TWO OF THE MAJOR HANDICAPS TO GOOD RURAL SCHOOL LIBRARY PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN INADEQUATE FINANCES AND SMALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS. THROUGH RECENT FEDERAL ASSISTANCE, REORGANIZATION OF SCHOOLS, ESTABLISHMENT OF INTERMEDIATE UNITS, AND OTHER MEANS OF COOPERATING ACROSS DISTRICT LINES, RURAL SCHOOL LIBRARY PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN IMPROVED. A GOOD SCHOOL LIBRARY PROGRAM CONSISTS OF THE FOLLOWING--(1) A READING, LISTENING, AND VIEWING CENTER WHERE SKILLS AND TASTES ARE DEVELOPED, (2) A LEARNING LABORATORY FOR RESEARCH AND STUDY WHERE PUPILS LEARN TO WORK ALONE AND IN GROUPS, (3) A MATERIALS CENTER WHERE PUPILS AND TEACHERS LOCATE MATERIALS REGARDLESS OF FORMAT, (4) A CENTER CONTRIBUTING TO THE PERSONAL, SOCIAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE OF PUPILS, AND (5) AND INSTRUCTIONAL CENTER FOR IMPROVING THE USE OF LIBRARY MATERIALS THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL. THIS DOCUMENT ALSO INCLUDES WAYS SOME RURAL AREAS ARE PROVIDING IMPROVED LIBRARY PROGRAMS. THIS BOOKLET IS AVAILABLE FOR $1.00 FROM PUBLICATION SALES DIVISION, NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, 1201 SIXTEENTH STREET, N.W., WASHINGTON, D.C. 20036. (ES)