Brief Description: Monthly files carbon copies of Washington Office Director contains brochures, correspondence, and reports, includes correspondence sent from the National Relations Office in Washington, D.C. to ALA officers and members (October 1945 to August 1949), correspondence with Carl Vitz, Chairman, Federal Relations Committee, Paul Howard, executive assistants Mary C. Tuomey (1947) and Viola I. Mauseth (1949) and public relations assistant Clara Fielder (1947-49).correspondence, brochures and pamphlets sent between the National Relations Office and state committees and officials relating to lobbying efforts, principally that favoring the Library Demonstration Bill, a report on Activities of the State-Federal Relations Committee (1947-48), names of interviewers, libraries who sent Bookmobile pictures (1947-48), correspondence between state committees and the National Relations Office, directives and address lists of State Coordinators (1943-49), clippings regarding the Library Development Fund (1944-45), information on the attitudes of Congressmen, Richard M. Nixon of California, and plans for the expansion of library services if federal support becomes available, Legislative Policy (1952-1969), Library Services in Rural Area (1953-1957), and Higher Education Facilities Act (1957, 1962, 1963).

Record Series Number: 17/1/5

Created by: Washington Office

Volume: 4.3 Cubic Feet

Acquired: 04/26/1974.

Arrangement: Arranged chronologically by date

Biographical Note for Washington Office :

In 1945 the ALA announced the establishment of the Washington office (1).  It began operation on October 1, 1945 (2).  It was to be supported by the Library Development Fund which was planned to cover a five year period, but which was discontinued after one year (3).

The function of the Washington office is to maintain a representative of libraries who monitors federal government activities and regulations, makes official comments on proposed regulations and supports legislation benefiting libraries and library service (4) through press, radio, and personal contacts, in cooperation with state and local library agencies (5).  The Washington Office reported regularly in the ALA Bulletin (1945-69).  Its publications include the ALA Washington Newsletter and a biannual Legislative Report of the ALA Washington Office (1979- ).

The Associate Executive Director of the Washington Office is responsible to the ALA Executive Director (7).

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