05255nam 2200805 450 991079742710332120230126214625.00-19-024802-50-19-024801-7(CKB)3710000000462480(EBL)2146966(SSID)ssj0001531101(PQKBManifestationID)12631539(PQKBTitleCode)TC0001531101(PQKBWorkID)11533342(PQKB)11258190(MiAaPQ)EBC2146966(Au-PeEL)EBL2146966(CaPaEBR)ebr11090307(CaONFJC)MIL822129(OCoLC)918852976(EXLCZ)99371000000046248020150717h20152015 uy| 0engur|n|---|||||txtccrPart of our lives a people's history of the American public library /Wayne A. WiegandOxford ;New York :Oxford University Press,[2015]©20151 online resource (345 p.)Description based upon print version of record.0-19-024800-9 Includes bibliographical references and index.Machine generated contents note: -- Introduction -- 1. 'Improv'd the General Conversation of Americans': Social Libraries Before 1854 -- 2. For 'Plain People': The American Public Library,1854-1876 -- 3. 'The Best Reading for the Greatest Number at the least Cost': 1876-1893 -- 4. 'The Liberty to Read What They Will and When': 1893-1917 -- 5. 'Habitations on a Literary Map:' 1917-1929 -- 6. 'One Island of Refuge': 1929-1945 -- 7. 'Winning the Battles of Daily Life': 1945-1964 -- 8. 'An Individual Meaning to Each User': 1964-1980 -- 9. 'Library Paste is a Precious Part of Social Glue': 1980-2000 -- Epilogue. 2000-Present."Despite dire predictions in the late twentieth 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. In Part of Our Lives, Wayne A. 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 social spaces for promoting and maintaining 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 goes on to demonstrate 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 like Ronald Reagan, Sonia Sotomayor, and Oprah Winfrey. A bold challenge to conventional thinking about the American public library, Part of Our Lives is an insightful look into one of America's most beloved cultural institutions"--Provided by publisher.historisk fremstillinghumordfolkebibliotekhumordusahumordPublic librariesUnited StatesHistoryLibrariesUnited StatesPublic opinionHistoryPublic opinionUnited StatesHistoryLibrary usersUnited StatesAttitudesHistoryPublic librariesSocial aspectsUnited StatesHistoryLibraries and communityUnited StatesHistoryLibraries and societyUnited StatesHistoryBooks and readingUnited StatesHistoryhistorisk fremstillingfolkebibliotekusaPublic librariesHistory.LibrariesPublic opinionHistory.Public opinionHistory.Library usersAttitudesHistory.Public librariesSocial aspectsHistory.Libraries and communityHistory.Libraries and societyHistory.Books and readingHistory.027.473027.473HIS036000HIS054000bisacshWiegand Wayne A.1946-752583MiAaPQMiAaPQMiAaPQBOOK9910797427103321Part of our lives1513356UNINA