Congress has declared construction and operation of libraries priority expenditures'' for local governments receiving funds during the next five years under the State and Local Fiscal Assistance Act of 1972. (Author)

General Revenue Sharing (GRS) was developed under the pretension of bringing government closer to the people by enabling them to exercise greater influence on the distribution of federal tax revenues. Libraries have not received fair and impartial consideration under GRS; in fact, very few public services have. (Author/JPF)

Federal funding for any good purpose, like libraries, is based upon no rational estimate of the actual value of that cause, or of its real need for money. (Author)

Comments on a study of major significance entitled "Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Federal Funding of PUblic Libraries," which was prepared for NCLIS by Government Studies and Systems Inc. in 1976. This report serves as an effective background document for discussion of issues and policies. (JPF)