MORE THAN 10,000 CHILDREN ATTEND SCHOOLS WHERE THERE ARE NO SCHOOL LIBRARIES. SIXTY-SIX PERCENT OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS DO NOT HAVE A SCHOOL LIBRARY. EVEN SCHOOLS WITH CENTRALIZED LIBRARIES HAVE FEWER THAN FIVE BOOKS PER PUPIL, AND MANY ARE WITHOUT PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED LIBRARIANS. BECAUSE OF THESE STATISTICS A SPECIAL ISSUE ON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LIBRARIES IS PRESENTED. THE NEED FOR GOOD SCHOOL LIBRARIES IS EVIDENT BECAUSE OF THE FUTURE ROLE OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. THE LIBRARY PROVIDES MATERIALS FOR VARYING NEEDS, INTERESTS, AND ABILITIES, AND ENCOURAGES THE STUDENT TO PURSUE INDEPENDENT STUDY AT HIS OWN PACE. IT PROVIDES HELP FOR THE SLOW READER AND CHALLENGES THE GIFTED. THE LIBRARIAN GUIDES IN THE USE OF REFERENCE RESOURCES AND TOOLS. ONE ARTICLE CONSIDERS THE ROLE OF THE LIBRARY IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROGRAM FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE CHANGING CURRICULUM. ANOTHER ARTICLE OFFERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW SOME OF THE RESEARCH ON THE EVALUATION OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LIBRARY. A SPECIAL SECTION INCLUDES AN ARTICLE ON THE FUTURE TRENDS AND NEEDS OF THE LIBRARY AND ITS RESOURCES. THIS ARTICLE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE "ALA BULLETIN" FEBRUARY 1962.