The Development of School Libraries
in South Carolina

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



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This page created by Donna Teuber
Updated January 17, 2000.
Copyright 2000 by the
Board of Trustees of the University of South Carolina