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
To present the information in an organized and coherent way, Alicia could consider structuring her report in the following manner:
1. **Introduction**
- Explanation of the Pack Horse Library initiative
- Context: The conditions of the Great Depression and the impact on Appalachian Kentucky
- Importance of the program in promoting literacy and education
2. **The Challenges**
- The geography and infrastructure of Appalachian Kentucky, highlighting the lack of electricity and highways
- The state of literacy in eastern Kentucky in 1930
- The scarcity of food, education, and jobs during the Great Depression
- The dangers and difficulty packhorse librarians faced, including impassable roads and the health and reliability of animals
3. **The Initiative in Action**
- Description of how library sites were determined and housed
- The logistics of the Pack Horse Library program, including the staffing by librarians, the use of personal horses and mules, and the riders' routes and salaries
- The sources of reading materials, emphasizing the reliance on outside donations
4. **Community Impact**
- The reach of packhorse librarians in 1936 and 1937
- Initial resistance from mountain families and how this was overcome
- Testimonials or examples of how the program affected individuals and communities, if available
5. **Conclusion**
- The significance of the Pack Horse Library initiative's impact on the Appalachian region
- Reflection on the legacy and historical value of the program
**Possible Headings for Alicia's Report:**
1. **Introduction to the Pack Horse Library Initiative**
- Setting the Scene: The Appalachian Struggle During the Great Depression
- Lighting the Candle of Knowledge: The Birth of the Pack Horse Library Initiative
2. **The Challenges of Mountainous Terrain and Poverty**
- Overcoming Obstacles: The Rugged Roads and Scarce Resources of Kentucky
- Low Literacy in the Land of Appalachia: The Dire Statistics of 1930
3. **The Librarians on Horseback**
- The Heart of the Operation: Appalachian Pack Horse Librarians
- Saddle Up for Literacy: The Courageous Riders and their Equine Partners
- Delivery Routes and Routines: The Journey of Books and Magazines
4. **Impressions and Influences on Appalachian Communities**
- Bridging Divides: Building Trust with Mountain Families
- Spreading Education: The Pack Horse Library's Reach into the Heart of Appalachia
5. **Conclusion: The Lasting Legacy of the Pack Horse Libraries**
- From Hoofbeats to Heartbeats: The Enduring Impact of the Pack Horse Initiative
- The Trailblazers of Literacy: How the Pack Horse Libraries Wrote History