Enjoy this guest post from Jesse Montero, Librarian in the Web Applications dept. of Brooklyn Public Library.
Just today the House Appropriations Committee released its summary of the $825 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Bill of 2009. Mentioned is its intention to “put people to work building 21st century classrooms, labs, and libraries to help our kids compete with any worker in the world.”
Spurring economic recovery and long-term competitiveness through libraries is not a new concept. During the Great Depression, FDR’s Works Progress Administration (WPA) helped libraries in countless ways. New libraries were constructed in 48 states – Rochester’s Rundel Memorial Library (below) is just one example. The program also employed some 38,000 library support staff, which more than doubled the number of library workers at the time.
Just as notable was the expansion of public library service to previously unreached areas. Some 5,800 bookmobiles were put to use bringing books to those that could bring themselves to libraries. Even more iconic were the packhorse librarians, who delivered books to remote, roadless, and largely illiterate areas of Appalachia and the Ohio Valley. Prior to the Great Depression, over a third of America had no reasonable access to library service. The WPA helped narrow that gap. All in all, some $100,000,000 had been dispensed to libraries.
The WPA’s effects can still be felt today. In addition to WPA libraries that still stand, the WPA helped enrich and beautify libraries with murals, artwork and books by Federal Writers Program authors like Ralph Ellison, Zora Neale Hurston and Saul Bellow. The WPA’s Historical Records Survey undertook massive indexing and cataloging projects that serve libraries, archives and their researchers to this day. Most importantly, books and literacy services were spread to regions of the country that needed them most.
The WPA helped expand the reach and role of the American public library during a time when it might have otherwise been snuffed out. Its legacy benefits Americans to this day. Let’s hope that President-Elect Obama and Congress have the wisdom to make libraries an important part of both our short-term economic recovery and long-term economic viability.
There are 12 Comments to "From WPA to ARRP: libraries and economic renewal"
Reading here about the historical precedent for federal investment in libraries during difficult times gives me hope that we will be part of the Recovery and Reinvestment. Thank you for this.
So timely and interesting, thanks for this! I love the photos too.
Wow, can’t believe I never heard of how WPA supported libraries! Great post. I probably am going to spend the rest of the afternoon daydreaming about delivering books by horse…
Very cool post. I too did not know about the WPA and libraries! But I’m really glad I don’t have to ride a horse to do my job.:-)
OK, nice to be able to spell my first name. Darned swipable keyboard!
Steph
Great article! Little personal story – In the course of doing some genealogical research I recently discovered that the Indiana State Library had a copy of my great-grandfather and -grandmothers’ marriage license on microfilm. The key to my discovering this was a WPA index. The library was happy to provide me with a copy of the documents for a nominal fee – and I’m not even an Indiana resident.
This little moment of serendipity made me feel very proud of, and thankful for, our country’s libraries and the WPA.
Great article! As a librarian and amateur genealogist, I’ve personally benefited from the WPA’s work for libraries. Just recently the Indiana State Library sent me a copy of my great-grandarents’ marriage license for a nominal fee. The licenses had been indexed by the WPA. Their projects live on and benefit individual lives to this day.
Nick Taylor’s 2008 book, American-Made:The Enduring Legacy of the WPA, contains a wonderful chapter, “Kentucky’s Packhorse Library (Librarian Grace Overbee).” You may want to look at this website: http://www.randomhouse.com/bantamdell/wpa/
OK, now I’m confused. I just read about the echange between Jeffrey Scherer and ALA about public libraries not being included in the economic recover bills and here comes this article stating
‘Just today the House Appropriations Committee released its summary of the $825 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Bill of 2009. Mentioned is its intention to “put people to work building 21st century classrooms, labs, and libraries to help our kids compete with any worker in the world.” ‘
So, are public libraries going to be part of the economic stimulus legislation or aren’t they? Can anyone clarify this, please?
Alan
The language in the bill currently does not include PUBLIC libraries. Carefully reading this it is for academic libraries and school libraries only. See the exchange below between ALA Dispatch (EMily Sheketoff) and Craig Buthod, director of Louisville Free Public Library–generated after ALA Dispatch posted a response to my letter. Bottom line, I think everyone is trying to get PUBLIC in the language of the bill.
From: Emily Sheketoff []
Sent: Friday, January 16, 2009 6:36 PM
To: Craig Buthod
Subject: RE: your column on District Dispatch
You are right, we can’t ease back…nor can the school or academic library people ease up
There is an opening for us to get “public libraries” words added to Modernize Federal and Public Infrastructure…but we need your telling your Member of Congress to help us do just that
From: Craig Buthod []
Sent: Friday, January 16, 2009 4:52 PM
To: Emily Sheketoff
Subject: your column on District Dispatch
I’m concerned that you missed the point of Mr. Scherer’s letter in circulation today, that public libraries are being left out of funding in the stimulus legislation. The legislation reads clearly enough to me that public libraries don’t do very well, although school libraries and academic research libraries have a shot at getting projects funded. I’m happy for those school and academic libraries but we can’t give up. Our public library has a list of renovation projects that are ready to go and would create 370 jobs in 90 days. Within the state of Kentucky there are 27 counties that have projects that are also ready to go. Our congressman’s legislative director has told us that our projects won’t qualify under the two sections you cite. So let’s not ease back on our push for Congress to get this right. Public libraries are critical community assets and economic development tools. Let’s pull together to keep them effective in this economic crisis. I sure hope ALA’s Washington Office isn’t giving up when we’re so close. Craig Buthod, Director, Louisville Free Public Library
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Great article! As a librarian and amateur genealogist, I’ve personally benefited from the WPA’s work for libraries. Just recently the Indiana State Library sent me a copy of my great-grandarents’ marriage license for a nominal fee. The licenses had been indexed by the WPA. Their projects live on and benefit individual lives to this