Allotment of Federal funds to States under the Vocational Education Act of 1963— work-study programs

1 Distribution made on the basis of 15 to 20 age group population as of July 1, 1965.

THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 1967.

LIBRARIES AND COMMUNITY SERVICES

WITNESSES

GRANT VENN, ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER FOR ADULT AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION

HAROLD HOWE II, COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION

RAY FRY, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF LIBRARY SERVICES AND EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES

JULES PAGANO, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMS

JAMES ROBERTS, EXECUTIVE OFFICER, BUREAU OF ADULT AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION

JACK FRANTZ, CHIEF, LIBRARY SERVICES AND CONSTRUCTION

SECTION

NORMAN KARSH, ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR ADMINISTRATION

JOE G. KEEN, BUDGET OFFICER

EDMOND L. APPLEBAUM, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, PROCESSING DEPARTMENT, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

JAMES B. CARDWELL, DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY, BUDGET

Mr. FLOOD. The next item is libraries and community services. I understand, Mr. Venn, you will also address yourself to this.

Mr. VENN. Yes, sir. We have in the Bureau of Adult and Vocational Education, responsibility for libraries and community services.

GENERAL STATEMENT

We are requesting $165,950,000 for libraries and community service programs. This account includes the Library Services and Construction Act, the adult basic education program and the programs of community services and college libraries under the Higher Education Act. Our 1968 request represents an increase of $19 million over the 1967 revised appropriation of $146,950,000,

LIBRARY SERVICES

The estimate of $40,815,000 for library services represents an increase of $4,815,000 under titles I, III, and IV of the Library Services and Construction Act.

Since the inception of the public library services program in 1956, title I has made a most significant contribution toward meeting the

77-399-67-pt. 3- -30

educational and cultural needs of our citizens of all ages. However, the rising costs of books, as well as our spiraling population, are placing increasing demands on our public libraries. The 1968 request of $35 million will help make these services available to about 85 million persons and will provide approximately 8 million additional books and other materials. Increasing emphasis will be given to hard-core problems which challenge our society, such as the disadvantaged in urban slums, in the Appalachian region, and in other rural areas.

The 1966 amendments added three new programs to the act-title III, interlibrary cooperation; title IV-A, State institutional library services; and title IV-B, library services for the physically handicapped. One million dollars was appropriated in 1967 for planning funds for the development of State plans for these new programs. The 1968 request will enable the States to put these plans into operation. The estimate of $2,375,000 for title III will assist States in establishing and maintaining library networks at the local, regional, State, and interstate levels, and will provide better library services to about 2 million persons. It will also help to assure that the various forms of Federal support for libraries are invested most efficiently and effectively. Under title IV-A, the request of $2,120,000 will provide books and other services to persons in about 500 hospitals, prisons, and other State institutions who, because of their confinement, are unable to use regular community services. We are seeking $1,320,000 for title IV-B to provide special services for some 70,000 physically handicapped individuals who cannot use conventionally printed books, magazines, and newspapers due to impaired vision or other physical factors.

CONSTRUCTION OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES

If we are to accommodate the increases in materials and services, we must provide the necessary space. Moreover, many of our existing libraries are insufficient and obsolete. For the construction of public libraries under title II of the Library Services and Construction Act, we are requesting $27,185,000. These funds will help support about 330 projects for new library buildings and for alteration and expansion of existing facilities.

COLLEGE LIBRARY RESOURCES

A quality college education is dependent on the availability of adequate library resources to both students and teachers. Part A of title II of the Higher Education Act provides grants to institutions of higher education for the acquisition of library materials such as books, periodicals, documents, magnetic tapes, phonograph records, and audiovisual materials. The request of $25 million will support about 2,000 basic grants, 800 supplemental grants, and 350 special-purpose grants.

ACQUISITION AND CATALOGING BY THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

The request includes $4 million an increase of $1 million over 1967, for transfer to the Library of Congress under title II-C of the Higher Education Act, for the acquisition and cataloging of library materials

published throughout the world. This assistance benefits hundreds of libraries throughout the country by eliminating duplicate efforts costing millions of dollars.

LIBRARIAN TRAINING

There exists a critical shortage of professionally trained librarians in school, public, and college libraries. In fact, it is estimated that we should double the current number of such personnel in order to provide minimum quality services. Our request includes $8,250,000 for grants to institutions of higher education for training in librarianship under title II, part B, of the Higher Education Act. These funds will support about 595 fellowships and provide summer institute training for about 3,488 persons for school, public, academic, and special libraries.

COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS

For grants to States for community service and continuing education programs under title I of the Higher Education Act, we are requesting $16,500,000. Programs dealing with community problems such as housing, poverty, government, employment, youth activities, and health are carried out at the local community level by the extension services of higher education institutions. The estimate will support about 825 programs involving 500 institutions. The program deals primarily with urban and suburban problems, and provides a very real opportunity to involve the resources of our colleges and universities in their solution.

ADULT BASIC EDUCATION

For adult basic education programs authorized by the Adult Education Act of 1966, we are requesting $44,200,000. Prior to the 1966 act, funds for these programs were appropriated to the Office of Economic Opportunity and were transferred to the Office of Education. The 1966 act gave authority for administration of the program to the Office of Education, including direct appropriations. The 1966 act continues the grants to States for basic education of adults and the teacher training programs, and authorizes a new special projects program. The request will help support training programs for about 345,900 adult illiterates in order to improve their opportunities for gainful employment, an increase of 76,500 over 1967. In addition, training will be provided for about 1,875 teachers in this area; and about 52,500 adults will participate in special projects designed to promote a comprehensive approach to the problems of the educationally disadvantaged. In the past, most adult basic education classes have had to use materials developed for children. Under the special projects, materials aimed specifically at the interests and needs of the undereducated adult will be developed and tested.

We will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

LANGUAGE REQUESTED FOR DEMONSTRATION AND TEACHER TRAINING

PROGRAM

Mr. FLOOD. On page 32 of your justifications, I find language at the end of the second paragraph, the last sentence:

The Adult Education Act provides that between 10 and 20 percent of any year's appropriation be reserved for special experimental demonstration projects and teacher training under section 209. The proposed language will reserve an amount of $12 million from the total appropriation request of $44,200,000 in 1968. It seems rather obvious that you have gone further than you were authorized.

Mr. VENN. This question came up and it was interpreted—
Mr. FLOOD. Came up where?

Mr. VENN. In our presentations to the Department and the Bureau of the Budget. It was interpreted that the percentage might be considered as a portion of the total authorization. The dollar figures as indicated here are related to the authorization figures rather than to the appropriation request.

Mr. CARDWELL. The authorization is $60 million.

Mr. FLOOD. The way it is stated there, you are clearly over.

Mr. VENN. The special-purpose funds would be used to concentrate in specifically difficult areas or hard core areas or where some new program might be used for demonstration.

Mr. FLOOD. I was not concerned about that. I was concerned about whether you were going beyond your authorization.

Down below, in the next to the last paragraph, you say:

It is also proposed to substitute "$2,375,000 shall be for grants for cooperative networks of libraries under title III of such Act, $2,120,000 shall be for grants for State institutional library services under part A of title IV of such Act, $1,320,000 shall be for library services to the physically handicapped under part B of title IV of such Act" for the section immediately preceding it.

Is this on all fours with your authorization?

Mr. VENN. Yes, sir. In each case it is less than the authorization. Mr. CARDWELL. The purpose of this language change is to recognize change in legislation and to provide appropriation language in support thereof.

Mr. KARSH. The amounts for fiscal year 1967 are at a lower level than the request for 1968.

Mr. FLOOD. I was not concerned about the trend of the dollars at this point.

SUMMARY OF BUDGET REQUEST FOR LIBRARY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES

The adjusted appropriation for 1967 is $146,950,000, and the request for 1968 is $165,950,000. That is a gross increase of $19 million. Now, you have a decrease of $12,815,000 for construction. That gives your nonconstruction activities a net increase totaling $31,815,000.

REDUCTION IN CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM

What is the reason for this reduction in construction? There isn't a word in the justifications from beginning to end. You just reduce construction by that big figure, and then go on to the next act. There is not a word on that.

Mr. VENN. Mr. Congressman, I think the basis for this was, again, related to the overall fiscal program. This is 2-year money-and we estimate a carryover amounting to about $10 million. There is one additional factor in this that I do not think I could really object to,