readings for 25-31 August 2008
the beginnings
We are going to be considering the historical development of the American public library and will read several selections describing some key points in its evolution. As you read, consider how the story portrayed in the text meshes with the story of your local public library. You need only comment on the readings from the text, but feel free to broaden your consideration as you see fit.
in our text
- read pages 13-27 and 42-51 in Chapter 2, Brahmins, Bequests, and Determined Women: The Beginnings to 1918
- read pages 61-75 in Chapter 3, Public Library Growth and Values: 1918-2004
other readings you may find interesting
The username and password to use, should you be prompted for one, is on our blog at Username and password for readings
- Williams, P. (1988).
The public library inquiry 1948-1950. In The American
public library and the problem of purpose (pp. 65-83). New
York: Greenwood Press.
- a discussion of an effort to evaluate the role of the public library in American life and the negative reaction to its findings
-
The Infography about the History of Public Libraries in the
United States
The following sources are recommended by a professor whose research specialty is the history of U.S. public libraries.
- Public Library
Geographic Database (PLGDB)
The database includes the locations of America's 16,000 public libraries, population characteristics from the US Census that best describe people that use libraries, and library use statistics from the National Center for Educational Statistics.
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