THE STATE OF COLORADO, Denver, Colo., May 20, 1955. Hon. PHIL LANDRUM, Chairman, Subcommittee on Library Services Bill, House of Representatives, Washington 25, D. C. DEAR MR. LANDRUM: It has been brought to my attention that a hearing has been scheduled on S. 205, the library-services bill, for the latter part of May, and it is the purpose of this letter to give you my position as a librarian in the Rocky Mountain region apropos of the proposed legislation. For a number of years members of the library profession in Colorado and library patrons by the hundreds have been urging the enactment of a Federal law which would provide a small amount of financial aid to develop publiclibrary facilities in rural areas. It is the thinking of these people that assistance of this type would serve as an incentive to town, county, and State officials to make available more funds at the local level and thus improve standards of service. Since the first library-aid bill was introduced into Congress in 1946, the Colorado State Library has been guided by this philosophy of local initiative. Some progress has been made at the local level but the library picture in the State remains drab. Public-library facilities in the rural areas are inadequate, and approximately 250,000 farmers, ranchers, and miners possess none at all. In order to provide the spark or stimulus which is necessary to get worthwhile programs started-in order to demonstrate the high value of good library service may I urge you and the other Members of Congress on your subcommittee to take favorable action on the library-services bill. In the 5-year period for which the act would provide assistance, I believe enough enthusiasm for better libraries would be engendered in Colorado to complete a public-libracy education program which would result in strong State and local support. Our 25 county libraries would make a greater effort to improve the quality of their service; our 10 poor and sparsely populated counties, which have no libraries at all within their boundaries, would find some way to continue programs once they were started; and our 100 municipal and town libraries would improve their patterns of organization, perhaps through consolidation or closer cooperation, in order to make their library dollars stretch farther. In closing, Mr. Landrum, may I again urge you to support S. 205. GORDON L. BENNETT, Hon. PHIL LANDRUM, SOUTH DAKOTA STATE LIBRARY COMMISSION, House of Representatives, Washington 25, D. C. DEAR SIR: This department has just been advised that the special subcommittee of the House Education and Labor Committee will hold hearings on the library-service bills on May 25, 26, and 27. Since one of the library-service bills introduced into the House of Representatives is sponsored by the Honorable E. Y. Berry of South Dakota, this department urges the thoughtful and considerate attention of the subcommittee to the library-service bill. This bill offers an opportunity to States such as South Dakota to stimulate local and State initiative in extending library service to the large rural areas now without adequate service. In South Dakota 53.3 percent of the people are without any form of public-library service. Only three of the public libraries within the State meet the standards of library service recommended by the American Library Association. There are, within the State, only six communities which qualify as urban; the remainder are classed as rural. To date, the State of South Dakota and the small communities have not been able to extend and develop library service which will meet the standards recommended by the American Library Association. It is extremely important that the rural people be provided with the books and other information necessary for intelligent citizenship and participation in community, State, National, and international affairs. To assist in this problem the State Library has loaned books and material to all peoples in the State without library service and to those whose libraries cannot adequately provide the information desired. However, the State Library in spite of increased appropriations in 1954 was able to purchase only 1 new book for every 125 people now without public-library service. The library-service bill would stimulate the efforts of our communities, counties and State, to provide more adequate library service than is presently available. It is to meet this need that you and your committee are urged to recommend the passage of the library-service bill to the House Education and Labor Committee and thence to the House of Representatives. The support which you and the other members of your committee can give to the Honorable E. Y. Berry in the passage of the library-service bill will be appreciated not only by the members of the State Library Commission but also by the organizations and the residents of our State now without such service. I, personally, shall appreciate any assistance which you can render to the Honorable E. Y. Berry. Thanking you for your consideration of this letter, I am Very truly yours, MERCEDES B. MACKAY, Hon. PHIL M. LANDRUM, Secretary and Director. KENTUCKY LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, Chairman, Subcommittee, Education and Labor Committee, DEAR SIR: I hope that you will do all that is possible to see that the libraryservices bill has an immediate hearing and that your committee gives a favorable report. The passage of this bill is vital for the continuation of our bookmobile program in rural Kentucky. Sincerely, CLARICA WILLIAMS, President. NEW HAMPSHIRE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, Hon. PHIL LANDRUM, Chairman, Subcommittee, Education and Labor Committee, DEAR MR. LANDRUM: New Hampshire librarians are most interested in the library-services bill, which is to have hearings soon. As the president of the New Hampshire Library Association I should like to speak for the members of our association as well as for the 200,000 people of my State who have only substandard library service, and for the 4,300 who have no service at all. If this bill should become law, New Hampshire has plans for improving her libraries in these ways: Some funds would surely be used to purchase books and improve the quality of the collections in many of our existing libraries; some funds would be used for centralized purchasing and cataloging of books; and we have considered using consultants to work in the field who would help smalltown librarians to start new projects which would bring more patrons to their doors. These consultants would help with children's programs, young adult groups, and work with teen-agers. We hope that this bill will receive favorable consideration and that it will pass, for there are some 27 million people in the United States who want and need library service. Cordially yours, Hon, PHIL LANDRUM, DOROTHY M. VAUGHAN, President. MISSOURI STATE LIBRARY, Jefferson City, Mo., May 23, 1955. House of Representatives, Washington 25, D. C. DEAR MR. LANDRUM: Please accord this personal plea in favor of the libraryservices bill, now before your special subcommittee of the House Education and Labor Committee, as being an honest concern with a major problem for all America the development of a strong public-library service whose primary aim, 63164-55- -17 in these critical times, is an enlightened adult citizenry. This plea is also based on an intimate knowledge of the peculiar deficiencies in this area of our national welfare. Intelligent, informed adults are essential at this point in our history, and the local public library is the only agency offering the needed facilities and services. The needs in Missouri are merely a case in the nationwide problem. The library-services bill, now in the House Education and Labor Committee, if passed by the 84th Congress, would offer the State of Missouri an opportunity to extend and improve its public-library facilities and services. Today, 22.5 percent of the total population of Missouri, living on the large two-thirds percent of our State's land area, are without any kind of local publiclibrary service. The library-services bill would help Missouri in its efforts to establish service for these people. While Missouri, through the efforts of this office, has succeeded in extending locally supported and operated library service to the remaining 77.5 percent of the population, a quarter of these people still lack a minimum adequate kind of library service. The library-services bill would assist Missouri in its current efforts to improve this service on a permanent basis and on local option. It is important to note that the aid which would be given on a limited-term basis by the library-services bill would result in permanently improved public libraries. The new library service that would be established and the old library service that would be improved with the benefits allowed by the library-services bill are library services reaching rural Missourians. Each year for 5 years, under the terms of the library-services bill, and provided that Missouri would furnish matching funds, this State would receive approximately $188,000 to be used in establishing new services and improving old services reaching over 2 million Missourians. That Missouri is concerned with the importance of this public service is attested by its having a strong State library charged with the task of leading Missouri to improved service, a healthy State appropriation for support of this program, and a State constitution which reads: "SECTION 10, ARTICLE IX, MISSOURI CONSTITUTION, 1946 **FREE PUBLIC LIBRARIES-DECLARATION OF POLICY-STATE AID TO LOCAL "It is hereby declared to be the policy of the State to promote the establishment and development of free public libraries and to accept the obligation of their support by the State and its subdivisions and municipalities in such manner as may be provided by law. When any such subdivision or municipality supports a free library, the general assembly shall grant aid to such public library in such manner and in such amounts as may be provided by law." Thank you for your kind consideration and accept my earnest hope that you see fit to act favorably on this legislation so necessary to a strong America. Respectfully yours, Representative PHIL LANDRUM, PAXTON P. PRICE, State Librarian. [Telegram] ARLINGTON, MASS., May 25, 1955. Chairman, Special Subcommittee, Education and Labor Committee, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.: The Massachusetts Library Association urges the passage of the Libraryservices bill currently up to hearing before Special Subcommittee of House Education and Labor Committee. In terms of Massachusetts, the passage of this bill would help the Massachusetts division of library extension to equalize library service through the Commonwealth by expanding the program of regional library service to rural areas with totally inadequate resources. JUDITH E. STROMDAHL, President the Massachusetts Library Association. [Telegram] ST. PAUL, MINN., May 24, 1955. Representative PHIL LANDRUM, Subcommittee on Library Services Bill, Education and Labor Committee, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.: Twenty-six percent of Minnesota's people are without access to any library service. About 50 percent have only inadequate service. Passage of LibraryServices Bill would help to bring library services to unserved areas and to strengthen weak libraries in small communities of Minnesota. Without free sources of unbiased public information, democratic society cannot operate effectively. Public library is ideal source of public enlightenment. Minnesota Library Association strongly urges favorable action of library-services bill. Please insert in record. DAVID R. WATKINS, President Minnesota Library Association. ARKANSAS LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, Hot Springs, Ark., May 21, 1955. Representative PHIL LANDRUM, Chairman, Subcommittee, Library Services Bill, House of Representatives, Washington 25, D. C. DEAR MR. LANDRUM: The hearings for the library-services bill have been set for next week. These dates are important ones because of the possible good which might come from them. We as librarians are more than interested in the passage of the bill-interested for those whom we serve and those who are receiving no library service at all. Library service is a heritage of our people, which is the right of all and not just a part of our population. The people who can't financially afford service may need it more than those who are being served. This means the need of Federal aid for the equalization of opportunity and privilege. In Arkansas the program, which would be made possible by the passage of this bill, would bring a much more adequate library service to all our people. Fifty of our 75 counties now have county or regional libraries, which serve their urban and rural population. In other counties there are city libraries, and the service of the Arkansas State Library Commission is statewide. However, we who are trying to improve and extend the service, realize the inadequacy of our total program and are striving to better it. This will require good planning, hard work, and additional funds. We are hopeful for the last by the passing of the library-services bill. We appreciate your work and your influence on this important phase of American life. Sincerely, Hon. PHIL LANDRUM, EVELYN SIMPSON, President. THE CALIFORNIA STATE LIBRARY, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. LANDRUM: California librarians urge your favorable support of legislation to promote the further development of public-library service in rural areas as outlined in S. 205, the library-services bill. In California there are 72,222 persons (1950 census) without any sort of local public-library service. Six California counties are entirely without county library service. Financial assistance as provided in S. 205 will not only make possible the organization and development of libraries in these areas, but will also provide stimulus for the improvement of services now woefully inadequate in many California communities. Only one-fifth of California's public libraries have annual expenditures in the neighborhood of $100,000; and two-thirds have annual budgets of less than $50,000. In the year 1953-54, the per capita expenditure for books and periodicals by all public libraries in the State was only 25 cents, about the cost of a single loaf of bread. Half of California's 208 public libraries serve communities of less than 25,000 population, and of this number 36 serve a population of under 7,500 and average only about $10,000 a year for all library expenditure. Although California has put forth considerable local and State effort during the last 75 years to achieve a high quality of public-library service for all its citizens, we have not been able to achieve minimum standard service through our own unaided efforts. We therefore strongly urge your enthusiastic support for this enabling legislation which is of such vital concern to all Californians. Sincerely yours, CARMA R. ZIMMERMAN, State Librarian and President of the California Library Association. Representative PHIL LANDRUM, CONNECTICUT LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, House of Representatives, Washington 25, D. C. DEAR SIR: The Connecticut Library Association is sponsoring a bill now before the General Assembly of the State of Connecticut, asking for the sum of $40,000 a year for the next 2 years, to set up a pilot supplementary library-service center in one area of the State. If this bill passes the legislature, and if the Federal library-service bill passes Congress, this will mean that Connecticut will have $80,000 to give good library service to the people of the State. At the present time there are 52 towns in the State whose libraries have a book budget of less than $500 a year. There are 14 towns in the State whose libraries have a total operating budget of less than $500 a year. At a recent meeting of the executive board of the Connecticut Library Association, a motion was made, seconded, and carried that we go on record as urging passage of the library-service bill (S. 205). Sincerely yours, JOHN W. PARKER, Secretary. NEVADA LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, Reno, Nev. Hon. PHIL LANDRUM, Chairman, Subcommittee of the Education and Labor Committee, Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. LANDRUM: Nevada Library Association urges enactment of the library-services bill now before the special subcommittee of the Education and Labor Committee. We are well aware of the need for this legislation on the national scene, but are acutely conscious of what it can do for our own State. Library service in Nevada has been retarded because of geographical and population problems peculiar to Western States. We have 17 counties, and of these only 2 have sufficient population and assessed valuation to maintain local library service. At the present time all (16) of the libraries serving population units of 10.000 are unable to give the minimum services of a good library because of inadequate funds for books, staff, and other essentials. To meet these problems we have developed a comprehensive plan for library extension in the State. The main elements of this plan are the building of a strong book collection, which will be available to all of the people of the State, the provision of direct service by bookmobile to those small communities and rural areas now without libraries, and improvement of service to communities with local libraries through the aid of a library consultant to work with local librarians. We know that our State plan is the most economical and most efficient way of giving library service in this State. That there is a need for these library services here, one can have no doubt after traveling over the State and talking with the people in communities with no libraries, with the rural teachers, and with the people and librarians in communities with undersupported libraries. Recently rural teachers, citizens, and librarians from several counties testified before a legislative hearing on the great need for libarary service in Nevada. Teachers told of the effects good books have had upon the reading ability and interest of their pupils. Books can go into the very isolated and remote areas of |