What is a "MARC", and how did they come to be?????

In August 1973 a survey carried out by the Library Branch showed that 100,000 of the 385,000 pupils in Victorian primary schools were without central library services. The majority were in schools too small to justify the establishment of a central library. As a result of the survey a joint submission from Library Branch and a group of small schools in the Hamilton Inspectorate was forwarded to the Schools Commission with a proposal for funding. This was not approved, as it was felt the States had specific monies for the extension of library services.

The submission was put to the Director of Primary Education  (Mr. R. Row) who agreed to fund a pilot scheme at Hamilton, along with a similar scheme at Rosedale.

The service was we1l received by the schools attached to each of these schemes and the enthusiastic response from the children, teachers and parents, has led to an expansion of these libraries throughout the country areas of the state.