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could increase its appropriation to the commission sufficiently to enable it to match the Federal funds which might be available if the Library Service Act should become law.

3. Is the State's budget capable of incorporating the figure above indicated as your State's share of the cost, for each of the next five fiscal years? Yes.

4. When will your State legislature next meet so that it may consider the desirability or need of participating in such a program? In other words, how long would it be before your State could qualify, assuming favorable legislative action, for participation in such a plan? The next regular session of the State legislature will convene about the middle of May 1956, when appropriations will be made for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1956.

Are there any groups or organizations in your State, other than professional library and education groups, which support the legislation, that could give testimony as to the need or desirability of such a program? We have been informed that Louisiana Federation of Women's Clubs, Louisiana PTA, the Citizens Library Organization, the American Association of University Women, and the Louisiana Farm Bureau have endorsed Federal aid to the library program.

General comments: The State of Louisiana has a library commission, the members of which are appointed by the Governor, with headquarters at the State Capitol in Baton Rouge. The commission, with a director and staff, administers the Library Act of Louisiana, and the primary functions of the commission are to service parish libraries (41) which have been established since creation of the library commission 30 years ago. To begin the work in 1925, grants were received from Carnegie Foundation for 5 years, which were supplemented by State funds. At the end of the 5-year period, the State assumed the full financial responsibility of carrying on this work.

At the present rate of establishing 2 demonstration libraries each year, it would require approximately 12 years to provide library services to the 23 parishes who have no rural library service. Of course, we do not know how many of these parishes would vote the financial support to carry on the work after the 1-year period that the State carries the program. The State will only undertake the demonstration library after the parish has voted the necessary millage to support the program after the 1-year demonstration comes to an end.

I trust that the above gives you the information that you need regarding the library program in Louisiana. If not, I should be glad to answer any further questions that you may wish to ask.

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MY DEAR CONGRESSMAN: I have discussed your request of May 25, 1955, for fiscal information relative to our State library service with the chairman of budget commission, Gov. J. Caleb Boggs.

He has requested that I answer your inquiry as completely as possible:

1. Our rural areas and small towns that do not have public libraries are served by bookmobiles which have specific days for being in any designated location.

2. Delaware has been entirely supporting this type of service without Federal assistance and I assume will continue to do so in the future.

3. Our annual State budget for the library commission which includes this service, is $27.840. If our State were required to contribute $104,839 or 67 percent of the cost of an expanded program, it could be done only through increasing our present revenue statutes.

4. Our next State legislature which could consider this program will convene in January 1957. Presumably, therefore, it would be fiscal 1958 before the legislature could take any action on the desirability of adopting any such program.

5. Not to my knowledge.

To add an unsolicited comment. I might say that Delaware contributes to the Federal Government the highest per capita tax rate of any State in the Nation; conversely, we receive in grants from the Federal Government the lowest per capita grants of any State in the Nation.

While I cannot anticipate action of our future legislatures, it appears to me, as fiscal officer of the State, that we could readily use additional grants from the Federal Government but only in the case where such grants would decrease rather than increase our annual State appropriations.

Our

Delawareans now pay in income tax to the Federal Government over 36 percent of the total adjusted gross income of our individual wage earners. primary concern is to see legislation enacted which would release a portion of this high rate of income taxes for use on the local level to meet the pressing educational and highway programs that are now facing our State administrations. Thank you for the opportunity of stating Delaware's position in this matter. Very truly yours,

LILLIAN I. MARTIN,
Chief Accountant.

RHODE ISLAND STATE LIBRARY,
Providence, June 1, 1955.

Hon. RALPH W. GWINN,

Committee on Education and Labor,

Washington, D. C.

DEAR CONGRESSMAN GWINN: Your letter of May 25, 1955, addressed to Hon. Robert P. Bolan, budget officer, department of administration, Providence, R. I., has been referred to the Rhode Island State Library for reply. Answering your five questions in order:

1. Rhode Island, the smallest State, has 73 free public libraries to which the State gives aid. The State is densely populated. I enclose tearsheet from the Rhode Island State Manual, giving population figures, 1950 census, but it must be remembered that 2 out of every 3 Rhode Islanders live in metropolitan Providence. It cannot be said that there is any rural area, no matter how isolated, which is without some form of library service, but we must admit that some of these rural libraries are inadequate.

The State library has a library extension service and loans book collections whenever requested but there is great need in this State for regional demonstration areas, 1 in each of the 5 counties where librarians from the smaller rural libraries may come for consultation with a field agent, so-called, an officer badly needed in Rhode Island for this purpose.

2. The State is not financially able to provide the necessary facilities for setting up these regional demonstration areas, for the appointment of a field agent and for greater service in augmenting rural library book collections, when needed, with the right kind of reference and other material.

3. The committee of the Rhode Island Library Association, known as the committee on governmental relations, of which Miss Sallie E. Coy, librarian of the Westerly Public Library, Westerly, R. I., is chairman, has been working for several years to evolve the right kind of regional plan, which, financed by the State, aided by Federal assistance, would put into active purpose the development of the five regional demonstration areas. We note that the contribution from the Federal Government would be $54,941, or 51.49 percent of the cost of the program in this State.

Since the plan in the Library Services Act permits the State an allowance for appropriation made for library extension service and State aid to free public libraries, our committee has figured that it will not be necessary to ask the general assembly for more than approximately $21,000 in addition to the appropriation already carried in the budget.

We have talked with the budget officer, who suggests that there is some doubt that the State budget for the next fiscal year, namely 1955-56, could incorporate the required sum, since the budget has already been approved by the legislature and the Governor at the session just recently adjourned, but the following year the sum may well be incorporated as a part of the State budget.

However, at the spring meeting of the Rhode Island Library Association, at which time the committee on governmental relations reported to the association, the State librarian asked the librarians to educate their respective senators and representatives concerning the purport of the Library Services Act and the necessity for matching funds. A bill could be prepared for introduction into the 1956 January session of the general assembly and in the fall of 1955 the budget office could be approached by a committee of the association to request that the desired figure be included in the State budget for 1956-57, and thereafter. 4. Please see answer to "3" for information required for this question.

5. The Rhode Island State librarian, in assisting in the development of school libraries and the reorganization of rural libraries, at the present time not too activated, has had great success in working with the local parents-teachers groups, with units of the Rhode Island Federation of Women's Clubs, with veterans' associations, with citizens' committees and with other smaller but vital pressure groups, such as the Rhode Island League of Women Voters and the Junior League.

I am writing to Miss Sallie E. Coy, chairman of the governmental relations of the Rhode Island Library Association this morning, asking her to rush to you the main points of the Rhode Island plan for development of regional library

areas.

Here in Rhode Island, we feel that we may very well be a "guinea pig" on a small but highly activated scale and we do assure you and the members of your House Committee on Education and Labor that we do need additional library expansion service which we feel cannot be truly set up at this time without financial assistance from the Federal Government.

There has been delay in answering your letter of May 25, 1955, because I have been in New York for several days and your letter to the budget officer did not reach me until my return yesterday afternoon. I hope you will pardon this apparent negligence.

Most cordially,

GRACE M. SHERWOOD,
State Librarian.

STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA,

OFFICE OF BUDGET BOARD,

Hon. RALPH W. GWINN,

Member of Congress, Washington, D. C.

Bismarck, N. Dak., June 3, 1955.

On page

DEAR CONGRESSMAN: This is in reply to your kind letter of May 25. 29 of the enclosed pamphlet you will find some data in reference to the library commission.

You will note that the appropriation for the present biennium-July 1, 1953, to June 30, 1955-is in the amount of $76,650 and that a sum of $104,618 was requested for the biennium which will commence July 1, 1955, and end June 30, 1957. The budget board, and where I serve as budget director, recommended a sum of $84,400. The legislature, which adjourned in March of this year, passed an appropriation of $90,000.

In contacting the library I find that individuals or schools in rural areas may apply for books and, in most cases, books can be furnished on the subject required. From this I would gather that the service is pretty good.

The condition of the general fund of the State being what it is, it is difficult to see how one can recommend any more, if as much, for the biennium which will start July 1, 1957. Barring a special session, of which there is little likelihood, the next session of the legislature will not convene until January 1957.

I sincerely trust that this will furnish you with some of the information desired. Please let me know if there is anything additional you think I can furnish. Sincerely yours, P. A. TINBO, Director.

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA,
Charleston, June 3, 1955.

Hon. RALPH W. GWINN,

House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.

DEAR SIR: Reference is made to your letter of May 25, 1955, requesting certain information on public-library facilities in West Virginia. I shall attempt to answer your questions in the same order they are presented.

(1) The most recent information available shows that the total population in West Virginia without public-library service is 1,124,594 or 56 percent the total population of the State. Of this amount 1,081,504 or 53.9 percent represents rural population without public-library service.

(2) The appropriation to our library commission for the fiscal year 1955-56 is $72,320, and represents a reduction of $12,130 below the present year. This reduction was necessitated by a decline in revenues. Although much progress has been made in providing library service in West Virginia, our economic picture has been such that adequate facilities could not be provided.

(3) Our financial picture is looking somewhat better the past 2 or 3 months. Continued improvement should make it possible to secure an appropriation to match the requirements of the Federal act.

(4) Our legislature now meets on an annual basis for budgetary purposes. The next session will be in January 1956.

(5) Local organizations which have expressed themselves in favor of the Federal legislation are Rotary, Lions, Junior Chamber of Commerce, and Federated Women's Clubs, Spencer, W. Va. State organizations which have indicated approval are Federation of Women's Clubs and American Association of University Women. Others no doubt would give favorable action.

Sincerely yours,

D. L. GAINER,

Director of the Budget.

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, COMMISSION ON ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE, Boston, June 3, 1955.

Hon. RALPH W. GWINN,

House Office Building, Washington, D. C.

DEAR SIR: After conferring with the commissioner of education, in whose department the State division of library extension functions, I have the following replies to make to your questions concerning the application of the bills for Federal grants to the State for rural library service.

The rural population of Massachusetts is not adequately served with publiclibrary facilities at present, although the division of library extension is making some progress in that direction. While the figures show a high per capita use of library facilities, they apply more to the largest and best equipped libraries than they do to the rural communities.

It is our opinion, however, that the State is able to provide the necessary facilities without Federal assistance. If the Federal authorization should pass, the question of Massachusetts' participation could be considered by the next session of the legislature, which will convene in January 1956.

You have stated that our annual contribution would be $128,131, which is $13,000 more than the amount appropriated for the current year, so that I would think that there is no question about sufficient revenue to match a Federal grant if the legislature decided to do so.

I understand that the Library Trustees Association of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Congress of Parents and Teachers and the Massachusetts Grange are all supporting the proposed Federal legislation.

Very truly yours,

WILLIAM H. BIXBY,
Budget Commissioner.

Hon. RALPH W. GWINN,

STATE OF MONTANA,
OFFICE OF STATE CONTROLLER,
June 1, 1955.

House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. GWINN: Attached hereto I am returning your letter with answers to your questionnaire.

The State of Montana has a library extension commission that is functioning as a library to the population and they receive from the legislature in 1955 an appropriation for the biennium as follows: 1955-56, $21,507; 1956–57, $21,407. This library is located at Missoula, Mont., at the University of Montana, and serves the State very well. I am very doubtful that the State of Montana would be able financially to make a contribution of $78,028 or 51.85 percent of the cost of the program in this State.

It appears now that our State will have to look for further revenue and it doesn't seem at this time that we would be in position to contribute as large an amount as outlined in your questionnaire.

Yours very truly,

A. M. JOHNSON,
State Controller.

Hon. RALPH W. GWINN,

House Office Building, Washington D. C.

STATE OF INDIANA, DIRECTOR OF THE BUDGET, Indianapolis, June 2, 1955.

DEAR MR. GWINN: The answers to the questions which you ask have been simplified as much as possible. It is our belief that the State of Indiana can well afford to take care of its own library problems. We do not feel that the State has need of Federal funds at this time.

In specific, the answers to your questions, as set up in your letter, are as follows: In answer to question 1, each county in Indiana has one public library.

The answer to question 3 is yes; the State of Indiana's budget is capable of matching the amount as set out in your letter.

To question 4, the answer is that the State legislature will meet in January of 1957.

The answer to question 5, the organizations which we have contacted who opposed the program were the State chamber of commerce and the city chamber of commerce. The PTA and the Federation of Women's Clubs are for it. I hope this is the information that you desired. Sincerely yours,

DON CLARK, Director of the Budget.

Hon. RALPH W. GWINN,

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA,
Harrisburg, June 6, 1955.

House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR CONGRESSMAN:

brought to my attention.

Your letter concerning the Library Services Act has been

For the 1953-55 biennium, approximately $200,000 was appropriated by the General Assembly of Pennsylvania for the promotion of county libraries. A similar amount has been recommended for this purpose during the present biennium. This State subsidy, which is matched by the county commissioners using a formula based upon assessed valuation, is used to reimburse 28 county libraries.

The State library, through its extension division, makes public-library facilities available to rural areas by mail. Theoretically, everyone may avail himself of public-library facilities through this extension service, but more realistically, however, a large segment of the population has no access to public-library service, through lack of knowledge of the extension service and due to the fact that only 28 of the State's counties are served by a county library.

As to whether the State is financially able to provide the necessary facilities without Federal assistance, or whether the State is able to undertake its share of the cost under the proposed program, and subsequently maintain the program set up with Federal assistance after the expiration of the act, is properly a matter of legislative concern.

The General Assembly of Pennsylvania, which meets in regular session in January of each odd numbered year, is currently in session. The next regular session of the assembly will begin in January 1957.

With respect to various organizations having an active interest in this program, I suggest the Federation of Womens' Clubs, farm groups such as the Grange, etc., and the American Association of University Women. There may be many others.

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MY DEAR CONGRESSMAN: This is in response to your letter of May 25, in which you inquire of us about the effect of the proposed Library Services Act. The answers to your questions are in the same order as they appeared in your letter:

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