Journal Entry 3

Why have societies created and maintained libraries?

Assigned Readings

This assignment pertains to the historical development of libraries. Rubin starts with libraries “need to have the society’s records readily accessible to the citizenry.” A society must meet three basic criteria for library development: centralization, economic growth, and political stability (Rubin, 2004).

One of the earliest libraries, “the Sumerian temple library”, was an archive of commercial records (Rubin, 2004). The temple was at the heart of the economic and social meetings; the library contained not only commerce records, but math texts, hymns and works on medicine. From Mesopotamia, Rubin travels through the Egyptian papyrus libraries. The Alexandrian Library had a mission to collect the entirety of Greek literature. With such a lofty goal, the collection development was extremely aggressive. This same aggressive collection policy would be repeated. During the Renaissance, it was quite fashionable to have a large personal library. These vanity libraries may have saved a number of texts. The collectors sent their “agents to locate and retrieve the manuscripts stored in the deteriorating monastic libraries”.

Then the printing press came on the scene and had a monumental impact. Before the printing press, books were written by hand and often prone to copy mistakes or intentional editing by the copier. Multiple copies of works could be completed quickly unlike the slow hand copy method. Because more books now existed on more subjects, more people learned to read.

In America, there were few libraries at in the beginning seventeenth century. Colonies were founded thus meeting the first requirement of centralization; however, society was struggling to succeed. There was little room for leisure and study. Eventually, small parish libraries were established and a few private libraries were found in “homes of ministers, doctors and other prominent citizens” (Rubin, 2004). As with Europe, the industrial revolution led to the emergence of both the social and the circulating libraries. The main difference between the two types of libraries is that social library a fee was paid for collection development and maintenance (non-profit); whereas, in the circulating library a fee was paid to rent the book (for-profit). The next two monumental developments in American libraries were the Morrill Land Grant Act and Andrew Carnegie. “The federal government recognized that it could play an important role by providing grants of land to states for educational purposes.” This allowed for the development of higher education and the establishment of schools such as Ohio State University and University of Illinois. Next the largesse of Andrew Carnegie provided funds to build over 2,000 libraries. Carnegie was not concerned with the contents of the buildings that was a community decision. He provided a stable location for the collection.

Society has needed libraries to collect, store and retrieve records it produces. The earliest libraries were the hub of economic record keeping, because they were located within temples naturally religious text were also stored. Libraries have been for personal edification whether emperors, kings or the well-to-do. Libraries have been established for the good of society; although what society is in question in some of the revisionist slants.

Rubin, R. E. (2004). Foundations of library and information science. New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers, Inc.

This article traces the developed of the libraries in the Britain. Specifically, Sturges explores how they are fundamentally different then the national libraries of Western Europe. The Leeds Library is used as a case study for library development.

Sturges, P. (2003). Great city libraries of Britain: their history from a European perspective. Library History, 19, 93-111.

Supplemental Reading

This article addresses the future of the library specifically the future of the Denver Public Library. Libraries have been evolving with the addition of “subscription databases”, and online encyclopedias (Jeske, 2006). There are new items to be incorporated into the library downloadable books, streaming music, and downloadable movies. Jeske writes that the world is shifting from the traditional patron who is “wary of technology” to “a society of digital immigrants”. With all the technology and information available, it is easy for those who are wary to become overwhelmed with the choices. “Few customers find joy in searching; for most, the joy is in finding” (Jeske, 2006). Jeske further states that most “customers do not understand” the terms used by libraries “to describe databases and other electronic resources.” Librarians are the searchers; the experts in retrieving information. Lastly, the library must consider the needs of all the patrons; providing the materials, instruction, and support that each requires without prejudice toward one individual or group’s needs.


Jeske, M. (2006). Who knows what the future will bring? Get prepared! Colorado Libraries, 32 (2), 14-18.