THE NEED FOR AN ADULT BASIC EDUCATION CENTER IS ILLUSTRATED BY STATISTICS ON ILLITERACY IN THE UNITED STATES FROM THE 1960 CENSUS. ELEVEN PERCENT OF ADULTS WERE FUNCTIONALLY ILLITERATE AND NEARLY 2.3 MILLION HAD NEVER BEEN ENROLLED IN A SCHOOL. CONCERN TO ERADICATE ILLITERACY IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD IS SHOWN IN UNESCO'S RESOLUTION AND AMERICA'S PRIVATE AND GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR THE CAUSE. WITHIN THE UNITED STATES, HOWEVER, ONLY A SPORADIC ATTACK HAD BEEN MADE ON UNDEREDUCATION UNTIL THE MID 1960S. CONGRESSIONAL ACTS HAVE PROVIDED FOR ADULT BASIC EDUCATION AND SEVERAL STATES HAVE SET UP PROGRAMS. THERE IS URGENCY FOR SPECIAL LITERACY MATERIALS AND THERE SHOULD BE COOPERATION BETWEEN PUBLISHERS AND SCHOOL SYSTEMS. THE OFFICE OF EDUCATION HAS RECOGNIZED THE NEED FOR A CENTER TO DEVELOP AND DISTRIBUTE MATERIALS AND IS CONSIDERING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION CENTERS. THE PROPOSED CENTER IN SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, COULD CARRY OUT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND COLLECT AND DISTRIBUTE EXISTING MATERIALS. IT COULD WORK CLOSELY WITH EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL AGENCIES IN THE COMMUNITY AND COORDINATE THEIR ACTIVITIES WITH THOSE OF OTHER AGENCIES IN THE STATE AND COUNTRY. (RT)