Federal aid to libraries only began in 1956 with passage of the Library Services Act ( LSA). However, the ground work  goes back to the 1930s and ALA was a central organizing force.

The Ground work and the American Library Association

A book--The Government of the American Public Library (1935)-- by Carleton B. Joeckel was a major step. 

Joeckel analyzed library governance and advocated for federal support. He  was a key figure in the American Library Association  during the mid-20th century.. He focused on addressing disparities in library access, particularly in rural and underserved areas, and championed the need for federal involvement to support a nationwide system of public libraries. His contributions were primarily through research, publications, and leadership in ALA committees.

 Joeckel headed up a committee to analyze the Library of Congress and prepared a report that included Post-War Standards for Public Libraries in 1943.  He was chair of the ALA's Post-War Planning Committee.

In 1944, as Dean of the Graduate Library School at the University of Chicago, Joeckel organized a Library Institute. The papers prepared at this Institute addressed three areas: (1) library service organization at the local level; (2) role of the state, and (3) state and federal aid to libraries.

In 1948 ALA published  A National Plan for Public Library Service. (Joeckel and Winslow, A.).

Role of the States

 State library organizations rallied local communities, librarians, and elected officials to demonstrate the need for federal aid. They provided data on underserved populations, such as the 26 million Americans without library access in the 1950s, which was critical in convincing Congress to act. State library associations and agencies were instrumental in advocating for the LSA, which provided the first major federal funding for libraries. State librarians, often coordinated by the American Library Association  lobbied Congress to address the lack of library access in rural areas. 

ALA and The Library Services Act (1956)

Germaine Krettek  joined the ALA Washington Office in 1952.  Her leadership elevated its influence during a critical period for library legislation. She built on the groundwork laid by Joeckel and Winslow's 1948 plan and  worked with state library associations. She ensured the LSA's implementation by working with State Library Administrative Agencies (SLAAs) to develop state plans for rural library services.

Librarians found two sponsors- Senator Lister Hill (1894–1984) and Representative John E. Fogarty (1913–1967). They co-sponsored the LSA in 1956. They advocated for libraries as essential to education and community development.Elizabeth Myer,

In 1956, Congress passed the Library Services Act (LSA), authorizing $7.5 million annually for five years to extend and improve public library services in rural areas with populations under 10,000. This marked the first major federal program specifically for libraries, administered by the U.S. Office of Education. To qualify, states had to submit plans for developing services in underserved regions, promoting resource sharing and minimum standards.

Sources:

• American Library Association Honorary Membership

• Healey, James S., John E. Fogarty: Political Leadership for Library Development Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press, 1974.

• Library Trends 24 (1) 1975: Federal Aid to Libraries: Its History, Impact, Future. Casey, Genevieve M. (editor).

• Molz, Redmond Kathleen (1976). Federal Policy and Library Support. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

• Joeckel, Carleton B. 1935. The Government of the American Public Library. Chicago Ill: University of Chicago Press.

• Joeckel, C.B. Chairman of the ALA Post-War Planning Committee (1943).Post-War Standards for Public Libraries. Chicago: American Library Association.
• Joeckel, C.B. & Winslow, A. (1948). A National Plan for Public Library Service. Chicago: American Library Association.
• University of Chicago. 1946. Library Extension, Problems and Solutions : Papers Presented before the Library Institute at the University of Chicago, August 21-26, 1944. Edited by Carleton B. Joeckel. Chicago, Ill.: University of Chicago Press.

Federal aid to libraries only began in 1956 with passage of the Library Services Act ( LSA). However, the ground work  goes back to the 1930s and ALA was a central organizing force.

The Ground work and the American Library Association

A book--The Government of the American Public Library (1935)-- by Carleton B. Joeckel was a major step. 

Joeckel analyzed library governance and advocated for federal support. He  was a key figure in the American Library Association  during the mid-20th century.. He focused on addressing disparities in library access, particularly in rural and underserved areas, and championed the need for federal involvement to support a nationwide system of public libraries. His contributions were primarily through research, publications, and leadership in ALA committees.

 Joeckel headed up a committee to analyze the Library of Congress and prepared a report that included Post-War Standards for Public Libraries in 1943.  He was chair of the ALA's Post-War Planning Committee.

In 1944, as Dean of the Graduate Library School at the University of Chicago, Joeckel organized a Library Institute. The papers prepared at this Institute addressed three areas: (1) library service organization at the local level; (2) role of the state, and (3) state and federal aid to libraries.

In 1948 ALA published  A National Plan for Public Library Service. (Joeckel and Winslow, A.).

Role of the States

 State library organizations rallied local communities, librarians, and elected officials to demonstrate the need for federal aid. They provided data on underserved populations, such as the 26 million Americans without library access in the 1950s, which was critical in convincing Congress to act. State library associations and agencies were instrumental in advocating for the LSA, which provided the first major federal funding for libraries. State librarians, often coordinated by the American Library Association  lobbied Congress to address the lack of library access in rural areas. 

ALA and The Library Services Act (1956)

Germaine Krettek  joined the ALA Washington Office in 1952.  Her leadership elevated its influence during a critical period for library legislation. She built on the groundwork laid by Joeckel and Winslow's 1948 plan and  worked with state library associations. She ensured the LSA's implementation by working with State Library Administrative Agencies (SLAAs) to develop state plans for rural library services.

Librarians found two sponsors- Senator Lister Hill (1894–1984) and Representative John E. Fogarty (1913–1967). They co-sponsored the LSA in 1956. They advocated for libraries as essential to education and community development.Elizabeth Myer,

In 1956, Congress passed the Library Services Act (LSA), authorizing $7.5 million annually for five years to extend and improve public library services in rural areas with populations under 10,000. This marked the first major federal program specifically for libraries, administered by the U.S. Office of Education. To qualify, states had to submit plans for developing services in underserved regions, promoting resource sharing and minimum standards.

Sources:

• American Library Association Honorary Membership

• Healey, James S., John E. Fogarty: Political Leadership for Library Development Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press, 1974.

• Library Trends 24 (1) 1975: Federal Aid to Libraries: Its History, Impact, Future. Casey, Genevieve M. (editor).

• Molz, Redmond Kathleen (1976). Federal Policy and Library Support. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

• Joeckel, Carleton B. 1935. The Government of the American Public Library. Chicago Ill: University of Chicago Press.

• Joeckel, C.B. Chairman of the ALA Post-War Planning Committee (1943).Post-War Standards for Public Libraries. Chicago: American Library Association.
• Joeckel, C.B. & Winslow, A. (1948). A National Plan for Public Library Service. Chicago: American Library Association.
• University of Chicago. 1946. Library Extension, Problems and Solutions : Papers Presented before the Library Institute at the University of Chicago, August 21-26, 1944. Edited by Carleton B. Joeckel. Chicago, Ill.: University of Chicago Press.