Library Expansion

Archive Report

Federal Aid and Library Expansion

The library, that once quiet refuge of children, old folks, and a small band of scholars, has become as busy as the local supermarket. Bright new libraries with yards of glass walls and spacious rooms are luring the public with free film programs, art exhibitions, discussion groups, more attractive book collections, and other promotional devices. By latest count, the number of libraries in the United States—public libraries and school and college libraries, general libraries and specialized libraries—has mounted to the impressive total of 70,502.

Spurring the increase in library activity is federal aid, now in its 11th year, provided by the Library Services Act of 1956. Starting with a modest $2 million appropriation in 1957, aid made available by this act ...

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