Show Local Library Expenditures Drop Below State Average Per capita expenditure for support of public libraries in Sanpete County was in 1967 compared to a state average average average aver aver- age of according to a I research report released this week by Utah Foundation A Average per capita circulation circulation circulation tion of library items in Sanpete County was ranking among the 29 counties Library services in Utah show wide variations in terms of most accepted standards of library measurement i it was noted by the Foundation a private private private vate profit non-profit public service agency Of a total of 28 million million million mil mil- lion in 1967 expenditure for public library support in Utah in-Utah Utah almost 85 was attributable to the six largest libraries Salt Lake County Salt Lake City Weber County Davis County Murray and Provo while the six smallest public libraries Monroe Monroe Monroe Mon Mon- roe Wayne County Park City Kanab and Roosevelt spent t about one-fourth one of 1 of the total Public library service in Utah has improved markedly In re recent recent recent re- re cent years especially since the establishment of a as tate State Library in 1957 Utah was the last of the states to set up a state library to serve the general public A Utah State Library had existed since statehood but this was in reality a State Law Library which still exists and has great value but bears little relation to the library needs of the public In 1956 it was reported that outside of Salt Lake and Davis Counties more than hall half the citizens citizens cit cit- of Utah were without library library li library li- li service It is estimated that fewer than 5 of of- Utah residents totally lack library services today according to the Foundation report The State Library operates 13 bookmobiles in 17 counties bringing at least some library service to remote areas of the state However many small county and municipal libraries furnish only limited library service the Foundation noted In 1967 two public libraries in Utah served fewer than 1000 people each and 26 public libraries li libraries libraries li- li had population bases between 2000 and Only five Utah public libraries had population bases of more than and only three exceeded Many librarians believe that most could be provided better library services at less cost if smaller libraries were consolidated in modern library systems on county or regional line lines s. s Library costs are rising rapidly rapidly rapidly ra ra- ra- ra due to the keen competition competition tion for trained librarians and also to the rapidly rising cost of books the Foundation re re- re ported According to trade pub pub- figures the average cost of books has increased 50 since 59 1957 and more than doubled since 1947 49 Li Library Library Library Li- Li authorities report that there are now 17 job fob openings in the United States for every new graduate of an accredited library school The University of Utah re research research research re- re search library is one of 71 which have been awarded membership membership membership mem mem- in the the- American Re Research Research Research Re- Re search Libraries Association Only other research libraries in the Mountain West so recognized recognized recognized are those of the Universities Uni Uni- Universities of Arizona and Colo Colo- rado The University of Utah library li library library li- li has more than volumes and is about one-eighth one the size of that of the largest member institution Harvard and half again as large as that of the smallest Iowa State The library at Utah State University University University Uni Uni- is about 44 the size of that of the University of Utah Utah public schools at primary primary primary mary and secondary levels are working to improve their li libraries li- li for or or media centers as they are now generally called called called call call- ed but most still fall below accepted standards the Foundation Foundation Foundation Foun Foun- dation reported Most school libraries are better supplied with books and other library materials than with trained personnel per per- sonne I the report indicated M |