This study examines the first two years of the Higher Education Act (HEA) Title II-B Institute Program, 1968 and 1969. The primary objective is to describe the institutes and provide a data base for the program. The data base includes Division of Library Programs records, final evaluative reports, "plans of operation," and information on the institute participants and directors collected by mailed questionnaires. Unstructured, in-depth interviews were held with Regional Program Officers, Division of Library Programs staff, and with a sample of institute directors. During the two-year period 156 institutes were funded, which some 4668 participants attended. Most of the institutes were full-time residential programs with 67 percent held during the summer months. Roughly classified, some 39 percent of them were school library-oriented; the next highest, 10 percent, were oriented to public libraries. The directors reported the greatest impact (32 percent) was "stimulation and interaction between the regular staff and students and those of the institute." For the participants, attitude change, job satisfaction, job skills, and improved job performance were given the highest ratings. Directors derived greatest satisfaction from interaction with participants. The issues of greatest concern to directors were negotiations with the Division, participant selection, ad hoc decision-making, and timing. (Author)