Part of Our Lives A People's History of the American Public Library

Afbeeldingen

Artikel vergelijken

  • Engels
  • Hardcover
  • 9780190248000
  • 29 oktober 2015
  • 344 pagina's
Alle productspecificaties

Samenvatting

Part of Our Lives challenges the conventional idea that public libraries are valuable mostly because they are essential to democracy.



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.

Productspecificaties

Inhoud

Taal
en
Bindwijze
Hardcover
Oorspronkelijke releasedatum
29 oktober 2015
Aantal pagina's
344
Illustraties
Nee

Betrokkenen

Hoofdauteur
Wayne Wiegand
Tweede Auteur
Wayne Wiegand
Hoofduitgeverij
Oxford University Press Inc

Overige kenmerken

Extra groot lettertype
Nee
Product breedte
184 mm
Product hoogte
25 mm
Product lengte
260 mm
Studieboek
Nee
Verpakking breedte
188 mm
Verpakking hoogte
24 mm
Verpakking lengte
257 mm
Verpakkingsgewicht
802 g

EAN

EAN
9780190248000
Nog geen reviews

Kies gewenste uitvoering

Prijsinformatie en bestellen

Niet leverbaar

Ontvang eenmalig een mail of notificatie via de bol app zodra dit artikel weer leverbaar is.

Houd er rekening mee dat het artikel niet altijd weer terug op voorraad komt.