Thursday Thirteen 126: The Library

September is Library Card Sign-Up Month. Public libraries are a vital service to any community, granting access to many materials and resources—not just a variety of books on a vast array of subjects, but also computer access, research databases, job and business resources, free movies and music, and much more.

1. The first libraries open to the public were collections of Greek and Latin scrolls found in dry sections of Roman baths during the Roman Empire. Though anyone could access them, they were not lending libraries.

2. During the 9th century, “halls of science” run by varying Islamic sects of North Africa and the Middle East were open to the public. The libraries had strict policies, and few were allowed to remove books from site.

3. The oldest European libraries date back to around 1600, with claims of being the oldest made by the Bodleian Library, Norwich Library, and Francis Trigge Chained Library. Other early libraries of Great Britain include Bristol (1613), Ipswich (1612), and Leicester (1632).

4. Williams James Sidis claimed that the public library was an American invention, and cites The Boston Public Library as the first town library in the States, established in 1636.

5. In 1731, Benjamin Franklin and friends established The Library Company of Philadelphia as a means of settling arguments. It was a “subscription” library, which allowed people to buy shares, the money from which went to purchase books for the library. Only members or shareholders were allowed to use the library, and could actually remove books from the premises. The Library Company is now a nonprofit, independent research library.

6. The first public library of the United States is believed to be the Franklin, Massachusetts Public Free Library. When town founders decided to take the name of Franklin, he was asked to donate a bell for the church steeple. Franklin instead made an offer of books for use by town residents.

7. More than 2,500 public libraries owe their existence to Scottish-American businessman Andrew Carnegie, who donated money for the building of both public and university libraries across the United States (1,689) and other English-speaking countries during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

8. Carnegie considered books and libraries an integral part of his life, beginning with his childhood in Scotland where he attended readings and discussions at the Tradesman’s Subscription Library, which his father helped establish.

9. As an immigrant in the United States, Carnegie worked for the local telegraph company in Allegheny, Pennsylvania and frequently borrowed books from his employer, Colonel James Anderson. Anderson allowed access to his personal library by workers every Saturday in order to improve themselves.

10. It was his personal experience as an immigrant, as a man who gained knowledge and wealth through the help of others, that reinforced his belief in a society based on merit, where anyone could become successful through hard work. It also reinforced his belief of giving back to the community.

11. Understanding the racial and economic biases of his time, particularly in southern communities, Carnegie did not insist that his libraries be racially integrated. Instead, he founded libraries of equal standing for African Americans—for example, the Colonel Carnegie Library in Houston, as blacks were prohibited from using the Carnegie Library there, thus reinforcing his belief that all people, no matter what their station in life, should have access to books and the means of improving their lives.

12. According to Walter E. Langsam, one of the important aspects of Carnegie libraries was that they contained “open” stacks, allowing patrons to browse the shelves and choose books for themselves. Before the “Carnegie Formula,” people were required to ask clerks to retrieve books for them from closed stacks.

13. Though hundreds of Carnegie library buildings have been converted to museums, community centers, office buildings and even residences as communities built newer and bigger facilities, more than half of those built in the US still serve their original communities as libraries, though many are now in middle-to-low income neighborhoods. For a list of Carnegie libraries in the US, CLICK HERE. (There is also a link at bottom of the page to view libraries built in other parts of the world, including Canada, Australia and the UK.)



LINKS TO OTHER THURSDAY THIRTEENS:
(Please leave your link if this is your first visit!)

Cambria Dillon * Ella Drake * Lucy Woodhull * Adelle Laudan
CM Torrens * Elise Logan * Mary Quast * Alice Audrey
Jeanne St James * Flicka Holt * Cassandra * Shelley Munro
Ms Menozzi * Inez Kelley * Stephanie Adkins
Paige Tyler * Janice Seagraves * Sophia Parkwood
Jennifer McKenzie * The Bumbles * Colleen * Raven

You can find more Thursday Thirteen participants HERE