Currently, more than 50,000 legally blind individuals are active readers of talking books. Approximately 10,000 persons are using the braille collections. Up to June 30, 1959, the Library of Congress had provided a total of 4,986 titles in braille, not counting hand-copied "single copy" books; 400 titles in Moon type; 3,639 titles in talking books; and 111,684 record playing machines. Many of these talking book machines have become worn out from use or have been retired by virtue of being technologically obsolete. Table 123.-FEDERAL FUNDS APPROPRIATED FOR THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS PROGRAM FOR THE BLIND, NUMBER OF ITEMS CIRCULATED, AND RECORD PLAYING MACHINES MANUFACTURED: 1950-51 TO 1959-60 Libraries were supplied with as many copies of books as were required to care for readers in their respective areas of service. The scope of the collections is broad and comparable to that available in public libraries. While school textbooks are not provided, an attempt. is made to meet the reading requirements of blind persons beginning at about 6 years of age. The primary objective of this important service to blind citizens is to provide a balanced collection that will satisfy a wide diversity in reader interest. Table 123 indicates the extent of service provided and amounts expended for this program in the 10 years from 1950-51 to 1959-60. Information for this presentation was obtained from the Library of Congress. NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was authorized by Congress on July 29, 1958 (42 U.S.C. 2451 et seq.), and was formally established October 1, 1958. This new agency assumed all the facilities and functions of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. Responsibilities of the Agency include the central control of nonmilitary aeronautical and space activities sponsored by the United States, such as: (1) Expansion of human knowledge of phenomena in the atmosphere and space; (2) improvement in usefulness of performance, speed, safety, and efficiency of aeronautical and space vehicles; and (3) establishment of long-range studies of potential benefits to be gained from the opportunities for, and the problems involved in, the utilization of aeronautical and space activities for peaceful and scientific purposes, and other similar purposes. Information for the Training and Research Centers and for Research at Educational Centers, as described below, was furnished by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. TRAINING AND RESEARCH CENTERS Agency Research and Space Flight Centers, operating in conjunction with local academic institutions, provide comprehensive educational activities for training NASA scientific and engineering employees. Emphasis has centered upon study within the physical and engineering sciences but problems associated with manned space flight have actuated modest programs within the biological sciences. In addition, increasing emphasis is being given to management development and related fields. Future developments may generate programs within other scientific areas. Table 124 indicates the number of participants in training and the Federal funds expended at the research centers from 1957-58 to 1959--60. Table 124.-FEDERAL FUNDS EXPENDED FOR TRAINING AT THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION RESEARCH CENTERS: 1 1957-58 TO 1959-60 Expendi- Number Expendi- Number Expendi- Number Expendi- Number tures partici- tures partici- tures partici- tures partici pating pating pating pating 10 1 Prior to July 29, 1958, under the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. RESEARCH AT EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS Research on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's problems is also performed at academic institutions by their faculties or professional staffs. For this program, contracts are arranged with educational institutions for the performance of specified research. Professional staff members are usually aided substantially by graduate students who thereby obtain valuable training and practical experience in conducting research projects and reporting results. Table 125.-FEDERAL FUNDS COMMITTED FOR NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION RESEARCH CONTRACTS WITH EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS: 1950-51 TO 1959-60 1 Prior to July 29, 1958, under the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. Federal funds available to educational institutions during the past 10 years will be found in table 125. The number of participants in the educational institutions, Federal funds committed, and a breakdown of the funds by fields of study from 1957-58 to 1959-60 will be found in table 126. Table 126.-FEDERAL FUNDS COMMITTED FOR NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION RESEARCH CONTRACTS WITH EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, BY FIELDS OF STUDY:1 1957-58 TO 1959-60 1 Prior to July 29, 1958, under the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION The National Science Foundation was established under the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 "to promote the progress of science; advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; secure the national defense and for other purposes." Specific purposes and programs of the Foundation, designed to assist in the achievement of these broad objectives, include: (1) Development and encouragement of a national policy for the promotion of basic research and education in the sciences; (2) initiation and support of basic scientific research; (3) awarding of fellowships in the sciences; (4) maintenance of a register of scientific and technical personnel and serving as a central clearinghouse for scientific personnel information; (5) fostering the interchange of scientific information among the scientists in the United States and in foreign countries; and (6) appraisal of the impact of research upon industrial development and upon the general welfare. Programs of the National Science Foundation (NSF) relating to the training of scientists and engineers are the responsibility of the Division of Scientific Personnel and Education. The formal training programs in the Foundation are centered in this division, but training is also a correlative function of the research support programs through which a considerable number of graduate assistants obtain direct experience and valuable training in research. The research programs also directly influence the educational system through the discovery of new knowledge and by assisting institutions of higher education to maintain their threefold goal of the extension, the transmission, and the preservation of knowledge. In addition, there is a limited educational program in the Office of Special International Programs of the National Science Foundation. Formal training programs in the Division of Scientific Personnel and Education fall into the following categories: (1) Evaluation of the Nation's scientific manpower in terms of supply, utilization, demand, and training needs; (2) administration of such action programs for the training of scientific manpower as are necessary in the national interests; and (3) identification of problem areas in science education and support of exploratory and experimental programs and projects directed at improvement. In general, these problem areas which exist at all levels in the educational system are concerned with the motivation and support of science students; training of science teachers; and development of subject-matter and curriculum materials consistent with the present state of scientific knowledge and with the training needs of students. Programs of the National Science Foundation related specifically to science education include: (1) Fellowships in the Sciences, (2) Science and Mathematics Institutes, (3) Special Projects in Science Education, (4) Course Content Improvement, (5) Training Through Research Grants, and (6) International Activities in Science Education. In addition to these activities, the National Register of Scientific and Technical Personnel and Scientific Manpower Studies (Clearinghouse) are administered in the Division of Scientific Personnel and Education. Since 1958, the National Science Foundation has also administered title IX of the National Defense Education Act of 1958 pertaining to the establishment of a science information service. Through this service the Foundation provides or arranges for the provision of indexing, abstracting, translating, and other services leading to a more effective dissemination of scientific information. Other provisions in the National Defense Education Act of 1958 were described in chapter 3. FELLOWSHIPS IN THE SCIENCES Graduate fellowships in the biological, engineering, mathematical, medical, physical, and selected social sciences are awarded annually by the National Science Foundation. The present program provides (1) graduate, (2) cooperative graduate, (3) postdoctoral, (4) senior postdoctoral, and (5) science faculty fellowships as well as summer fellowships for (6) graduate teaching assistants, and (7) secondary school teachers. Awards are made only to United States citizens or nationals and for a period of from 3 to 24 months, depending on the specific provisions of each program as well as the fellow's tenure request. Stipend awards vary widely depending on the particular program in which the fellow is participating. The range is from $1800 per annum in the graduate programs to $12,000 for a senior faculty fellow of outstanding ability. Tuition and fees, travel allowances, and dependency allowances are available in most of the fellowships. Reapplications are permitted as are applications for renewal but dual applications are prohibited. Reports of research carried out by a fellow during his training may be made available to the public without restrictions, except as required in the interest of national security. Applicants in the graduate and cooperative graduate programs are requested to take examinations for scientific aptitude and achievement. These tests (graduate record examinations) are currently administered for the Foundation by the Educational Testing Service, Princeton, N.J. There are no examination costs to the applicants provided the tests are taken solely for the purpose of applying for a National Science Foundation fellowship. 592829-61-16 |