Alicia is writing an informative text on the topic of the Pack Horse Library initiative, a mobile library program created during the Great Depression. Alicia gathered the following facts from her initial research:
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 books 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?
1. Alicia could organize these ideas by creating paragraphs or sections of the report that focus on specific aspects of the Pack Horse Library initiative. For example, she could have a paragraph about the background and purpose of the program, another paragraph about the impact of the initiative in terms of literacy rates and education, another paragraph about the challenges faced by librarians and carriers, and so on. By organizing the ideas in this way, Alicia can provide a clear and structured overview of the Pack Horse Library initiative.
2. Some possible headings Alicia could use for her report are:
- Introduction to the Pack Horse Library initiative
- The Impact of the Program
- Challenges Faced by Librarians and Carriers
- The Role of Donations in the Program
- Road Conditions and Safety Issues
- Initial Resistance and Acceptance from Mountain Families
1. Alicia could organize these ideas for her report by creating an outline. She can group related facts together and arrange them in a logical order. For example, she could start with a brief introduction explaining the Pack Horse Library initiative and its purpose during the Great Depression. Then she can present the facts about the program, including the number of families and schools served, the challenges faced, and the role of librarians and carriers. Finally, she can discuss the impact of the program and any resistance faced from the community.
2. Possible headings for Alicia's report could include:
- Introduction: The Pack Horse Library Initiative during the Great Depression
- Challenges Faced in the Appalachian Region of Kentucky
- The Pack Horse Library Program: Distribution and Libraries
- Duties and Responsibilities of Packhorse Librarians and Carriers
- Funding and Donations for the Program
- Difficulties and Dangers on the Road
- Resistance and Initial Suspicion from Mountain Families
- Impact and Legacy of the Pack Horse Library Initiative
1. To organize these ideas for her report, Alicia could start by categorizing them based on their similarity or relevance. She can group facts related to the purpose and impact of the Pack Horse Library initiative, facts about the conditions during the Great Depression, facts about the logistics and operations of the program, and facts about the challenges faced by the librarians and the communities they served. This way, she can present a cohesive and comprehensive overview of the initiative.
2. Alicia could use the following headings for her report:
- Introduction: Provide a brief overview of the Pack Horse Library initiative and its significance during the Great Depression.
- Purpose and Impact:
- Bringing Education to Isolated Communities: Highlight the objective of the program and its impact on the people who lacked access to schools and libraries.
- Statistics: Include data on the number of families and schools served by the librarians.
- Conditions during the Great Depression:
- Scarcity of Food, Education, and Jobs: Discuss the challenging circumstances faced by the Appalachian region of Kentucky during the Great Depression.
- Illiteracy Rates: Share information on the high illiteracy rates in eastern Kentucky during that time.
- Logistics and Operations:
- Mobile Libraries: Explain how the libraries were set up in various facilities and staffed by librarians.
- Book Distribution: Describe how the librarians gave books to carriers, who would then ride their horses or mules to deliver the materials to mountain communities.
- Frequency and Routes: Discuss the regularity of the book deliveries and the extensive distances covered each week by the carriers.
- Funding and Donations: Highlight the reliance on outside donations for the books and magazines carried by the librarians.
- Challenges and Resistance:
- Dangerous Roads: Explain how the poor road conditions posed a risk to the carriers and their horses.
- Health and Reliability: Discuss the difficulties related to maintaining healthy, strong, and reliable horses for the program.
- Initial Suspicion: Mention the initial resistance faced by the librarians from some mountain families who were suspicious of outsiders.
- Conclusion: Summarize the overall significance of the Pack Horse Library initiative and its contribution to providing access to education and literacy during a challenging time in Kentucky's history.