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 for her report by grouping similar information together and creating paragraphs or sections for each topic. She could start with an introduction explaining the Pack Horse Library initiative and its purpose during the Great Depression. Then, she could discuss the challenges faced by the people of the Appalachian region, such as the lack of food, education, and jobs. Next, she could talk about the need for literacy improvement in eastern Kentucky and how the Pack Horse Library initiative addressed that need. She could then provide details about the logistics of the program, such as the role of librarians, the routes taken by carriers, and the conditions they faced. Finally, she could discuss the impact of the program on the community, including initial resistance from some families and the success of the initiative in reaching thousands of families and schools.
2. Possible headings for her report could be:
- Introduction: The Pack Horse Library initiative during the Great Depression
- Challenges in the Appalachian region during the Great Depression
- The need for literacy improvement in eastern Kentucky
- The role of librarians in the Pack Horse Library initiative
- Carriers and their routes: Bringing books on horseback
- The logistics and challenges of the program
- Impact on the community: Overcoming resistance and reaching families and schools.