This report describes the literacy activities of Missouri Public Libraries in 1996. The report includes: a letter from the Missouri Secretary of State; national and state literacy statistics and trends; a description of the library survey and its results; state library efforts; lists of Missouri and national literacy organizations with contact information; and a listing of Missouri Public Libraries that participated in the survey and offer literacy services. The survey was designed to gather a fast response to basic questions such as the size of the population served by each library, the extent to which libraries are working with other literacy providers, and the kinds of literacy materials and services Missouri public libraries are regularly providing. Some libraries have special programming and/or do intensive training in literacy services, some libraries house collections for adult literacy students and/or tutors, some act as referral points for community services, and some provided space for tutoring. All contributions are valuable and provide necessary support for upgrading the literacy level of Missouri's citizens. A numerical breakdown of responses to the five questions is followed by a brief narrative of the literacy materials and services provided at each library. (SWC)