Table 4.-Laws relating to the selection, care, and use of school library books-Continued

15 Books furnished by State School Book Commission selected from list furnished by a library committee, appointed by State superintendent.

Legal Provisions for School Librarians

There are 19 States in which legislation for school librarians is expressly stated. These States and their provisions are given in table 5.

Provisions for appointment are authorized in 14 States (column 2, table 5). The laws specifically provide for the certification of school librarians in 9 States (column 3, table 5). It must not be inferred from this that there is no provision for their certification in the remaining States, because in practically all of the States, certification is possible by reason of broad and general certifying powers vested by law in State school officers. The general trend in legislation relative. to the certification of school librarians is the same as that for teachers, namely, to give State certifying authorities power to establish regulations for the certification of such librarians rather than fix them by

statute.

In order to determine the number of States in which certifying authorities have adopted regulations for the certification of librarians the United States Office of Education, in connection with this study, asked for such information from State departments of education in the spring of 1939. The replies show that the following 31 States (including the District of Columbia) have adopted such regulations:

Two other States-Kansas and Tennessee-have taken steps in that direction. This subject of the adoption of regulations for the certification of school librarians is discussed more fully in a recent article in School Life, the official organ of the United States Office of Education.1

School librarians are required by law to make records and reports in 6 States as indicated in column 4 of table 5. Salary provisions are specified in only 3 States (column 5, table 5). The legal situation relative to salaries is similar to that for teachers, namely, to give local or State boards of education authority to adopt salary schedules rather than fix them by statutes. Teacher status is expressly conferred by law in only 4 States (column 8, table 5) but here again the practice is to regard school librarians as teachers if their qualifications are similar to those for teachers.

Lathrop, Edith A. Certification of School Librarians. School Life, 25: 239, 256, May 1940.

The laws of 5 States specify that a school officer shall act as librarian and those of 8 that the teacher shall be the librarian (columns 6 and 7, table 5). In this connection it should be remembered that these laws were enacted for the purpose of making someone responsible for the care of library books in isolated rural schools. Since there are approximately 122,000 1-teacher and 25,000 2-teacher schools situated in rural communities, this law is of considerable significance.

Table 5.-Provisions of State laws regarding school librarians in 19 States

* State Board of Education shall prescribe rules upon which county and city and county boards of education may grant certificates "to act as school librarians."

* Librarians shall hold certificate required by law and regulations of State Board of Education for type of service rendered.

The secretary in independent districts and director in subdistricts in school townships.

5 When school is in session.

Unless some other competent person who is a resident of the district shall be appointed.

7 Applies to holder of high-school standard special certificate qualified "to act as school librarian." Word "teacher" as used in teacher-retirement act includes librarian.

Applies to municipal separate school districts.

10 No trustee shall act as librarian; boards of education in city or union free high school district, maintaining a high school, may appoint public librarian to give part time to school library-if librarian is not ap

Relationship of State Library Extension Agency
to School Libraries

In every State, some State library agency or unit has been charged by law with the function of improving library service and of extending it to areas now without it. Several States, it is true, have not appropriated the necessary funds for their operation, but the authorization for the establishment of such agencies exists nevertheless. Although these agencies are thought of primarily in connection with public library service, table 6 shows that 42 States have specified legally for these agencies certain services to or relationships with the schools. The instances in which the administrative control of the library agency is vested in school authorities are indicated in columns 2 and 3 of table 6. From these columns it will be seen that of the 43 States, 3 vest legal control in the State board of education and 10 vest it in the State's chief school officer. In 9 of the latter 10 cases, as indicated in footnote 3 to table 6, control is vested in the State's chief school officer by virtue of his position as head of the department of education. The connection which the chief State school officer has with the governing board of the library agency constitutes a significant relationship. The instances of this relationship are shown in columns 4 and 5 of table 6. In 2 States he is the presiding officer of the board and in 1, its secretary (column 4, table 6). In 13 other States he is a member; in 1 of the 13 States South Carolina-he is not only an ex officio member but recommends the appointment of all members; and in another-Arkansas-he is not a member but recommends the appointment of one member (column 5, table 6).

pointed, teacher of English shall be librarian. If librarian is not appointed in other district, teacher shall act as librarian.

11 Superintendent of schools of a city authorized to issue licenses to school librarians in accordance with regulations of board of education.

12 Commissioner of education shall prescribe rules for submission of reports.

13 Board of education in city or union free school district authorized to fix salaries; law specifies salary schedule for library assistants in cities of the first class.

14 School district board may appoint suitable person, including one of their own number.

1 Applies to employment of head librarians in cities of the first class.

16 Applies to cities of the first class; the Oklahoma Library Commission acts as a board of examiners and grants certificates according to the educational qualifications of the candidate.

17 County superintendent shall appoint.

"State superintendent may issue certificate.

19 Shall, when requested, make reports to State librarian and State superintendent.

*Keep a record of books received from county library board and report library statistics to State superintendent.

* State Board of Education shall issue certificates and set up standards for requirements.

a County boards of education authorized to appoint a librarian during vacation; applies to schools with libraries of 50 volumes or more.

Librarian must meet standards prescribed by State superintendent and must posesses the qualifications required by law for employment as a teacher. In cities of the first class librarians who met prescribed standards when employed and have had not less than 1 year's experience as a teacher or librarian shall be given teacher status.

"Blanks for reports shall be supplied by county, district, or city superintendents.

"When school is not in session, school clerk shall act as librarian if school board has not appointed a teacher to act in said capacity.

The library extension agency's services to schools, as specified by law, are noted in columns 6 to 13. One of the advisory services (columns 6, 7, and 8) most frequently mentioned in the laws is that of giving "advice on establishment, maintenance, and management." Another is advice on library techniques, which includes processing books, cataloging, and classification. Book loans is another service that is frequently included in laws specifically. It should be observed that there is considerable overlapping in the terms used by the lawmakers in specifying the services to be performed, but the list as given. is indicative of the present situation.

Besides the services enumerated in table 6, New Jersey has a law giving the library commission power to consolidate school libraries (see New Jersey digest, p. 96); Michigan stipulates that the State Board of Libraries shall undertake research studies and shall make the resultant findings available to all public-school libraries within the State (see Michigan digest, p. 81); Nevada requires its State library to furnish an author-subject catalog of its miscellaneous collection to every school library (see Nevada digest, p. 93).