American Library Association Archives https://archives.library.illinois.edu/ala at the University of Illinois Archives Tue, 22 Sep 2020 19:47:13 +0000 en-US hourly 1 67797549 You’ve Got Mail: Carnegie Libraries, As Seen Through Library Postcards https://archives.library.illinois.edu/ala/youve-got-mail-carnegie-libraries-as-seen-through-library-postcards/ Mon, 31 Aug 2020 18:59:26 +0000 http://archives.library.illinois.edu/ala/?p=7085 The history of public libraries in the United States is as vast and varied as the histories of the towns and cities they inhabit. Despite providing essential services since their inception, the spaces libraries inhabited were not always befitting of their importance. Many were kept in small backrooms or were forced to share space with other local organizations, impeding access to information and depriving citizens of a central gathering space. In this dearth, Andrew Carnegie – an enterprising businessman who at one point was the richest man in the world – saw an opportunity. Between 1893 and 1919, Carnegie gave away $60 million of his fortune to fund 1,689 public libraries across the country [1, 2]. Adjusted for inflation, that figure today reaches towards $1.3 billion. These “Carnegie libraries” became cultural centers in towns big and small and were instrumental in constructing the blueprint of small-town America as we know it today.

These towns were often so proud of these monuments of culture that they distributed postcards celebrating the new library. Many of these postcards, along with thousands of other postcards of libraries around the world, are housed at the American Library Association Archives in the Sjoerd Koopman, Celene Bishop, Judy Muck, and Daniel W. Lester Library Postcard Collections.

Carnegie Library, Washington D.C., 1910 (Record Series 97/1/55)

The desire to bring open access to information to the masses was a value ingrained in Carnegie from the time he was a bobbin boy in an Allegheny City, Pennsylvania textile mill. Unable to afford either the cost of new books or the $2 subscription fee for an apprentices-only local library, he wrote a letter to library administration asking for access. After the administration’s rebuke, Carnegie got the letter published in a local paper, causing the administration to reverse their decision and allow all working men access to library materials [1]. Former director of the Union County Carnegie Library (2011-2015) Ben Loftis noted that upon receiving $10,000 from Carnegie in 1903, UCCL became the town’s first truly public library. He commented, “It went from being for just the wealthy elite landowners and planters to actually being a service for the entire county that everybody has access to.” [1]

Carnegie Library, Barbados, 1905 (Record Series 97/1/65, Box 11)

Despite spreading his immense wealth to fund the construction of nearly every American library built before the end of World War II, Carnegie’s legacy of philanthropy is not without its dark marks and paternalistic stances. In an 1889 article published in the North American Review, he commented that “the problem of our age is the proper administration of wealth” and that the wealthiest in society should use their riches to “enable the deserving poor to help themselves.” [2] However, when some of his steelworkers in Homestead, Pennsylvania went on strike for better pay and working conditions, demanding “What good is a book to a man who works 12 hours a day, six days a week?”, Carnegie suppressed their efforts in what has come to be remembered as one of the United States’ most bitter labor disputes [1].

Put in the context of his article in the North American Review, along with one of his most famous writings (“The Gospel of Wealth”), were these workers not trying to better their lot and “help themselves”? Were these workers not the same kinds of people Carnegie had fought so hard for back in the textile mills of Allegheny City, Pennsylvania? When considering the full picture of Carnegie’s immense gift to the institution of public libraries, the incongruity between his professional existence as a calculating, capitalistic industrialist and a generous philanthropist who has been referred to as the “Patron Saint of Libraries” [3] is something that needs to be seriously grappled with.

Carnegie Library, Eats End of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1908 (Record Series 97/1/72, Box 10)

Despite the allure a Carnegie gift could inspire, some towns refused to take the money. Justifications varied, but according to historian Wayne Wiegand, the overwhelming reasoning was rooted in class consciousness, with one union leader in Wheeling, West Virginia stating that “there will be one place on this great green earth where Andrew Carnegie can’t get a monument with his money.” [4]

These so-called monuments were not just free money – with it came strict design standards and a substantial application process.

Although many Carnegie libraries have similar architectural styles, the particulars of architectural design (and the bloated costs – with potentially no added value to library users – that go along with it) were never a priority for Carnegie. Abigail A. Van Slyck, author of Free to All: Carnegie Libraries & American Culture, 1890–1920, noted that “it would be much better just to get a building, a good one that was efficient that would allow people to access books really readily.” [2] In this way, Carnegie sided with the librarian’s need for a workspace that was both practical for library operations and pragmatically beautiful enough to be prized for generations. Over time, Carnegie and James Bertram, his private secretary, developed “Notes on the Erection of Library Buildings,” a pamphlet that outlined ideal library layout templates (developed in consultation with librarians) and sent to the communities chosen to receive a Carnegie Library grant [2]. These templates provide recommendations on the basic construction of the buildings but offer nothing in the way of design. These recommendations, which most of the grant recipient communities followed, are a major reason why Carnegie libraries look alike, despite the different communities they serve. Some notable commonalities among Carnegie libraries include a community center or auditorium space, a flat back side to the library that would allow for future expansions, and a staircase entrance. While not spectacularly grand, these libraries became a place of pride for communities, and as more towns received grants and constructed libraries, their neighbors wanted in.

Carnegie Library, Cheyenne, Wyoming, 1911 (Record Series 97/1/66, Box 4)

Any communities on the receiving end of Carnegie’s money were subject to specific parameters after an extensive application process. In the early days of his library philanthropy, procedures were less formalized, and Carnegie fulfilled grant requests himself. As more and more requests came in, Bertram and the Carnegie Corporation handled all queries. As part of the application, town officials had to outline what they’d be willing to do on their end to provide a long-standing site for the library and support within their community, including raising a tax in support of library operations and the ability for the town to establish permanent funding for library operations and materials. Many towns went above and beyond in their application materials: in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, city officials sent in a robust packet of information that was “part Census form, part tourism brochure, extolling the noble history of Eau Claire while detailing its population, geography, and amenities.” [3] They also included this letter:

“In and by a resolution heretofore unanimously adopted by the Common Council of the City of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, the undersigned were appointed a committee to prepare and present to you, in behalf of the City of Eau Claire and its inhabitants, a request that you give to said City the sum of fifty thousand dollars, or such additional sum or portion thereof, as, in your bounty and good judgment, you deem would be commensurate with the needs and requirements of this City and its inhabitants, to build and construct a suitable building to be devoted to the purpose of maintaining a free library in this City for all future time, to be known as the “Carnegie Library.”

Eau Claire Public Library, 1913 (Record Series 97/1/55)

Each interested library received a Schedule of Questions to complete that asked about the town’s population size and whether the town already had a library. Library grants were only given to applicants in English-speaking countries, through an additional $16 million was donated to help in the construction of more than 800 libraries in other countries [4]. By funding the creation of thousands of libraries around the world, Carnegie was able to spread his philosophies and cement his legacy in a way that no single building or company could.

Of all the libraries Carnegie financed, about 70% of them were in small towns. The public interest and excitement sparked by the construction of a Carnegie library was instrumental in generating interest in public libraries all over the United States. “It was an expectation in communities across the country – if you didn’t have a library, somehow you were not supporting culture. Without Carnegie, we’d still have public libraries, but they’d be different and probably fewer in number,” noted Wayne Wiegand, historian and author of Part of Our Lives: A People’s History of the American Public Library [2]. Many of these Carnegie library buildings are still in use – some as museums, city halls, community centers, and 800 are still public libraries. No matter how they are used currently, these buildings stand as symbols of the revolutionary idea that all people, regardless of status or income, deserve access to the same information – housed in a library built to suit their needs and uplift their goals.

[1] Stamberg, Susan. “How Andrew Carnegie Turned His Fortune Into A Library Legacy.” NPR, NPR, 1 Aug. 2013, www.npr.org/2013/08/01/207272849/how-andrew-carnegie-turned-his-fortune-into-a-library-legacy.

[2] Capps, Kriston. “How Andrew Carnegie Built the Architecture of American Literacy.” Bloomberg.com, Bloomberg, 28 Oct. 2014, www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-10-28/how-andrew-carnegie-built-the-architecture-of-american-literacy.

[3] Bobinski, George S. “Carnegie Libraries: Their History and Impact on American Public Library Development.” ALA Bulletin, vol. 62, no. 11, 1968, pp. 1361–1367. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/25698025.

[4] Mitchell, Robert. “Andrew Carnegie Built 1,700 Public Libraries. But Some Towns Refused the Steel Baron’s Money.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 9 Apr. 2018, www.washingtonpost.com/news/retropolis/wp/2018/04/09/andrew-carnegie-built-1700-public-libraries-but-some-towns-refused-the-steel-barons-money/.

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Publications: Interpreting America, 1942-1947 https://archives.library.illinois.edu/ala/publications-interpreting-america/ Wed, 01 Jul 2020 12:00:11 +0000 http://archives.library.illinois.edu/ala/?p=6953 From at least 1942 through 1947, known under the series title Interpreting America, the American Library Association produced a series of lists to support reading about cultures, histories, and politics of people in the United States. Each installment is rich with recommendations of contemporary writings on the peoples of the USA. Read on to learn more about early Interpreting America!

In an earlier iteration, in Volume 16, Number 7, a copy of Interpreting America is found in the Bulletin of the New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox, and Tilden Foundations. This edition was a supplement to the serial publication, with two sections. Before the majority of the supplement’s content, the selected list of new books available at branch libraries, there is Interpreting America: Books for Americans Old and New, which credits Readers’ Advisor Jennie M. Flexner and Committee on Work with the Foreign Born Chair Esther Johnston.  Over the span of four pages, the book suggestions are organized into seven sections, including: “America Today and Yesterday”, “American Biography”, “English Language and American Citizenship”, “American Customs”, “Contemporary American Fiction”, “Short Stories”, and “Plays”.

In August, 1942, a new, expanded edition of the publication was released. In the preface, the list’s development is attributed to a group of librarians (Headquarters staff and others) who compiled the initial list before soliciting literary critics, professors, and European refugees for comments. The resultant sixty-seven page document is a wealth of recommendations for readers. The 25 new sections include: “Current Books on the War”, “American History – the Background of Today”, “American Regions and their Cities”, “American Society: It’s Patterns and Problems”, “Economic Structure and Growth”, “Government and Politics”, “American Law”, “International Relations”, “Philosophy”, “Education in the United States”, “Libraries”, Public Welfare and Social Security”, Family and Community Life”, “Flora and Fauna”, “Nature Books and Naturalists”, “Medicine and Hygiene”, “Nutrition”, “Engineering”, “The Fine Arts”, “Recreation”, “American Literature”, “Biography”, “A Few Useful Reference Books”, “Children’s Books”, and a “List of Publishers”.

As the foreword describes, in its current form, the bibliographical selections emphasize works about the US by US writers, historical context of issues rather than aesthetic achievements, the accessibility of in-print rather than elusive out-of-print books, and the integrity to include both positive and negative issues in contemporary society rather than censoring unpleasant portrayals of the country. There was a lot to be read too, as this work was 67 pages in length!

In 1944, the new supplement, Interpreting The United States, Books of 1942-1944, was released. As we read in the foreword, while initially intended for British public libraries, the list was also included in the Books for Latin America Project of 1943-44. Unlike its predecessor, the editorial staff was reduced from ALA Headquarters and nationwide librarians to Jennie Flexner (of New York Public Library) and colleagues. In the table of contents, we see the sections including: “Current Books on the War and its Problems”, “American History”, “American Regions”, “American Society”, “Economic Structure and Growth”, “Government and Politics”, “City and Regional Planning”, “International Relations”, “Military and Naval Matters”, “Religion”, “Education in the United States”, “Libraries”, “Family and Community Life: Youth”, “Medicine and Hygiene”, “Nutrition: Cookbooks”, “Fine Arts”, “Recreation”, “American Literature”, “Biography”, “Humor”, and “Fiction”.

Over the next few years, multiple supplements would be published to help librarians keep pace with new books. By the release of Supplement 6, new sections included “Problems of Democracy”, “Philosophy and Religion”, “Libraries and Journalism”, “Housing”, “Recreation”, “Reference Books”, and “Children’s Books”.

In fact, separate lists of children’s book lists were published too, with at least as many as eight supplements, featuring the compiling work done by Helen E. Kinsey (The Booklist) and Elizabeth A. Groves (Winnetka Public Library).

While the ALA Archives’ holdings end with the eighth supplement in January 1947, it is quite likely that the publications remained in use by librarians in the US and abroad for years to come.

Copies Available at Your ALA Archives

Physical copies of early Interpreting America bibliographies are available for viewing at the ALA Archives. Please view the Record Series 29/45/2 database record entry, for more information.

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Many people have been involved in the long history of A.L.A. publications and bibliographic work. Do you have any information about early Interpreting America participants, collaborators, publications, or beneficiaries? Please contact us through social media. We and our readers would like to read about it.

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Publications: Books and Pamphlets on Library Work, 1921-1937 https://archives.library.illinois.edu/ala/publications-books-and-pamphlets-on-library-work/ Mon, 01 Jun 2020 12:00:56 +0000 http://archives.library.illinois.edu/ala/?p=6243 As early as the 1920s through 1930s, the American Library Association published Books and Pamphlets on Library Work to organize the many new expanding catalog of A.L.A. publications about library services and administration. Each publication is a helpful bibliography of extant library publications of its time. Read on to learn more about Books and Pamphlets on Library Work!

In 1921, a promotional postcard featuring a cartoon by Chicago Tribune cartoonist John T. McCutcheon includes a two-panel catalogue of publications about both library work and a copy of the poster as well as an order form too.

Also in 1921, the first Books and Pamphlets on Library Work was published, and it included a 15-page catalogue with an order form on the last page too. The publication continued annually for decades.

In 1925, the first significant layout change occurred. The now 29-page pamphlet include images from commissioned artists, including Harvey Dunn’s iconic “Develop the Power that is Within You” poster and the Reading with a Purpose series. An index of titles was included at the end of every issue too.

By the end of the 1920s, Books and Pamphlets on Library Work was published with color ink and in a larger paper size. The larger paper size enabled the page count to drop 15-pages in total. At the same time, the back cover of each issue now featured advertisements and eye-catching artwork announcing A.L.A. publications of interest too.

While during the 1930s, the publication returned to black ink and each issue featured a distinct cover design. Beginning in 1937, each issue included interior drawings in-between subsections too.

Copies Available at Your ALA Archives

Physical copies of Books and Pamphlets on Library Work are available for viewing at the ALA Archives. Please view the Record Series 13/10/12 database record entry, for more information.

Got Something to Donate to the Story So Far?

Many people have been involved in the long history of A.L.A. publications and library leadership. Do you have any information about Books and Pamphlets on Library Work participants, collaborators, publications, or beneficiaries? Please contact us through social media. We and our readers would like to read about it.

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Social Gatherings of Times Past: Century 21 Exposition (Seattle, 1962) https://archives.library.illinois.edu/ala/century-21-exposition-seattle-1962/ Tue, 19 May 2020 15:28:12 +0000 http://archives.library.illinois.edu/ala/?p=7009 It doesn’t seem too long ago that gathering in large groups was a normal part of life, but the COVID-19 pandemic that has swept across the world has made such gatherings feel like a distant memory. In the absence of any significant social gatherings in the near future, take a tour through one from the past – the Century 21 Exposition, also known as the Seattle World’s Fair, which over the course of its run attracted over 10 million people from all over the world to its many exhibits. One such exhibit was sponsored by the American Library Association, who showcased the importance of libraries to a world yearning for innovation.

Fair map from 1959 promotional booklet (Courtesy of Seattle Municipal Archives)

The Exposition, which took place April 21st to October 21st of 1962, was centered around promoting advances in modern science, space exploration, and future societal progressions [1]. All sectors of American society were excited about the possibilities of the Exposition – the publicity opportunities that millions of fairgoers presented enticed companies like Ford Motor Company and Boeing to sponsor exhibits in the World of Commerce and Industry section of the grounds. The United States government, excited at the prospect of exhibiting their prowess at the height of the Cold War, committed $9 million to the Exposition. Most of this commitment went to the construction of the NASA-themed United States Science Exhibit, which is now the Pacific Science Center.

Exterior view of the Pacific Science Center under construction, Seattle, 1961 (City of Seattle Municipal Archives)

Impressive exhibits need grand architecture to encompass them, and esteemed designer Paul Thiry was hired as chief architect of the Exposition. A major achievement during the construction of the Exposition was the Washington State Pavilion (now the KeyArena), which was the centerpiece of the World of Tomorrow area of the grounds. Thiry was responsible for the creation of an “aesthetically adventurous cityscape intended to excite the visitor with futuristic visions of scientific progress” [1]. The ultimate jewel of the Exhibition was the Space Needle, which remains an iconic architectural achievement to this day.

Space Needle and flags on March 29, 1962 (Courtesy of the Seattle Municipal Archives, 77810)

The American Library Association’s presence was made known at the Exposition through their exhibition, named Library 21 – an “automated library of the future” located in the Washington State Coliseum [2]. The ALA, seeing how much impact technology would have on future methods of information access, storage, retrieval, and communication in libraries, designed the 9,000 square foot space to “show how technical change will introduce new dimensions in library programs” [2]. The exhibit space was divided into two sections. One section was dominated by a state-of-the-art Sperry-Rand UNIVAC Solid State 90 computer, which demonstrated how computation systems could expand and simplify the learning process [4]. Visitors could submit queries to onsite librarians, who would find the answers using the UNIVAC machine.

UNIVAC computer at Library 21 exhibit (University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections, SEA2419)

The other section included a 40-seat theatre, sponsored by Xerox, that showed the history of recorded knowledge on microfilm through multiple projection techniques [3]. Other components of the Library 21 exhibit included [2 & 4]:

  • “Ready Reference” stations staffed by on-site librarians and stocked with a Xerox 914 copier (sponsored by Encyclopedia Britannica)
  • an Adult Reading Area (sponsored by Great Books of the Western World of Encyclopedia Britannica)
  • Micro Image Library of the Future (sponsored by National Cash Register)
  • RCA Video Library
  • Learning Resources Center (sponsored by U.S. Office of Education)
  • Children’s World, which housed 2,000 children’s books from around the world

ALA Exhibit at Century 21 Exhibition 1962 (University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections, SEA2418)

The Exposition designated October 2nd as “Library Day” to honor the work of librarians and highlight the important role libraries have played throughout history and the continued role they will play in the future.

Schedule of events includes a tour of foreign exhibits and ALA’s Library 21, Library Day at the Seattle World’s Fair (University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections, PAM0503)

The Century 21 Exhibition was hailed as a success, greatly surpassing its projected attendance. Visitors from around the world experienced cutting-edge technologies and expanded their worldviews, and guests at Library 21 learned about the vital importance of librarians and the services they provide. By showcasing the changes to come in information technology, the ALA showed that libraries can adapt to any challenge put in front of them. The advancements touted in the Library 21 exhibit, and the importance of those advancements to the furthering of librarianship, could mirror the impending changes to library systems in a post-pandemic world.

 

More information on the ALA’s involvement in the Century 21 Exhibition can be found at the American Library Association Archives, Record Series 2/4/66, Boxes 1-6.

[1] “Century 21 World’s Fair”, Seattle.gov, https://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives/exhibits-and-education/digital-document-libraries/century-21-worlds-fair.

[2] Brochure, 1962. Library 21, Record Series 2/4/66, Box 2. American Library Association Archives.

[3] Century 21 Exposition, 1962. Official Guide Book, Seattle World’s Fair 1962. Seattle: Acme Publications, p. 35.

[4] “1962”, American Library Association, February 27, 2013. http://www.ala.org/aboutala/1962

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Publications: Library Video Magazine, 1986-1990 https://archives.library.illinois.edu/ala/publications-library-video-magazine/ Fri, 01 May 2020 12:00:59 +0000 http://archives.library.illinois.edu/ala/?p=6265 From 1986 through 1990, the American Library Association produced a series of videos about general issues in library administration known as Library Video Magazine. Each installment is rich in the experienced perspectives of library leaders of its time. Read on to learn more about Library Video Magazine!

Unlike its predecessors, the Library Video Magazine was a video-based publication series available to libraries, librarians, and the general public too. Available in three media formats (VHS, Beta, and 3/4″ U-matic formats), the LVM was produced quarterly in 30-minute installments with a wealth of brief video segments on a variety of themes in each issue.

Before today’s online media-sharing services, the ALA was an early adopter of video-sharing as they developed this series of videos exclusively about libraries and library issues. To financially support production of these videos, early subscribers were offered a discounted annual subscription rate too.

Of course, each volume included an alphabetical subject index for locating specific video content too. To use the index, there were a few simple steps. First, viewers located the relevant subject title from the index. Then, the appropriate tape was loaded into the video player. Next, viewers rewound the tape. Afterwards, viewers set the tape counter to “zero”. Finally, the tape was advanced to the appropriate segment.

Following the first volume, the accompanying publication Prompts was included to provide production information to users. Beginning with Volume 2, the publication was renamed Producer’s Notes and it accompanied every issue. The new Producer’s Notes also included descriptions of each segment’s content.

By Volume 3, Producer’s Notes had reduced its size to fit into newer VHS tape containers. By Volume 4, while ushering in the new decade, Library Video Magazine had modified its format from four annual issues to three annual issues, and it reduced content to reduce subscription prices too.

The Library Video Magazine series continued for a total of 15 issues, published quarterly, over the course of half of a decade, while other publication series were produced alongside this series too. The later twentieth century saw a continued expansion of innovative A.L.A. publications guiding and supporting libraries and librarians across the country and the world.

Copies Available at Your ALA Archives

Physical copies of Library Video Magazine are available for viewing at the ALA Archives. Please view the Record Series 12/9/11 database record entry, for more information.

Got Something to Donate to the Story So Far?

Many people have been involved in the long history of A.L.A. publications and library leadership. Do you have any information about early Library Video Magazine participants, collaborators, publications, or beneficiaries? Please contact us through social media. We and our readers would like to read about it.

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Publications: Books for Young People, 1922-1940 https://archives.library.illinois.edu/ala/publications-books-for-young-people/ Wed, 01 Apr 2020 12:00:03 +0000 http://archives.library.illinois.edu/ala/?p=6216 As early as the 1920s through 1930s and known under a variety of titles, the American Library Association produced a series of resources to support popular young people’s reading in libraries. Each publication is rich in the experienced perspectives of library leaders of its time. Read on to learn more about early books for young people!

Before the production of many smaller pamphlets, the early A.L.A. Annotated Lists: Books for Boys and Girls: A Selected List, by Hartford Public librarian Caroline M. Hewins, guided librarians in identifying the right books for young people at the library. This publication was the ninth installment of the A.L.A. Annotated Lists series too. Published in multiple editions, Books for Boys and Girls includes a preface essay by the author (on the selection of books), the list of books (organized by subjects), and inspiring poems at the beginning of each topic. The book list is subdivided into sections including: “Illustrated Books for the Youngest Children”, “Magazines”, “Religion’, Life, Education, and Manners”, “Fairy Tales and Wonder Stories”, “Out-of-Door Books, and Stories of Animals”, “Applied Science”, “Amusements and Handicrafts”, “Painting and Sculpture”, “Music”, “Poetry Selections from Literature, and Stories Adapted from Great Authors”, “Stories of Home, School, City and Country Life and Adventure in the United States and England”, “Indians and Ranch Life”, “Voyages and Stories of Shipwreck and Desert Islands”, “Travel and Child-Life in Various Countries”, and “History and Historical Stories and Biographies”.

In 1922, Books for Vacation was published to aid with the selection of summer reading. In the issue above, the list is arranged by subjects including: “Adventures”, “Stories about Children”, “Stories from Other Countries or Cultures”, “Biographies of Famous Adults”, “Animal Stories”, “Poetry”, “Folklore and Mythology”, and “Picture Books about Children” too.

In 1922, Boys’ Books encourages young readers to friendly reading competitions among friends to finish the book list, and the book’s rear page includes an inspirational anecdote about famous men whose careers began with discoveries while reading books. In this list, books are arranged alphabetical by book title. Two years later, for the Rotary Club of New York and “with the advice of 700 libraries, teachers and business men throughout the country”, Myron T. Scudder, James Roe, and John Martin compiled their list of Books for Boys. This book list features titles arranged by suggested reader’s age and by author’s name thereunder.

In 1925, A Boy’s Book List was published with at least two variant cover images and A Girl’s Book List was published too. Both publications feature images inspired by books from the list, and books are arranged alphabetically by title.

At least as late as 1928, both titles continued to be published. In the two samples above, different color paper and layouts were employed to present the growing list of books for young readers.

Concurrently, some specialty publications were published for distribution at American Library Exhibits at International Expositions too. In the samples above, for the Sesquicentennial Exposition world’s fair at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the Gateways to Bookland series was published to include simple, cost effective lists to distribute to exhibit attendees. Over time, other titles would be created too, including the Science Booklist for Girls and Boys. From these humble first steps and for decades to come, the ALA’s support of young readers’ literacy would continue to develop and to grow with those readers and many more to come.

Copies Available at Your ALA Archives

Physical copies of early bibliographies for young readers are available for viewing at the ALA Archives. Please view the Record Series 13/10/14 database record entry, for more information.

Got Something to Donate to the Story So Far?

Many people have been involved in the long history of A.L.A. publications and library leadership. Do you have any information about early young reader book list bibliography participants, collaborators, publications, or beneficiaries? Please contact us through social media. We and our readers would like to read about it.

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Publications: Recent Children’s Books, 1925-1939 https://archives.library.illinois.edu/ala/publications-recent-childrens-books/ Sun, 01 Mar 2020 12:00:18 +0000 http://archives.library.illinois.edu/ala/?p=6505 From 1925 through 1939, known under the series title Recent Children’s Books, the American Library Association produced a series of resources to support collection development in children’s libraries. Each publication is rich with recommendations of contemporary children’s literature. Read on to learn more about early Recent Children’s Books!

At least as early as 1925, the earliest publications of Recent Children’s Books were four-page documents recommending recent children’s book publications from the previous year until present. Over time, the list would grow and so too would the bibliographies. In 1925, there were two sections, including “For Very Little Children” (as seen in the first image above) and “For Older Girls and Boys”. In 1926, a cover image was included featuring a cut courtesy of the Harcourt Brace and Company, with new ALA Headquarters member Jessie Gay Van Cleve credited as the compiler. In fact, for almost the entirety of the series, beginning with this edition, children’s book publishers took annual turns providing courtesy images for the bibliography’s cover. The 1926 edition also included six pages of recommendations too. The following year, in 1927, the content was reduced to four pages, “For Older Girls and Boys” was changed to “For Older Boys and Girls”, and a new cut was on the cover too. While the 1928 edition also featured a new image and four new pages of books too.

By 1929, the series was printed on color paper and the final page included the first series recommendation of a book catalog, Realms of Gold by Bertha E. Mahony & Elinor Whitney. In 1930, the layout changed from a vertical fold to a horizontal fold, possibly playfully extended the cover image of a larger water spout pouring books to a child (as seen in the second image above). In 1931, the series returned to the original vertical fold and the “For Older Girls and Boys” section was moved to the front. In 1932, a new section was added under the title “Christmas Stories”.

In 1933, the organization changed again with two new sections too, including “Picture Story Books” and “For Readers Eight and Over”. In 1934, the sections were replaced with “For Younger Children” and “For Older Boys and Girls”. In 1935, the publication began printing with ink colors other than black, a publication price guide was included at the bottom of the last page, and the books were arranged alphabetically by the author’s last name rather than by reading level. In 1936, the section titles were removed, a new catalog by Mahony and Whitney, Five Years of Children’s Books, was recommended at the end, and an untitled and possibly abstract image was included on the cover.

Two years later, in 1938, cuts were reintroduced on the cover while the section titles did not return until the following year. Then in 1940, North Portland Librarian Elizabeth A. Groves, took over as the compiler. Unfortunately, more issues have not been identified in our holdings yet, while the story likely continues on.

Copies Available at Your ALA Archives

Physical copies of early Recent Children’s Books bibliographies are available for viewing at the ALA Archives. Please view the Record Series 24/33/15 database record entry, for more information.

Got Something to Donate to the Story So Far?

Many people have been involved in the long history of A.L.A. publications and bibliographic work. Do you have any information about early book list bibliography participants, collaborators, publications, or beneficiaries? Please contact us through social media. We and our readers would like to read about it.

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“Librarians Are More Freedom Fighters Than Shushers”: Carla Hayden https://archives.library.illinois.edu/ala/librarians-are-more-freedom-fighters-than-shushers-carla-hayden/ Wed, 12 Feb 2020 20:13:25 +0000 http://archives.library.illinois.edu/ala/?p=6970

Carla Hayden, 2003 (Record Series 13/6/15, Box 4)

In a career that spans state and government agencies, Carla Hayden has always fought for the people who need library resources the most and championed their right to have equal access to these resources, free of any government intervention. In a June 2003 news release announcing Hayden’s tenure as ALA President, Hayden stated that, “Equity of access is not only one of the basic tenets of our profession but it encompasses all of our basic and pressing contemporary concerns as well. We need to recommit ourselves to the ideal of providing equal access to everyone, anywhere, anytime and in any format, particularly those groups who are already underserved.” [1]

After receiving both her Masters and Doctoral Library Science degrees from University of Chicago, Hayden was the Library Services Coordinator at Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry, an assistant professor of Library Science at University of Pittsburgh, and Deputy Commissioner and Chief Librarian at Chicago Public Library until she became Executive Director of Enoch Pratt Free Library (EPFL) in Baltimore (1993). She held that role until becoming Librarian of Congress in 2016. During her tenure at EPFL, she was also President of ALA from 2003-2004 – the second African American woman  to be elected. As a member of ALA, she has also served as Chair of both the Committee on Accreditation and the Spectrum Initiative, whose goal it is to recruit applicants and provide scholarships for Library Science graduate students from underrepresented groups in the field.

During her time as ALA President, Hayden focused on issues of equity of access and championing patron privacy. In remarks made at the 2004 American Library in Paris meeting, Hayden defines ‘equity of access’ as, “when all people have access to all library services and all types of library materials, no matter their age, ethnicity, physical ability, income, language, geographic location or type of library.” During the same speech, Hayden spoke strongly about the importance of privacy, stating, “privacy cannot be taken for granted, nor can we allow ourselves to become complacent in defense of people’s right to read without the interference of the government.” [2]

One of Hayden’s main crusades on the privacy front was coming up against the Patriot Act, which gives the United States government unparalleled access to private citizen information – including library records. In a Ms. Magazine profile, Hayden said that, “We serve the underserved. When libraries fight against the Patriot Act, or against mandatory Internet filters, we’re fighting for the public…What the library does is protect the rights of all people to fully and freely access information and to pursue knowledge, without fear of repercussion.” [3] Her efforts eventually convinced Attorney General John Ashcroft to declassify information about law enforcement’s requests for library records – a step in the right direction, but not the law change Hayden found necessary to ensure the free exchange of knowledge that is a cornerstone of librarianship.

Hayden believes in a community-centered, service-focused library that is attentive to its users’ needs. In an article in The New Yorker, Hayden remembers being drawn to the word “serve” when called upon by the Obama administration to be Librarian of Congress. “With the Baltimore experience, you really were almost touching the people who were benefiting from the work of the library. And I had to think about, how can I make this library that relevant, and that immediate?” [4] During the 2015 protests surrounding the death of Freddie Gray while in police custody, Hayden chose to keep all branches of EPFL open, including the branch located in the middle of the chaos, which became a place for refuge, information, comfort, and food during the unrest. The decision seemed natural to Hayden. “It wasn’t even a choice—you didn’t really think about should you or shouldn’t you. It’s just like, ‘Yeah—that’s what we do. That community, like so many communities across the country, depends on the library.” [4] This example of instinctual leadership makes her an exciting and inspiring Librarian of Congress.

Hayden is the first woman and the first African American to lead the Library of Congress, and the first librarian to lead since 1974. In a swearing-in speech, she reflected on the poignancy of the moment, saying, “as a descendant of people who were denied the right to read, to now have the opportunity to serve and lead the institution that is our national symbol of knowledge is a historic moment.” [4] Her candidacy was strongly supported on social media through a #Hayden4LOC campaign, along with immense support from over 140 organizations and institutions, the ALA, and every state library association. The pull this support had on the confirmation process shows how much power lies in focused advocacy – a trait Hayden has exemplified throughout her career.

Hayden grew up between two different libraries – the Illinois State Library where she would accompany her grandfather as he delivered correspondence between government buildings, and the public library branch in Jamaica, Queens near her school (P.S. 196) – and her experiences with them shaped what she believed a library should be and what the future of the Library of Congress could look like. Her early experiences with libraries were, “all about being comfortable with being around books, being around stacks, feeling free to be around them”, and she wants to get the Library of Congress to a place where, “there’ll still be a specialness, but not an exclusiveness. It should feel very special because it is very special, but it should be very familiar.” [4]

[1] News Release, 2003. Carla Hayden leads American Library Association, Record Series 12/1/4, Box 2, Folder: Biographical Information 2001-2003. American Library Association Archives.

[2] Remarks, 2004. American Library in Paris Annual Meeting, Record Series 2/4/14, Box 2, Folder: Hayden, Carla Correspondence 2003-2004. American Library Association Archives.

[3] “Carla Diane Hayden,” Ms. Magazine, vol. 13, no. 4 (Winter 2003/2004), p. 45.

[4] “The Librarian of Congress and the Greatness of Humility,” The New Yorker, February 19, 2017, https://www.newyorker.com/culture/sarah-larson/the-librarian-of-congress-and-the-greatness-of-humility.

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Publications: Children’s Books for General Reading, 1924-1929 https://archives.library.illinois.edu/ala/publications-childrens-books-for-general-reading/ Sat, 01 Feb 2020 12:00:53 +0000 http://archives.library.illinois.edu/ala/?p=6492 During the 1920s, the American Library Association produced a two-edition series of bibliographies for children’s libraries known as Children’s Books for General Reading. Both installments are rich with selections of contemporary children’s literature. Read on to learn more about early Children’s Books for General Reading!

In 1924, the first edition of Children’s Books for General Reading was published and it contains a list of books selected by Cleveland Public Library Director of Work with Children Effie L. Power. This 8-page publication includes 2 sections for different readers, including “Books for children Under Ten Years of Age” and “Books for Children Over Ten Years of Age”.

Research tip: Early bibliographies like this provide readers with both an early insight into what children might have been reading during the early 20th century.

In 1929, the second edition was published and revised. The new edition included both 300 titles and cover art too. Although this would be the final edition, the book list would continue in the author’s forthcoming book Work with Children in Public Libraries which was part of the Library Curriculum Studies series (Record Series 13/10/22).

Initially intended as an introductory bibliography to the field, over the course of 5 years, the Children’s Books for General Reading would provide a resource for librarians and library communities building early children’s library collections. Beyond its original purpose, this work would inform future publications supporting the development of librarianship for children everywhere.

Copies Available at Your ALA Archives

Physical copies of Children’s Books for General Reading publications are available for viewing at the ALA Archives. Please view the Record Series 24/33/15 database record entry, for more information.

Got Something to Donate to the Story So Far?

Many people have been involved in the long history of A.L.A. publications and library leadership. Do you have any information about early Children’s Books for General Reading participants, collaborators, publications, or beneficiaries? Please contact us through social media. We and our readers would like to read about it.

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Publications: Readers and Primers, 1929-1933 https://archives.library.illinois.edu/ala/publications-readers-and-primers/ Wed, 01 Jan 2020 12:00:34 +0000 http://archives.library.illinois.edu/ala/?p=6525 From 1929 through 1939, known under the series title Readers and Primers, the American Library Association produced a series of lists to support collection development in children’s libraries. Each publication is a rich with recommendations of contemporary children’s literature. Read on to learn more about early Readers and Primers!

The Section for Library Work with Children, (later Association for Library Service to Children) organized the Committee on Readers and Printers to prepare a list of series of readers and books for directing the informal reading of younger children in libraries. Chaired by Elizabeth D. Briggs, in 1929, the Committee produced 2 lists. The first list was 12 series of readers, and the second list was 23 separate books (as seen in the 3 images above). Following the introduction’s explanatory note, the Outline of Standards includes selection criteria for inclusion in the list.

In 1933, chaired by Los Angeles Public Library Directory of Work with Children Gladys English, the new publication expanded on Los Angeles City School Librarian Marion Horton‘s list found in the 1926-1931 A.LA. Catalog (Record Series 13/15/12). This new 1933 publication featured 2 different lists. The first list Easy Reading Books included 22 titles, and the second list Readers for the First Three Grades included 15 titles. Following the introduction, this publication also featured criteria for evaluating book titles for recommendation.

During the first few decades of the twentieth century, a great variety of bibliographic lists were produced by A.L.A. offices including the Readers and Primers, Early Reading Books, and Readers for the First Three Grades. These expert-consulted and professional-curated book reading lists laid the foundation for later ambitious reading service publications and programs from future A.L.A. members to librarians and book readers everywhere.

Copies Available at Your ALA Archives

Physical copies of early Readers and Primers book lists are available for viewing at the ALA Archives. Please view the Record Series 24/33/15 database record entry, for more information.

Got Something to Donate to the Story So Far?

Many people have been involved in the long history of A.L.A. publications and bibliographic work. Do you have any information about early Readers and Primers, Early Reading Books, and Readers for the First Three Grades participants, collaborators, publications, or beneficiaries? Please contact us through social media. We and our readers would like to read about it.

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