Public Libraries Their Development And Future Organization Classic Reprint

Excerpt from Public Libraries, Their Development and Future Organization It was a wonderful system - as a piece of elaborate mechanism but it was a system that was deliberately fashioned for the purpose of turning out certain types of mind and character. If you have read that brilliant and horrible production of the genius of Mr. Wells - The Island ofdr. Moreau - you will remember how the wonderful gifts of the great scientist were devoted to the creation of repulsive simulacra of humanity. When we see the great kultur machine of Germany working at high pressure for generations and ending with the production of scientists whose supreme achievement is the introduction of the most repulsive savagery into the conduct of war, and of philosophers whose function is to justify and even to applaud the work of their confreres, we can hardly help feeling that in this, as in other directions, Mr. Wells has shown himself to be the most successful of our prophets, and that in Dr. Moreau he has shown us the logical outcome of German methods in education. It is, to my mind, one of the greatest virtues of the library move ment as an element in national education that it is necessarily an in strument of liberty and the enemy of over-rigid systematization. Our one aim is to put freely before those whom we serve all that is best in the world's literature. The student may perhaps be too narrowly, too specially trained in his academic routine. We supply the best of anti dotes when we invite him to wander among our bookshelves and to decide for himself what he will read! We are entitled to believe that it is in our power to play an impor tant part in strengthening those two elements in our intellectual training - freedom and morality - which will preserve us from the dangers into which the mind of Germany has been led by its drilled and regimented professors. There was a feeling in the early days of the war that we could afford to close down such things as public libraries and art galleries. That feeling is vanishing, and there is evidence ofa distinct change of attitude in the public mind. We are beginning to realize the short-sightedness Of such a policy, and so far from closing down the libraries, we find people beginning to consider in what ways these and similar institutions can be made to serve more effectively both the intellectual and practical needs of the community. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Public libraries play an important role in our society, and this book provides a comprehensive overview of their history and current state. The book includes information on the development of public libraries over time, as well as their current organizational structure and funding sources. Whether you are a librarian, a library patron, or simply interested in learning more about this important institution, this book is sure to be an enlightening read. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Public Libraries and Their Communities: An Introduction provide an overview of public librarianship today. It covers library organization, policy development, staffing, fiscal organization including funding sources and budgets, the legal framework, relationships with local and state governments, advocacy, services and service development for different age groups and for different groups of users, development of programming and outreach, collection development, promotion and marketing, and current issues and trends. In addition to context and concepts, the book uses many examples from both large and small public libraries to bring principles to life. Examples include real library policies, case studies, strategic planning, organization charts and library budgets. Many think that public libraries are not complicated to run.This book aims to show that public libraries are very complicated and require much skill on the part of the director, staff, and Board of Trustees to meet the needs of their local users.Advocacy and marketing have become important parts of the work of public libraries. Funding is always challenging so public libraries must constantly be making the local government and its citizens aware of the public library – its programs, collections, and services. This book's focus is on how public libraries reach beyond the walls of their buildings and touch the lives of their citizens.Meeting community interests and needs is essential for 21st century public libraries. For students the book offers discussion questions at the end of each chapter. These questions also provide discussion starters for public library staff development.

Academic and public libraries are much different today than they were even 15 years ago. With even bigger changes on the horizon, what lies in store? This volume offers ideas to academic and public librarians about the future of library services. Editors Hernon and Matthews invite a raft of contributors to step back and envision the type of future library that will generate excitement and enthusiasm among users and stakeholders. Anyone interested in the future of libraries, especially library managers, will be engaged and stimulated as the contributorsExamine the current state of the library, summarizing existing literature on the topic to sketch in historical backgroundProject into the future, using SWOT analysis, environmental scans, and other techniques to posit how library infrastructure (such as staff, collections, technology, and facilities) can adapt in the decades aheadConstruct potential scenarios that library leaders can use to forge paths for their own institutionsThe collection of knowledge and practical wisdom in this book will help academic and public libraries find ways to honor their missions while planning for the broader institutional changes already underway.

This book offers a comprehensive history of public libraries and provides a practical guide for their organization and management. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the development of libraries and their role in society. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

The Encyclopedia of Library and Information Sciences, comprising of seven volumes, now in its fourth edition, compiles the contributions of major researchers and practitioners and explores the cultural institutions of more than 30 countries. This major reference presents over 550 entries extensively reviewed for accuracy in seven print volumes or online. The new fourth edition, which includes 55 new entires and 60 revised entries, continues to reflect the growing convergence among the disciplines that influence information and the cultural record, with coverage of the latest topics as well as classic articles of historical and theoretical importance.

"This set of books represents a detailed compendium of authoritative, research-based entries that define the contemporary state of knowledge on technology"--Provided by publisher.