A committee was appointed by New York's Commissioner of Education to study the state's progress in fulfilling a 1958 legislative mandate that all residents of the area served have free direct access to the resources and services of all member libraries in a public library system. To carry out its mission, the committee: (1) sent a six page questionnaire to the 22 public library systems; (2) sent letters to 700 public and association libraries asking for comments on their experiences with direct access; (3) held meetings and hearings; (4) studied numerous reports, studies, and data contained in the files of the Division of Library Development; and (5) sent letters to out-of-state library agencies. General findings indicate that there is an overwhelming approval of the concept of direct access; 18 of the 21 library systems responding to the questionnaire indicate no serious problems or inequities stemming from direct access; and what serious problems were reported were found to be concentrated in areas of rapid suburban growth. Additional findings are summarized, along with narrative statements on the tenets of the direct access concept, recommendations to remedy identified problems as a result of the committee's investigations, and recommendations for future consideration. Appendices include excerpts from education law and regulations of the Commissioner of Education pertaining to direct access, the questionnaire sent to the library systems, and selected statements made at committee hearings. (JPF)