Status of public library service, 1954 (revised) ----Continued

Mr. METCALF. Mr. Chairman?

Mr. LANDRUM. Yes.

Mr. METCALF. May I ask a question?

Are you familiar with the table on page 23 of this pamphlet that Mr. Quattlebaum prepared?

Mr. RICHARDS. Is that the breakdown by States?

Mr. METCALF. Yes.

Mr. RICHARDS. I have that for

you.

Mr. METCALF. Is that the same as you have submitted?

Mr. RICHARDS. That is right. We have that, and we have had photostats made, and there is a copy here for each member of the subcommittee.

Mr. METCALF. But the information

Mr. RICHARDS. Is exactly the same.

Mr. METCALF. In this pamphlet is exactly the same?

Mr. RICHARDS. That is right.

Mr. LANDRUM. Thank you, Mr. Richards.

Mr. METCALF. Mr. Chairman, I wish to offer for inclusion in the printed record a chapter from a recent publication of the Committee on Education and Labor, entitled "Educational Issues of Concern to the 84th Congress."

Mr. LANDRUM. The information will be made a part of the record if there are no objections.

(The chapter and table referred to follow :)

PUBLIC LIBRARY SERVICES IN RURAL AREAS

A. NATURE OF THE QUESTION

Within the last decade the question of Federal promotion of public library services in rural areas has been repeatedly introduced in Congress. Although the current proposal differs in detail from the original bill, the basic idea is the

same.

As expressed in 25 bills introduced in the 84th Congress during January 1955, the proposal is that the Federal Government promote the extension of public library services in rural areas which are without such services or which have inadequate services of this kind.

It has been estimated that about 27 million citizens of the United States do not have access to a local public library. The principal aim of the pending bills is to promote provision of adequate public library services for these people. For this and related purposes the bills would authorize a Federal appropriation of $7,500,000 a year over a period of 5 years.

According to statements made by proponents of this legislation, the question is not one of Federal assumption of the responsibility for public library services heretofore exercised by the States and localities. The aim is to stimulate, through Federal grants-in-aid, both State and local interest and support in a vigorous library extension program. The expectation is that a small expenditure by the Federal Government, only for a limited period, will provide the necessary incentive to encourage areas without library services to acquire them. Under the proposed program each State would receive an allotment of $40,000, plus additional funds according to the percentage relationship which the rural population of that State bears to the rural population of the United States. By thus taking into account the rural population of the State, the distribution formula recognize the extent of the need for public library services in rural areas of the State.

1

1 Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico would each receive $40,000; the Virgin Islands would receive $10,000.

To be eligible to receive the Federal allotment the State would be required to expend for the same purpose "that percentage which bears the same ratio to 50 percent as the per capita income of such State bears to the per capita income of the United States." Thus the formula takes into account the relative wealth of the States. However, the Federal share in no case could be more than 66 percent or less than 33 percent.2

To receive Federal funds the authorized State agency for public library services must submit to the United States Commissioner of Education a State plan for the further extension of such services. The plan must provide for administration of the extended services by the authorized State library agency. The plans may vary among the States, each plan being drawn to secure maximum benefit from the use of the funds within the State.

As proposed in the bills, the State would have complete jurisdiction over the implementation of its plan, including the selection of books and other library materials, and the employment of personnel to carry out the program.

Deciding which localities within the State have inadequate library facilities would be a responsibility of the State library agency.

The State would become ineligible to receive Federal funds for any current year if it should reduce its appropriation for public library services for that year below its appropriation for the previous year.

The bill would not permit the State to use any portion of the Federal funds for the purchase or construction of any building or for the purchase of any land.

The United States Commissioner of Education would administer the program at the Federal level. He would be required to approve the State plan submitted to him by an authorized State agency if he should find it to be in compliance with specifications set forth in the act.

The Commissioner of Education would be authorized to require such reports from the State library administrative agency as he might need to make such studies, investigations, and reports as would be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of the act. He would also be authorized to prepare periodic reports for public information concerning the values, methods, and results of various State demonstrations of public library services in rural areas.

The following table shows the allotments which the several States would receive for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1956, under the pending Library Services Act, and related data:

2 The Federal share for Hawaii would be 50 percent, and for Alaska, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands 60 percent.

Allotments to States under Library Services Act for fiscal year ending June 30, 1956, together with related data-Continued

1 This column gives the expenditure required from State and local funds, if the State is to receive the total Federal allotment specified in col. 4.

2 As recorded in the most recent Federal decennial census (April 1950).

3 The State percentage is "that percentage which bears the same ratio to 50 percent as the per capita income of such State bears to the per capita income of the continental United States (excluding Alaska)": Provided, That (a) no State percentage shall fall below 34 percent nor exceed 67 percent, and that (b) the State percentage for Hawaii shall be 50 percent, and for Alaska, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands shall be 34 percent: "Per capita income" is "the average of the per capita incomes of the States and of the continental United States (excluding Alaska) for the 3 most recent consecutive years for which satisfactory data are available from the Department of Commerce" (currently the "3 most recent consecutive years" are 1951, 1952, and 1953).

outlying parts) +$14,379,594 (sum of Federal allotments plus the sum of matching ex penditures from State and local funds, for United States and outlying parts).

6 Quotient of $7,500,000 (amount of Federal allotments for United States and outlying parts) +$14,379,594 (sum of Federal allotments plus the sum of matching expenditures from State and local funds, for United States and outlying parts).

7 Quotient of $6,706,179 (amount from State and local funds for continental United States) +$13,921,501 (sum of Federal allotments plus the sum of matching expenditures from State and local funds, for continental United States).

8 Quotient of $7,215,325 (amount of Federal allotments for continental United States) +$13,921,501 (sum of Federal allotments plus the sum of matching expenditures from State and local funds, for continental United States).

Source: Calculations made in Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Office of Education, Research and Statistical Standards Section, Feb. 17, 1955.