But, my friends, members of this subcommittee, we must not forget that man builds no structure which outlives a book.

Now, as a part of my statement, I want to submit for the record a telegram I have just received from Willa Boysworth, president of the Alabama Library Association, which says:

The 600 members of the Alabama Library Association wish good luck to you in the passage of the library services bill. It will be the literary salvation of our State.

Mr. Chairman, I have another telegram from Evelyn Day Mullen, director of the Public Library Service of the State of Alabama, which, likewise, has just been received and which says:

The passage of the library services bill is of utmost importance to us in providing more adequate public library service in Alabama and in extending service to those citizens not reached by State or local programs. While this legislation will directly benefit two-thirds of the people of Alabama, it will also be of constantly increasing value to the whole State. The executive board of the division

that is the Public Library Service Division of the State of Alabama— and I heartily endorse your library services bill.

And, thirdly and lastly, I want to submit House Joint Resolution No. 25, adopted by the House of Representatives of Alabama on March 29, 1955, and concurred in and adopted by the senate on March 29, 1955, and approved by the Governor of Alabama on April 8, 1955, which says, in effect-and I will submit it for the record-that the Legislature of Alabama goes on record as approving the library services bill which is pending before this committee. (The resolution referred to is as follows:)

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION No. 25

(By Mr. Faulk)

[Adopted by the House of Representatives of Alabama March 29, 1955; concurred in and adopted by the senate March 29, 1955; approved by the Governor April 8, 1955]

Whereas there is now pending in the Congress of the United States Senate bill 205, which would provide funds to the several States for the development of public library services in rural areas without such services, or without adequate services; and

Whereas the passage of the library services bill would provide direct cultural and educational benefits of incalculable value to more than two-thirds of the people of this State; and

Whereas the Legislature of Alabama is justly proud that the library services bill was introduced in the United States Senate by Senator Lister Hill of this State, and that a companion measure was introduced in the United States House of Representatives by the Honorable Carl Elliott, also of this State: Now therefore, be it

Resolved by the house of representatives, the senate concurring, That the Legislature of Alabama hereby commends Senator Lister Hill for his action in introducing said Senate bill 205, and urges the immediate passage of the bill by the Congress of the United States; be it further

Resolved, That the clerk of the house transmit a copy of this resolution to the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, to the President of the United States Senate, and to each Member of Congress from the State of Alabama. Mr. LANDRUM. Is that all you have?

Mr. ELLIOTT. Yes, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. LANDRUM. Are there any questions?

Mrs. GREEN. I have no questions, but I want to thank you for the very, very fine statement and presentation of facts as they exist today.

Mr. LANDRUM. Do you have any questions?

Mr. Coon. No questions.

Mr. LANDRUM. Thank you, Mr. Elliott.

Mr. HUSSEY (chief clerk). There are several insertions which I would like to request permission to submit for the record, Mr. Chair

man.

Mr. LANDRUM. Go ahead.

Mr. HUSSEY. First, we have two from the Pennsylvania Library Association.

Mr. LANDRUM. Without objection, they may be inserted. (The information referred to follows:)

STATEMENT OF PENNSYLVANIA LIBRARY ASSOCIATION

Though often thought of as an industrial State, Pennsylvania is actually predominately a farm and rural Commonwealth. Large population centers in Pennsylvania are few and far between.

At the present time there is little provision for making library services available to the more thinly spread majority of Pennsylvania's citizens. There are 23 bookmobiles operating in Pennsylvania, some of them serving only cities already having the advantages of public library service. Pennsylvania's 23 bookmobiles, to serve a population of 101⁄2 million spread over 45,333 square miles, does not compare favorably with Ohio's 47 bookmobiles, to serve a population of over 8 million spread over only 41,222 square miles.

Pennsylvania has only 343 public libraries to serve its farflung citizens.

It is no wonder then, that there are 221⁄2 million Pennsylvanians without local public library service of any kind and nearly 51⁄2 million with inadequate, nonprofessional library service. These 8 million Pennsylvania residents represent 76 percent of our State's population.

Only a small minority have adequate local public libraries serving them. If the library services bill is passed the Federal Government will be performing its obligation to the vast majority of Pennsylvanians. Thus stimulated, the State government should follow Washington's lead. Demonstrations could be carried on in many of these unserved or inadequately served rural areas. The rural counties of Pennsylvania would thereby be stimulated in turn to provide library services to their residents. The people themselves would be provided with an awareness of the educational, inspirational, and cultural opportunities that they can provide for themselves through their local governments. Pennsylvania desperately needs such as an awareness. The Pennsylvania Library Association urges the passage of the library services bill.

PENNSYLVANIA LIBRARY ASSOCIATION,

May 24, 1955.

Hon. PHIL LANDRUM,

House of Representatives,

Washington, D. C.

DEAR SIR: The library trustees and librarians representing the nine chapters of the Pennsylvania Library Association, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh, meeting at the Pennsylvania State University on May 20 and 21, unanimously endorsed the library services bill and urged that it be favorably acted upon in committee and presented to the Congress.

Very truly yours,

LESTER L. STOFFEL, President.

Mr. HUSSEY. We have the statement of Hon. T. A. Thompson, member of the House of Representatives from Louisiana's Seventh Congressional District.

Mr. LANDRUM. In connection with Mr. Thompson, I might add that he telephoned me with regard to this, and said that his schedule prevented a personal appearance. But he was anxious that his statement appear, and wanted the record to show that he was thoroughly in accord with the provisions of the bill.

I stated that I would state that for the record. Without objection, his statement may be inserted. (The statement referred to follows:)

STATEMENT OF HON. T. A. THOMPSON, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF LOUISIANA

Having worked closely as State budget officer with the Louisiana State Library, State agency responsible for the extension of library service in Louisiana, I can speak with conviction on the merits of the library program in my State. I have seen firsthand in my own home parish of Evangeline the benefits of library service to the rural people.

Although progress has been made in Louisiana there are still almost a half million Louisianians without access to free public-library service. Passage of this legislation which is being considered by this subcommittee would make it possible in a much briefer time to have complete library coverage.

The library development program in Louisiana is based on the theory behind this bill—that is, providing funds for library service on a temporary basis and thereby encouraging local support on a permanent basis.

The provisions of this bill put control where it should be in the hands of the State library agency. Also, the bill is sufficiently flexible so that each State may develop its own program in the best and most effective way.

Too much cannot be said for the free public library which provides for every person alike the education obtainable through reading. Many of our outstanding leaders have received their education through the public library and home study. I firmly believe that no money wisely spent for the education of the people is ever wasted.

This bill, I understand, has the backing and support of numerous national and statewide organizations all of which recognize the urgent need for providing books and information to all our people.

The enactment of this bill into law would do much toward stimulating State and local governments to provide more adequately for rural library service within their own boundaries. I respectfully urge a favorable report on the library services bill.

Mr. HUSSEY. Also, we have a letter and statement from the North Carolina Library Association.

Mr. LANDRUM. Without objection, that may be inserted. (The letter and statement referred to follow :)

NORTH CAROLINA LIBRARY ASSOCIATION,

May 23, 1955.

Hon. PHIL LANDRUM,

House of Representatives,

Washington 25, D. C.

DEAR REPRESENTATIVE LANDRUM: The North Carolina Library Association requests that the enclosed statement of our support of the library services bill be included in the report of the hearings which are scheduled on the bill for May 25-27.

We sincerely appreciate whatever you and your subcommittee are able to do in behalf of the bill since we are convinced of the significance of its provisions for the people of the United States, realizing as we do what libraries can mean to a democratic nation.

Too many of our libraries in rural areas are having a terrific struggle to become established, having been started by people who realize the need for them in their communities, but with limited funds. As one librarian reported after taking a temporary assignment in one of these struggling county libraries: "There's nothing wrong with that library that a little money wouldn't cure. It needs to get 'over the hump' to be on its way." The stimulus of additional funds at this time would give them encouragement and help them in making plans for the future of the libraries.

CHARLESANNA Fox, President.

STATEMENT OF NORTH CAROLINA LIBRARY ASSOCIATION

Two-thirds of the population of North Carolina is rural. For this reason, the library services bill which offers aid to library service in rural areas will be of tremendous help to the State of North Carolina. Furthermore, the organization of libraries on the county level in this State provides an excellent means for spreading the benefits to be derived from improved library services to every rural area.

North Carolina is one of the 9 States in which over 95 percent of the population has access to public library service, yet it is one of the 15 States which spend less than 50 cents per capita for such service. The low level of financial support is in keeping with the low level of family income and is a real indication that the quality of library service is poor, mainly in our more rural areas.

State aid in North Carolina has been the greatest stimulus to the development of public-library service. In the 14 years during which State-aid funds have been available, local support has increased by 41⁄2 times. In our more rural counties, however, especially those with limited wealth, library service is still so far below standard that the existing service has been insufficient to demonstrate to people its potentialities.

If Federal funds are available for a 5-year period, it will be possible to improve library service to a level where our people will be better able to recognize public libraries as indispensable educational institutions. As a result, they will find a means of giving them better support and in turn derive personal satisfaction from services secured and develop community pride in a valuable service.

Mr. HUSSEY. Next is the statement of Hon. Clifton Young, Member of Congress from Nevada.

Mr. LANDRUM. Without objection, that may be inserted. (The statement referred to follows:)

STATEMENT OF HON. CLIFTON YOUNG, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE

STATE OF NEVADA

Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the committee, my name is Cliff Young. I am Representative at Large for the State of Nevada. Nevada, the Nation's fastest growing State, has peculiar problems of library service. Our small communities, separated by distances hardly credible to people who have not visited the West, have much difficulty in giving even a minimum of library service.

We have many small libraries which are handicapped by the lack of funds with which to buy books and maintain a library, and by the lack of trained librarians. Our cities, and even our counties, with few exceptions, have populations and assessed valuations too small to support modern library service.

Our two population centers in Washoe and Clark Counties do have modern library service because they alone are large enough for its support. The city and county libraries elsewhere in the State present a much different picture.

We have one county (Pershing County, Lovelock) which has not spent a cent of county funds for books for several years. The total amount appropriated by the county goes for the librarian's salary-and that not enough to support her ($1.560). Books for this library are gifts, and those supplied by loan from the Nevada State Library. To borrow these books she uses library-fine moneys to buy stamps.

We have another library (Tonopah) which in 1954 spent $8.95 for books. This would buy 3 or 4 books-yet this was the total expenditure in this library for both adult and juvenile books for a whole year.

Other libraries spent for books in 1954 such sums as $42.45 (Lincoln County, Pioche); $44.11 (Wells); and $125.52 (Mineral County Association, Hawthorne). Some of our libraries are located in extremely poor locations-one is on the second floor of the city hall building, reached after a flight of stairs elderly people do not even attempt to climb. Some are located in crowded basement rooms, or in sections of town in which parents will not allow their small children and daughters at night.

Elementary-school libraries, according to a recent study of public education in Nevada (conducted by George Peabody College for Teachers Division of Surveys and Field Services) "are practically nonexistent." Tattered, wornout, and obsolete books fill library shelves.

The answer to these problems, we believe, is the development of statewide library service available to every library and community in the State. The

Nevada State Library and the Nevada Library Association have worked out a plan for the use of the library services bill funds which will do just that. This plan has three important features: (1) Development of a strong, coordinated library collection of books and materials in the State; (2) use of bookmobiles manned by trained librarians to give library service to areas of the State now without libraries; and (3) a library consultant who can teach untrained librarians while they are on the job.

At the present time the State library makes its books available to any library or ciitzen in the State but it has few books to lend. Almost no funds were spent for books for many years, and even this current year it will spend only about $3,400.

Even if Nevada's small communities had unlimited funds for books and library service it would not be feasible for any one small city to buy all the books it needs. But by building a central book collection which will be available to all the State we feel we will achieve an economical, yet highly satisfactory, type of library service.

These books will be made available in two ways: through the existing public libraries, and through the bookmobiles to small towns and rural areas.

Many of our small communities which have libraries manned by untrained librarians need the help of a library consultant who can work with them on their problems of book selections, library administration, and reader service. A library consultant working with the school libraries of the State could do much to improve book collections and library service in our elementary and high schools.

With greater economy in book purchases, and with the support of the central book collection, local libraries can spend part of their funds to secure better library quarters which will be more accessible to all members of their communities.

The picture in Nevada is not completely unusual. According to statistics of the American Library Association (Washington Newsletter, vol. 6, No. 10, July 23, 1954) there are 404 counties without access to local public library services. Four of these are in Nevada, and we know that many of those counties reported as having local library service, like some of those in Nevada, have such service as can be given with a book expenditure of $10 a year or less.

Library service is more important today than ever before in our history. Traditionally libraries have been a fundamental part of our system of public education, and we must give our belated but full consideration to the needs of our citizens in this respect. Our Nation has taken the leadership in providing educational facilities to all its citizens; libraries are an integral part of these facilities available to all citizens without barrier to race, creed, previous educational achievement, or age.

We know that library service is important enough that once it is demonstrated through the library services bill that it will be continued by the people of Nevada and by the voters of the other States through State legislation and local appropriation.

Mr. HUSSEY. The next is a statement prepared by Robert North, Jr., Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, with data supplied by Miss L. Marion Moshier, library extension division, New York State. That is submitted by Congressman Stuyvesant Wainwright.

Mr. LANDRUM. Without objection, that may be inserted. (The statement referred to follows:)

STATEMENT PREPARED BY ROBERT NORTH, JR., BUFFALO AND ERIE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY, WITH DATA SUPPLIED BY MISS L. MARION MOSHIER, LIBRARY EXTENSION DIVISION, NEW YORK STATE

THE NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC LIBRARY SITUATION AND THE LIBRARY SERVICES BILL

In America, the public library is coming to be recognized as a vitally important feature of our civilization. The public library performs a practical, operating function in our educational processes, our cultural evolution, our economic activities, and our political and social development. It makes available to all the knowledge of facts and ideas, and the stimulus of inspiration. It is a working leaven in our personal and national life.