During the Great Depression, librarians rode on horseback into the Appalachian region of Kentucky and distributed reading material to the people otherwise isolated from schools and libraries. This program was called the Pack Horse Library initiative.
In 1936, packhorse librarians served 50,000 families and, by 1937, 155 public schools. During the Great Depression, food, education, and jobs were scarce for people living in the Appalachian region
of Kentucky. In 1930, up to 31 percent of people in eastern Kentucky couldn't read.
⚫ Electricity and highways in Kentucky were not as advanced as those in neighboring states.
• Libraries for the Pack Horse program were housed in any facility that was available, from churches to post
offices.
• Librarians staffed these libraries, giving books to carriers who then rode their horses or mules and brought
to those living in the mountains, • Carriers rode out at least twice a month, with each route covering 100 to 120 miles a week.
• Riders used their own horses and mules. Riders earned $28 a month.
The books and magazines they carried usually came from outside donations.
Roads could be dangerous and impassable. Health, strength, and reliability of the horses were a problem.
Some mountain families initially resisted the librarians, suspicious of outsiders/intruders.
1. How could Alicia organize these ideas for her report?
2. What headings could she use?
books
1. Alicia could organize these ideas for her report by creating sections or paragraphs for each key point or aspect of the Pack Horse Library initiative during the Great Depression in Kentucky.
2. Possible headings for Alicia's report could include:
- Introduction: Background on the Great Depression and the need for the Pack Horse Library initiative
- The Pack Horse Library program: Overview of how it operated and its goals
- Challenges and obstacles: Discussion of the difficulties faced by librarians, including lack of infrastructure and resistance from some communities
- Scope and impact: Details on the number of families and schools served, as well as the overall effect of the program
- Librarian duties and responsibilities: Description of the librarians' roles and responsibilities, including book distribution and routes
- Donations and resources: Information on where the books and magazines came from and the reliance on outside support
- Conclusion: Summary of the significance of the Pack Horse Library initiative and its contribution to education and access to reading material in the Appalachian region of Kentucky during the Great Depression.
1. Alicia can organize these ideas for her report by first providing an overview of the Pack Horse Library initiative during the Great Depression in Kentucky. This can include information about the purpose of the program and the challenges faced by the people in the region.
Next, she can outline the operations of the program, such as the logistics of delivering books and the responsibilities of the librarians and carriers. She can also discuss the conditions of the roads and the impact of electricity and highways on the initiative.
Alicia can then delve into the importance of the program in providing education and literacy opportunities to the people in the Appalachian region. This can include statistics on illiteracy rates and the positive impact of the program on the community.
Lastly, she can discuss the initial resistance faced by the librarians from some mountain families and the efforts made to overcome these challenges.
2. Possible headings for Alicia's report could be:
- Introduction: The Pack Horse Library initiative during the Great Depression in Kentucky
- Challenges Faced by the People in the Appalachian Region
- Operations of the Pack Horse Library Program
- Logistics of delivering books
- Roles and responsibilities of librarians and carriers
- Conditions of roads and impact of infrastructure
- Impact on Education and Literacy
- Illiteracy rates in the region
- Importance of the program in providing education
- Overcoming Resistance and Building Community
- Conclusion: The Legacy of the Pack Horse Library initiative
To organize the ideas for her report, Alicia can use the following headings:
1. Introduction
- Background information on the Great Depression and its impact on the Appalachian region of Kentucky
- Importance of education and access to reading materials during this time
2. The Pack Horse Library Initiative
- Explanation of the program and its purpose
- Role of librarians in distributing reading materials
- Statistical data on the number of families and schools served
3. Challenges Faced by the Pack Horse Librarians
- Lack of infrastructure (electricity and highways) in Kentucky
- Availability and suitability of library locations
- Use of personal horses and mules and their impact on the effectiveness of the program
- Limited resources for acquiring books and magazines
4. Role of Carriers
- Responsibilities of the carriers in delivering books and magazines
- Frequency of deliveries and the distances covered
- Compensation and qualifications of the carriers
5. Impact and Resistance
- Improvement in literacy rates in eastern Kentucky
- Initial resistance and suspicion faced by the librarians from mountain families
- Importance of community outreach and building trust
6. Conclusion
- Overall significance and legacy of the Pack Horse Library Initiative
- Inferences about the program's contribution to the education and well-being of Appalachian communities during the Great Depression