is quite significant. On this bottom line you can see all items in the Consumer Price Index which, during the period since 1947-49, have risen about 27 percent, as I recall it, during that period. But the prices of books and the prices of periodicals that have to be purchased for libraries and by private consumers, of course, have risen more markedly than the cost of all the consumer items in the index. Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Why should science books have gone up so much more than regular books and why should chemistry and physics periodicals have increased so much? What is the difference between one type of periodical and the other? Mr. COHEN. I do not know that I can answer that. I can give to you the price increase for all the different classes of books. There is a markedly great differential in the price increase during that period of time in all of the books. I will say this: I looked at a series of economics books in the last week, which is my own field. They contain many more charts and colors in the books than ever before. It is possible that by the use of color and by the use of graphic illustrations, the prices are increased. Source: U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Office of Education, Library Services Branch. Data reported by the State Library Agencies based on their criteria for adequacy of service. The majority of these to evaluation with minimum standards. (Chicago A.L.A. 1956) with supplement Cost of Public Library Service in 1959. (Chicago A.L.A. 1960) 88630-62-3 Title II PUBLIC ELEMENTARY AND Existing Library Service and American Library Association Standards Source: US Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Office of Education, Library Services Branch The survey covered about 15,500 school districts (36 percent of all public school districts) Title III PUBLIC AND PRIVATE COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES Existing Library Service and American Library Association Standards BOOK COLLECTIONS Source: U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare; Office of Education, Library Services Branch. |