cooperating in an effort to give library service to all citizens but more help is needed in meeting this goal. Your proposed bill creating a permanent National Commission on Libraries and Information Science will further library cooperation on all levels and will aid in the betterment of education throughout the country. The Library Services and Construction Act has provided much needed funds to give expanded and improved library service to citizens in the United States. This federal program has never been fully funded as provided for in the Act. It is hoped that this can be achieved in the future in order that much needed library improvements can be made in all states. Thank you for your interest in libraries and their vital role in the educational development of our country. Sincerely, ABBIE HEITGER, Head, Extension Division. INDIANA STATE LIBRARY, Indianapolis, Ind., April 7, 1969. Hon. JOHN BRADEMAS, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. BRADEMAS: I very much appreciated receiving a copy of your bill for the establishment of a National Commission on Libraries and Information Science. I have discussed this with a number of our librarians in Indiana, and have found nothing but enthusiasm and support for such a bill. They are all pleased with the interest, which you have shown throughout the years in the welfare of libraries and are willing at this time to do anything that they can to support you in your sponsorship of further legislation. Please feel free to call on us at the State Library for information or service. Sincerely, MARCELLE K. FOOTE, Director. PURDUE UNIVERSITY, Lafayette, Ind., April 1, 1969. Hon. JOHN BRADEMAS, Chairman, Select Subcommittee on Education, DEAR MR. BRADEMAS: Thank you for supporting the National Advisory Commission on Libraries. We need persons from the broad fields of education research and communications to give leadership to educational resources, libraries and networks of knowledge. May I suggest that "not more than five members of the commission shall be professional librarians or information specialists" be interpreted to be one for each type of library service (college and university, public, special and school) and an information scientist so that each service area is assured representation. Thank you very much. Sincerely, CAROLYN I. WHITENACK, Professor and Chairman, Educational Media. LOGANSPORT PUBLIC LIBRARY, Hon. JOHN BRADEMAS, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. BRADEMAS: I wish to add my thanks to those of Germaine Krettek of the American Library Association for your introduction of H.R. 8839, a bill to establish a National Commission on Libraries and Information Science. It is heartening evidence that Congress is aware of the ever-increasing importance of libraries to the necessary intellectual growth of the nation. It is particularly gratifying to me personally that you, as a Representative of our state of Indiana, have demonstrated an enlightened concern in this matter. Many thanks. Sincerely yours, MICHAEL CART, Federal Relations Co-Ordinator, Indiana Library Association; Director, Hon. JOHN BRADEMAS, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME, Notre Dame, Ind., March 15, 1969. DEAR MR. BRADEMAS: I was very pleased to receive your letter and learn that you have introduced the bill to create a National Commission on Libraries and Information Science. Last year, at the mid-winter meeting of the Association of Research Libraries, I heard a report on the work of the National Advisory Commission on Libraries. I was convinced at that time that a permanent Commission should be created. I am delighted that this goal may soon be realized, and especially pleased that you, our Representative, have taken such an active interest. Since you have already conferred extensively with representatives of the library profession and received expert advice from them, there is little I can add in the way of specific comment. I will only say that I am in complete sympathy with the general aims and particular provisions of the bill. The Commission, if approved, will be an invaluable means to coordinate our efforts and resources as we try to cope with the so-called "information explosion." Thank you for your letter and for the copy of the bill. Yours sincerely, JAMES W. SIMONSON, C.S.C., Director of Libraries. Hon. JOHN BRADEMAS, House Office Building, Washington, D.C. SOUTH BEND, IND., March 27, 1969. DEAR CONGRESSMAN BRADEMAS: I wish to thank you for the copy of the bill which was recently introduced and referred to the Select Subcommittee of Education, concerning the creation of a National Commission on Libraries and Information Science. It is commendable indeed to bring to the attention of the nation the necessity of supporting the libraries and information centers and to develop statements and utilization plans. However, I see two problems which might arise if this bill is not modified before passage. (1) It is difficult to understand the preponderance of members of the commission whose primary responsibility and therefore primary knowledge is not in the area of information retrieval. Librarians, I am sure, feel very deeply the need to be sensitive to the needs of our society and wish to have these needs voiced in making policy statements on library services, but it is unrealistic to feel that there is need for the commission to be represented by only 1⁄2 professionals. The percentage should include 3 members whose prime responsibility is that of working actively in libraries and information centers. If the schools of library science are to be represented these people should be thought of as representing higher education and not libraries per se. To have less than 2% for library services implies that libraries do not represent society in any measure. (2) In Sec. 5(a)(2) it is stated that surveys, studies and analysis will be made of all libraries including elementary and secondary school libraries. If this is a commendable proposal then there are two other facets which should be included. The recommendation for school libraries must come through the State School Officer in each state. School libraries would be in an untenable position if they were to have rules and regulation imposed upon them from an agency outside the State School Officer's jurisdiction. The second discrepancy refers again to the composition of the commission. This commission must include one practicing school librarian at the elementary or secondary level. Special needs are met in the school library which must be expressed in determining any program as far reaching as the one which you propose. I appreciate your consideration of the items set forth in this letter. It is my understanding that hearings will be held on or about April 14. I would be interested in knowing the names of the persons that will testify and their vocational positions. Cordially, MARY ELLEN LUEBKE, Librarian, Harrison School. WEST LAFAYETTE, IND., March 17, 1969. Hon. JOHN BRRADEMAS, Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. BRADEMAS: Your bill on "A National Commission on Libraries and Information Science and for other purposes" can have from me at once the warmest and most immediate gratitude. I thank you heartily for introducing it. I'll think it over and may write you any second thoughts that occur to me. But I want to get this to you promptly. Gratefully, JOHN H. MORIARITY, Director of Libraries and Audio-Visual Center, Purdue University. SOUTH BEND PUBLIC LIBRARY, South Bend, Ind., April 3, 1969. Hon. JOHN BRADEMAS, DEAR JOHN: I am heartily in favor of your bill which it seems to me you explained and justified admirably in your "extended remarks" which preceded the text of H.R. 8839 in the Congressional Record of March 12, 1969 (H 1657). Further, the report of the President's National Advisory Commission on Libraries also urged such a permanent national commission as the "most important single measure" that could be taken to develop library services to meet the nation's needs, as you also stated in your remarks accompanying your bill. The President's National Advisory Commission's report again and again pointed out why a permanent National Commission on Libraries is needed as it responded to each of the four charges contained in the President's Executive Order of September 2, 1966 creating the Advisory Commission. I will refrain from repeating the points made; that Advisory Committee report speaks strongly and thoroughly on the need. I wish to express my personal thanks to you for your interest over the past years in library services of all kinds (public, academic, school and special) and for your leadership now in following up what is the prime need and the chief recommendation of the President's National Advisory Commission. Sincerely yours, ROGER B. FRANCIS, Director. KANSAS STATE TEACHERS COLLEGE, Mr. JOHN BRADEMAS, Chairman, Select Subcommittee on Education, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. DEAR CONGRESSMAN BRADEMAS: I read today with interest your advisory letter of March 12, concerning the introduction of a bill to create a permanent National Commission on Libraries and Information Science. It seems to me, as I read the accompanying bill, that this should help the cause of libraries and information services in a way that has been needed for a long time. Thank you for your interest and efforts. I wish you every success in this endeavor. Sincerely yours, GRAHAM H. SADLER, Associate Professor, Division of Librarianship. UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS LIBRARIES, Hon. JOHN BRADEMAS, Washington, D.O. DEAR CONGRESSMAN BRADEMAS: Thank you for your March 12 letter and the enclosed text of a bill to establish a National Commission for Libraries and Information Science. It is an important piece of legislation, and I respectfully offer my thanks for your introducing it. Sincerely yours, JOHN BRADEMAS, Chairman, Select Subcommittee on Education, Washington, D.C. DAVID W. HERON, Director. TOPEKA PUBLIC LIBRARY, Topeka, Kans., March 17, 1969. DEAR MR. BRADEMAS: Thank you for sending me a copy of the bill to establish a National Commission on Libraries and Information Science. I appreciated the opportunity to read this proposed act in its entirety and I did so twice! It seems to me that a potentially valuable service to the entire library and information science effort in this nation could come from such a Commission, with adequate funding and staffing-and they are inseparable. I have noted the Section 7 request for an authorized appropriation of $500,000.00 for the first fiscal year ending June 30, 1970. This seems a modest beginning and should not be controversial although I doubt it will be adequate over the coming years. I do have concerns that an expenditure here might, in some way, lessen the now somewhat impoverished programs which the library profession has struggled to achieve (along with the Congress, gratefully), particularly the various titles of the Library Services and Construction Act and the ESEA titles for library development. I am afraid that the tremendous gap between library services being offered and those needed for modern library service is still large and the requirement is still for MORE. I would like to add my name to those who vigorously support this contemplated legislation, whose very success will also involve the adequate funding of the other library titles mentioned above. We all, working in libraries and recipients of their services, appreciate the effort which you are making—and your colleagues— to improve this vital educational and humanitarian endeavor and I wish to offer to you my sincerest thanks. By the way, the chairman of our Board of Trustees, William E. Treadway (head of the Santa Fe Legal Department) is a former Hoosier and, I believe, four-term member of the Indiana House. He has just given to the library, a beautiful landscape of Brown County, Indiana by Theodore Fox-who is probably known to you. Sincerely, JAMES C. MARVIN, Librarian. ENOCH PRATT FREE LIBRARY, Hon. JOHN BRADEMAS, Chairman, Select Subcommittee on Education, House Office Building, Washington, D.C. DEAR CONGRESSMAN BRADEMAS: Thank you for sending the bill you are introducing to create a permanent National Commission on Libraries and Information Science. I am convinced this bill, if passed and signed by the President, will be an important step forward in the development of better library service for all of the people of the United States. As I looked over the provisions of the bill, it seemed to follow closely the recommendations of the National Advisory Commission. And I cannot find anything in the bill that is a cause for concern. It has been a pleasure to observe for a number of years your increasing interest in library service. I have testified before your committee and have been impressed by your understanding. I know that your powerful support has been effective in the passage of much important library legislation. It is good to know that you are a champion of a cause that is essential to the educational advancement of the country and to assuring access to information by all who need it. Thanks again for your thoughtfulness in sending the bill and good luck in all your future public services. If I can be helpful in any way in connection with this bill, I will be glad to do so. Sincerely yours, EDWIN CASTAGNA, Director. THE MILTON S. EISENHOWER LIBRARY, DEAR MR. BRADEMAS: I was deeply interested and greatly encouraged to hear that you, with other members of the House of Representatives, will introduce a bill to create a permanent National Commission on Libraries and Information Science. The need for such a Commission, at this period in history, is becoming increasingly apparent. I see no way of satisfying the growing appetite of scholarship unless meaningful plans for regional and national library and information networks are developed. The Commission your bill describes would provide the instrument for creating such networks. Please accept my congratulations for the thoughtful approach you and your colleagues have made to this problem. With best wishes for the success of your proposal, I am Respectfully, Congressman JOHN BRADEMAS, Chairman, Select Subcommittee on Education, DEAR CONGRESSMAN BRADEMAS: It was very kind of you to arrange for me to receive notice of your intention to introduce the bill to establish a National Commission on Libraries and Information Science, and of the likelihood that the Select Subcommittee on Education, which you chair, shall be holding hearings on this prospective legislation soon. I applaud this effort and I very much support the intent of the proposed legislation. I know that your Committee shall be hearing from the formal organizations and I shall therefore not say anything that would merely repeat the perspective of the bodies which firmly and committedly promote library service in the culture. But I would like to make a point that I am not sure would be made by any of the organized bodies. It is very simply and honestly this. There are many who are identified with librarianship who feel that libraries as they are presently constituted simply are not responding to contemporary social or intellectual needs of their constituencies. In the public library, the traditional business-as-usual tends to be the response at a time when the community to be served by libraries is in a state of extraordinary ferment. The programs and services of the conventional public library, for the most part, tend to be irrelevant to the needs of many elements within the culture. In the academic milieu, the libraries are not able to keep up with the contemporary requirements of scholarship, research or student need, not merely because of limits on the resources which they have available, (although this may be a factor), but because traditional librarianship is not geared to the nature of modern scholarly requirements and to the dramatic variations which are being made in forms and types of media through which intelligence is being generated in these times. The traditional library response as reflected by its organized groups is simply to seek more resources. But, I submit that the nature of the problems facing librarianship are too deep-seated to yield to simply increased numbers of dollars for acquisitions or physical plant. What is far more requisite |