LIS510 lecture 4

LIS510 lecture 4 : LIS510 lecture 4 Thomas Krichel 2006-10-18

libraries after the revolution : libraries after the revolution private libraries goverment libraries college libraries social libraries school libraries public libraries special libraries

private libraries after the revolution : private libraries after the revolution Many colonial private libraries were destroyed in the revolutions. Not surprisingly many of the new collections contained Americana. An example is John Carter Brown (1797--1874) collected item of early Americana and books on explorations now part of Brown University libraries.

19th private libraries : 19th private libraries The US has been populated by folks who love to collect books. The US census in 1870 reported 107,673 private libraries. The average size was only 253 books. Time and place matter. 305 books in 1805 in St. Louis is remarkable. Same number in Boston would not be.

the presidents : the presidents The early presidents all had private libraries. Thomas Jefferson is supposed to have been the biggest bibliophile in the White House. In 1770 he lost his collection to a fire. In 1783, he had built up a new collection to 2640 volumes. In 1815 Thomas Jefferson sells his 6487 item collection to Congress for $23,490. LoC (to be) adopted his classification system.

Library of Congress (LoC) : Library of Congress (LoC) Started in 1800 with budget of $5,000. Destroyed in 1812 by the Brits. In 1864 Rand Spofford was appointed librarian of Congress by Lincoln. At time there were 5 staff in the LoC handling 60k volumes. It is only since that time that the library started its ascent to become the largest in the world by many measures.

LoC at the turn of the century : LoC at the turn of the century Spofford suggested that the library needs his own building as early as 1871. The building was completed in 1897. It can house up to 3M volumes. By 1990 it had 185 staff + 45 staff in copyright office. The classification system of Jefferson was overhauled and the holdings reclassified.

National Library of Medicine : National Library of Medicine Started by Congress in 1836 as the “Army Medical Library”. In 1865 it had 1800 volumes only. Then John Shaw Billings took over and developed it to 50k books and 60k pamphlets in 1880. By 1910 it had 100k volumes. In 1962 1.3 M volumes, staff of 300.

National Library of Agriculture : National Library of Agriculture It was founded in 1862 as the Department of Agriculture Library. It held 7k volumes in 1875 It held 200k volumes in 1929 NLA and NLM have played pioneering role in the building, maintenance and distribution of catalogs through digital media.

military libraries : military libraries Started in 1861 with Military Post Library Association with little official support. By 1875 almost every military post has a 50-2500 volume library. After WWI the American Red Cross, the YMCA, the ALA helped. After 1920 every station bigger than 2500 men has a library with staffed librarian. In 1943 over 2k post libraries with 900+ librarians working there .

the presidential library : the presidential library Usually located in the home town of a president. The oldest is for FDR in Hyde Park, NY. The 1955 presidential libraries administration act provides for the national archives and records administration to run such libraries. Funds for construction have to come from private sources.

state libraries : state libraries Many state libraries go back to the 19th century. But all experienced serious growth only in the 20th century. The Federal Libraries Act of 1956 and later acts provide for federal monies to states to aid library development. Such monies are usually channeled through the state library.

the poor college library : the poor college library The typical college library before the civil war was smaller than 25k volumes. It was made up almost entirely of gifts. old books reference works standard editions It has next to no financial support from the college. Open to students only a few hours per day or week.

the poor college librarian : the poor college librarian Generally it was a faculty member who was given the “honor” to run the library. They were not given any extra pay or training. The service they provided to both stock and patrons was poor.

educational matters : educational matters Until the mid 19th century, education was predominantly focused on theology, philosophy, history, grammar, rhetoric, and logic. The limited offerings in terms of subjects had it mirror in limited library offerings. By the middle of the 19th century, hundreds of colleges had been established. Their library facilities varied, but were generally limited.

literary societies : literary societies Students turned the literary society libraries that were popular on campuses. For example the Miskosmian society at Brown, founded 1794, renamed and reorganized as the Philemenian society in 1798. In that year they started to build a library. In 1821 it contained 1594 volumes. In 1833 it and its rival the “United Brothers” combined held 5,6k compared to 6k in the official university library.

Harvard library : Harvard library Harvard saved its library through the revolution and added it with confiscated books from fleeing loyalists. In 1780 it had 12k volumes. In 1790 it became the nation’s leading academic library. 1827: 25k 1840: 40k volumes 1870: 70k books, 30k pamphlets

growth through gifts : growth through gifts Between 1780 and 1840 the library received over 1000 gifts in kind In 1818 the library was give the American history collection of the German historian C.D. Eberling, with 3k books and 10k rare charts. John Adams and John Quincy Adams libraries came in part to Harvard. Senator Charles Sumner gave 1,3 volumes, many very rare.

college libraries : college libraries In 1851, Charles Coffin Jewett (college librarian at Brown) noted Our libraries are mostly eleemosynary institutions. Their libraries are frequently the change aggregations of the gift of charity; too many of them discarded, as well nigh worthless, from the shelves of donors. Oh dear!

example of Columbia : example of Columbia Columbia University had a small central collection augmented by departmental collections. The central library had 16k volumes in 1860. The budget remained small $175 per annum in 1825 $500 per annum in 1862 In 1870 they bought 325 books a year.

change in 1850+ : change in 1850+ Increased demands for technical skills from industry. Rise in science education seminars labs independent studies Import of a German higher education model with an emphasis on research. Increased wealth enables more philanthropy.

society responds : society responds The 1862 Morrill land grant act encouraged the creation of more universities. The American Library Association was founded and fostered the development of librarianship as a serious profession. Some important librarians emerged Jewett Winsor Dewey

Justin Winsor 1831--1897 : Justin Winsor 1831--1897 In 1877 Harvard hired Justin Winsor from the Boston public library as the librarian. He brought more customer orientation extended hours interlibrary loan reserve collection Winsor was one of the founders of the ALA.

Melvil Dewey: 1851--1931 : Melvil Dewey: 1851--1931 1876 was his big year. In that year Published the Dewey Decimal classification system. Founded Library Bureau, a furniture supply company Organized the first conference for librarians in Philadelphia which gave birth to the ALA. Was an original founders of the American Library Journal and served as the managing editor until 1881. 1886: Founded the Spelling Reform Association. “Melvil Dui” 1890: Elected President of ALA. Notorious womanizer, questionable wheeler and dealer.

example expansion: Harvard : example expansion: Harvard Total collections on campus 225k in1875 By 1900 over 560k In 1915 the library moved into the new Widener Hall, supposed to fit expansion for 50 years. By 1925 total collections was 2.5M In 1930 the Widener building was overfull. They added Houghton library for rare books Lamont library for undergraduates

further expansion at Harvard : further expansion at Harvard In the 1930, over 70 departmental and associate libraries were created. In 1940 over 4M volumes were held somewhere at Harvard. But there was probably quite a lot of duplication. In 1975 there were 10M volumes at Harvard.

19th social library: athenaeum : 19th social library: athenaeum This was a form of social library geared towards the provision of periodicals. Cost to join initially and annual dues were much higher than in other social libraries. First one was opened in Boston in 1807. The ones in Boston and Philadelphia exist to this day. The one in Chicago seems more into cultural artifacts.

the School system : the School system A modern school system only came about in the mid 19th century. In 1852 Massachusetts passed the first compulsory schooling law. But there was still a lot of memorization and teaching from a single text not bad by itself

Early school libraries : Early school libraries The Boston Latin school goes back to 1685 but little is known about its libraries. In NYC, PS1 had a small collection of books as early as 1810. By 1820 NYC appropriated $50 each year to buy books for schools. Generally school libraries were poorer than college libraries.

NY pioneers : NY pioneers In 1835 NY state passed a law saying that school districts could use taxes to fund school libraries. This act had little success. In 1838 a new act added state matching funding. In the three years after the act 400k books were placed in schools. By 1850 there were estimated to be 1.5M books in NY schools.

a period of decline : a period of decline Book sellers bound mass books poorly together to service the market. No proper staff and quarters lead school libraries to decline. Selection usually beyond the students’ interest textbooks general reference some inspirational literature

school libraries in other states : school libraries in other states Other states followed New York’s example. Generally the picture there was the same as in NY. There was not much in the way of school libraries until the end of the 19th century. NY lead the way again Erasmus Hall School in Brooklyn had a full-time librarian in 1900 Brooklyn Girls High had a librarian in 1905

reasons for development : reasons for development The idea of learning to read for the pleasure of reading became established in the early 20th century. There was a long debate over a central library for the school vs classroom collections. The 1913 census counted 10k school libraries but only 250 had more than 3k volumes.

the model high school library : the model high school library In 1915 the ALA formed the school librarians section. ALA and NEA commissioned a report on the state of school libraries from a committee lead by Charles Certain. Reports came out in 1920 and 1925 school libraries were deficient need to centralize all book holdings in one library need to be more integrated with the school

public libraries : public libraries In 1803 Caleb Bingham (first teacher and text book writer then bookseller) established a library for local youths in Salisbury, CT. He gave a pile of books and the municipality voted to provide funds for expansion. 1830 Peterborough NH establishes first free tax-supported public library. Public contributed to the decline of circulating and subscription libraries.

characteristics of public libraries : characteristics of public libraries The principle characteristics of public libraries are supported by taxes governed by a board open to all non-compulsory established by state law

background : background In the 19th century, hostility to public services went into decline. For the establishment industrialization brought wealth, but developed cities with a lot of social problems. immigration decline of church and family The workingmens movement started in the late 1820’s later supported libraries as part of the drive for better education.

Boston public library : Boston public library Its trustees commissioned a report in1852, http://www.scls.lib.wi.us/mcm/history/report_of_trustees.html ... reading ought to be furnished to all, ... on the same principle that we furnish free education .... the means of general information should be so diffused that the largest possible number of persons should be induced to read and understand questions going down to the very foundations of social order, Library opened in 1854.

Importance of the Boston PL : Importance of the Boston PL The report was widely read. It was headed by top library pros Charles Coffin Jewett (1858--1868) main concern: cataloging Justin Winsor (1868--1877) main concern: bums on seats Boston was the leading city in the US and everything happening there was bound to be imitated.

other important factors : other important factors The founding of the ALA Establishment of professional literature The 1876 “Report on Public Libraries in the United States of America” is a compendium of professional literature Establishment of the “Library Journal” in the same year. The philantropy of Andrew Carnegie

Andrew Carnegie: 1835--1919 : Andrew Carnegie: 1835--1919 Son of a poor Scottish weaver, comes to the US in 1843, where he accumulated a vast fortune is the steel industry. 1881: started spent over $56 million to build 2,509 libraries Carnegie funded buildings, not contents. He made sure the taxpayers would maintain. Some declined. Detroit declined 750k of Carnegie money conditioned it would raise 500k.

special libaries : special libaries It is not clear what makes a special library special. So here I will list some other libraries with some notes on historical origins.

newspaper libraries : newspaper libraries The NY Tribune (est. 1841) had a library before 1850. By 1874 it contained 5k books. In 1860 the NY Tribute began a “morgue”, i.e. a collection of past newspaper articles. After the civil war the Boston Herald and the New York times had libaries.

prison libraries : prison libraries In Philly the prison library started in 1829 with a gift. Sing Sing was given books by governor Seward in 1840. In 1867 it had 4k books In Alton, Il, books were donated to by inmates in Charlestown MA, in 1846. By 1875 some institutions such as prisons, reformatories, and insane asylums had libraries. Most of them catered for by inmates.

more special libraries : more special libraries Special libraries expanded from the beginning of the 20th century to support corporations to handle an ever growing amount of external information. They have a narrow focus to serve the company. Within that narrow aim, they may hold a wide variety of items.

http://openlib.org/home/krichel : http://openlib.org/home/krichel Please shut down the computers now. Thank you for your attention!