The development of school libraries in South Carolina is closely tied to the creation of the public school system in South Carolina and to State Department of Education and Federal funding initiatives. The timeline below chronicles the major events.
Major Events | |
---|---|
1868 | Public schools are created in the South Carolina constitution with Justus K. Jillson as the first superintendent of education. |
1903 | Governor Heyward initiates the first legislation for school libraries. State matching funds continue through 1927. |
1928 | The Rosenwald Fund provides funding for books for Black schools. |
1930s | Only high schools have trained librarians. Only 28 of 237 schools have a librarian. Teachers administer the majority of the school libraries. |
1931 | Thirteen county libraries offer circulating collections to the White schools through a central school library department. |
1940s | Audiovisual materials and equipment become a part of school library collections. |
1946 | Nancy Jane Day is appointed State Department of Education Supervisor of Library Services. |
1950 | The S. C. High School Library Association is formed. |
1958 | Title III federal matching funds become available for math, science and foreign language materials. |
1960 | Elementary standards are adopted by the State Board of Education. By 1963-64, 67% of all elementary schools have central libraries. |
1964 | New standards for high schools are published and Title III materials are expanded to cover English, reading, history, geography and civics. |
1965 | Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act provides funding for collections and the hiring of librarians and district supervisors. |
1968 | The S. C. High School Library Association and the Student Assistants of S. C. unite to form the S. C. High School Library Media Association. |
1969 | The American Association of School Libraries and the National Education Association issue a publication entitled "Standards for School Media Programs." In the publication, the libraries are referred to as "school media centers" and the librarian is a "media specialist" who works with children and teachers to promote the most effective use of all media. |
1970s | Media production becomes a part of school libraries. |
1970 | Nancy Jane Day retires. Central libraries are in 97.6% of the schools. |
1972 | The USC School of Librarianship opens. The number of uncertified librarians is reduced by 41% in the 1970s. |
1974 | The S. C. Association of School Librarians, affiliated with the American Association of School Librarians, is formed. |
1976 | The South Carolina Book Award program is begun. |
1978 | New certification requirements for media specialists are adopted by the State Board of Education. |
1980s | Information Power is released in 1988. The microcomputer becomes part of the school media program. |
1990s | Library catalogs are automated. |
1996 | State funding provides for networks with internet access in all schools. |
1998 | Information Power II is released. |
Read More About:
Margaret Ehrhardt - Dean's Speech on the History of School Libraries from 1945-1985
S.C. School Libraries in The Libraries of South Carolina, by Mary Frayser
Nancy Jane Day - The Development of School Libraries Television Script
This page created by Donna Teuber
Updated January 17, 2000.
Copyright 2000 by the
Board
of Trustees of the University of South Carolina