SIRS Unveils Newest Print at ALA

BOCA RATON, FL, January 29, 2003 - SIRS unveiled its ninth print in the SIRS Celebrates America's Public Libraries Collection at the Mid-Winter ALA in Philadelphia. After honoring bookmobiles with a Bookmobile Print last year, SIRS decided to honor other traveling librarians as the ninth print in the series - the Pack Horse Librarians of Kentucky. This timeless print features these amazing librarians.

Established during the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) relief program created jobs for both men and women. One of the programs funded by the WPA was eastern Kentucky's Pack Horse Library Project. The project's aim was to provide reading materials to rural portions of Kentucky that did not have access to public libraries.

Librarians riding horses or mules, traveled 50 to 80 miles a week across the rocky, mountainous terrain to deliver books, magazines and newspapers to remote homes and schools. The librarians, who were only paid twenty-eight dollars a month, carried the materials in string bags, pillowcases and saddlebags.

Collections consisted mostly of damaged books and magazines from larger libraries. The materials were stored in headquarter libraries, usually located in the county seat. When the demand for materials exceeded the supply, the librarians would make scrapbooks from magazine and newspaper clippings, anecdotes and local recipes to supplement the collection. "Thummin" and dog-ears caused more wear and tear to the already used books. To avoid dog-ears, the librarians collected and made bookmarks out of old Christmas cards, which became a prized item among the children, who had never seen Christmas cards before.

Magazines were the most popular as the people were interested in ways to improve their lives so they found magazines on home health care, hygiene, cooking, canning, farming, hunting and machinery helpful. They also enjoyed travel magazines, which gave them a glimpse at the outside world. The greatest demand, however, was for children's books, not only with the children but their illiterate parents.

This successful program boasted 30 libraries serving close to 100,000 Kentucky residents. In 1943, the WPA withdrew its funding and the Pack Horse Library Project came to an end. Many people were left without library service until bookmobiles were introduced to the area in the late 1950s.

Complimentary prints are available to librarians, media specialists and educators by e-mailing: media@sirs.com.