Financing Rural Public Library Systems

Abstract

n approaching this subject, there is a strong temptation to deal at length with library budgets and budget management. The literature of this subject is extensive, and, while it is of uneven quality, there is a considerable amount which is highly competent and quite useful. There is another temptation: to deal at length with how to get public officials to provide from the funds under their control the necessary money for the operation of rural public library systems. While this will certainly enter into consideration here, it will not be the major emphasis. Having eschewed these temptations, I have chosen rather to take a "Cloud 9" approach and attempt to review the financing of rural public library systems from what might be termed an "orbital viewpoint. " This has the advantage of being only dimly known and has the drawback of theoretical indefiniteness. However, it contains the promise that if we can avoid a Jules Verne treatment of the subject, we may come up with a better understanding of the problems to be faced in financing the public library developments which are the general goals of our profession.