5/25/2023 0 Comments Ilibrary companymaynard![]() ![]() Historically in the South, the notion of public became operationalized as having resources and assets that were funded by tax revenues but that were made available habitually for the privileged use of whites only. A striking example is the exclusionary racist practice in the South of the denial of access to public facilities and institutions to African Americans (which prevailed until the latter decades of the 20th century). Surrounding this evolving American story of free and open access to library collections is quite inescapably the history of discriminatory practices across the nation and over almost the entire time of the nation’s existence. The first large public library, containing over 16,000 volumes, was founded in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1848. Along these lines, the first totally tax-supported library was established in Petersborough, New Hampshire, in 1833. Instead they were governed by boards, funded by taxes, did not charge for services, and were specifically focused on “serving the needs of the general public” (“First Public Libraries”). To be noted, they did not follow a subscription model. With the rise of literacy in the newly formed United States of America, these types of free lending libraries became increasingly popular, and especially so after the American Civil War. The residents of Franklin voted for the books “to be freely available for town members, creating the nation’s first public library” (“First Public Libraries”). In 1790, he donated a collection of books to a town in Massachusetts (that ultimately named their town after him). Franklin demonstrated his commitment to this view, however, in yet another way. This example offers evidence of the commitment of public leaders, such as Benjamin Franklin, to the view that books, learning, and the creation of spaces for cultural and intellectual engagement are valuable for the community and indeed a public good. It serves now as an independent research library focused on American life and culture. After more than 250 years, the Library Company’s collection has continued to grow and evolve. ![]() After the Revolutionary War, the Library Company served as the Library of Congress while Philadelphia was the seat of national government. Franklin gathered 50 founding shareholders who pooled their resources, contributing 40 shillings and agreeing to pay 10 shillings per year, to purchase and build a library collection. This group gave rise to the establishment of the Library Company of Philadelphia on July 1, 1731. The Junto (the meeting) was a mutual improvement group known also as the Leather Apron Club (made up mainly of tradesmen and artisans). One of the first of these types of organizations in the American colonies was established in Philadelphia in 1727 by Benjamin Franklin and a group of his friends. These privileges were not generally available to non-elite groups, including middle and lower socio-economic classes, and the enslaved. Another advantage of club membership was that the clubs met regularly to engage in discussion and debate about issues related to religion and morality, education, politics, philosophy, art, and literature. These membership organizations evolved into lending libraries that functioned by subscription, giving the membership group the privilege of freely borrowing from a range of materials that they would otherwise find difficulty to afford. Facing this challenge, wealthy men often pooled resources to maximize their own access to materials by creating private book clubs. Libraries as a Public Goodĭuring the early years of Colonial America, books (which during this era needed to be imported from Europe) were very expensive and rare commodities. Note that this narrative was created in collaboration with the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History. Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History
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