The Public Library in the Life of the American People, 1850-2000

FAIN: FA-53901-08

Wayne A. Wiegand
Florida State University (Tallahassee, FL 32306-0001)

For generations, American public libraries have done three things very well--made information accessible, provided cultural space for the construction of community, and furnished billions of reading materials. Yet for all those years, people in the library field have concentrated mostly on the first. I intend to write a comprehensive history of the American public library since 1850 that will take a "library in the life of the user" perspective. This study will harness newer humanities scholarship on the public sphere and the social nature of reading to demonstrate multiple roles these ubiquitous institutions have played (and continued to play) in their host communities.

Associated Products

Part of Our Lives: A People's History of the American Public Library (Book)
Title: Part of Our Lives: A People's History of the American Public Library
Author: Wayne A. Wiegand
Abstract: Despite dire predictions in the late 20th century that public libraries would not survive the turn of the millennium, their numbers have only increased. Two of three Americans frequent a public library at least once a year, and nearly that many are registered borrowers. Although library authorities have argued that the public library functions primarily as a civic institution necessary for maintaining democracy, generations of library patrons tell a different story. Wiegand delves into the heart of why Americans love their libraries. The book traces the history of the public library, featuring records and testimonies from as early as 1850. Rather than analyzing the words of library founders and managers, Wiegand listens to the voices of everyday patrons who cherished libraries. Drawing on newspaper articles, memoirs, and biographies, Part of Our Lives paints a clear and engaging picture of Americans who value libraries not only as civic institutions, but also as public places that promote and maintain community. Whether as a public space, a place for accessing information, or a home for reading material that helps patrons make sense of the world around them, the public library has a rich history of meaning for millions of Americans. From colonial times through the recent technological revolution, libraries have continuously adapted to better serve the needs of their communities. Wiegand demonstrates that, although cultural authorities (including some librarians) have often disparaged reading books considered not "serious," the commonplace reading materials users obtained from public libraries have had a transformative effect for many, including people such as Ronald Reagan, Bill Moyers, Edgwina Danticat, Philip Roth, Toni Morrison, Sonia Sotomayor, and Oprah Winfrey. Part of Our Lives is an insightful look into one of America's most beloved cultural institutions.
Year: 2015
Publisher: New York: Oxford University Press
Type: Single author monograph
ISBN: 978-0-19-02480
Copy sent to NEH?: Yes

Part of Our Lives: A People's History of the American Public Library (Book)
Title: Part of Our Lives: A People's History of the American Public Library
Author: Wayne A. Wiegand
Abstract: A history of the American public library through the eyes and words of its users.
Year: 2015
Primary URL: http://global.oup.com
Primary URL Description: Oxford University Press website
Access Model: open access
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Type: Single author monograph
ISBN: 978-0-19-06602
Copy sent to NEH?: No

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