1 Corrected figure for this reprint received from California State Library.

If you had time to study these figures and go over them there would be certain things in them that I would like to call to your attention. For instance, my own State of Washington, which I am more familiar with than any of the others, seems to make a fairly good record with $1.36 per capita. But when we investigate that figure it does not look so good because 10 percent of the people in the State of Washington have no library service whatever, and 40 percent of the people in the State of Washington have inadequate service. So that 50 percent of our people are not being well served even though our per capita is $1.36. The reason for that is that there are 3 or 4 urban sections, including Seattle, which have been able to do a good deal better in their public library service than $1.50 per capita, which brings the average up.

So if you consider the situation in the States which have 19 cents and 26 cents and 27 cents, there are 10 or so of them which are below 50 cents per capita, you can imagine the very poor service throughout the States and the large numbers of people which have absolutely no service at all.

I mention that to show that the figures could well be analyzed.
Mrs. GREEN. What does Oregon have?

Mr. RICHARDS. Oregon makes a relatively good showing, $1.07.
Mrs. GREEN. That is more than halfway down on the list.

Mr. RICHARDS. Just about.

This next chart represents the problem for the Nation: percent of total population without local public library service. We start off here with North Dakota with 59.1 percent without library service; South Dakota, 56.5; and with the three States I mentioned-Delaware, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island-having complete coverage.

63164-55-3

A PROBLEM FOR THE NATION

Per Cent of Total Population Without Local Public Library Service

(By States for 1953)

50% and over

From 30% to 49%

From 15% to 29%

From 5% to 14%

Under 5%

As I said, this is not something that happens just here and there, but is, with the exception of those three States, completely throughout the entire Nation.

This next one represents the additional funds needed to meet the $1.50 per capita minimum, which is very low as a matter of fact. And it starts out with West Virginia needing $1.20, and coming down again to the three States which have complete coverage.

But it gives you an idea of perhaps half of the States which need a great deal more to reach this minimum which will give presumably good service.

Additional Funds Needed To Meet $1.50 Minimum

EXPRESSED IN ANNUAL OPERATING EXPENDITURES PER CAPITA - 1953

Source: ALA Washington Newsletter, vol. 6, no. 10, July 23, 1954 *Corrected figure for this reprint received from Calif. State Library should read $.02.