Week 2

J. P . Quincy, "Free Libraries" 1876
My thoughts, though a bit tardy, on this piece range from interesting, I didn't know that, to when was this written? Many of the statements ring true to the library system that we, in the 21st century know and love. So, I was a bit confused. Early in the article Perkins sets the stage for what has become an ongoing argument. That argument is, "should an institution, supported by tax-payers to promote the general interests of the community, hasten to supply any books which people can be induced to ask for. . ?" We are still dealing with this topic in the so-called 21st century, ie, Banned Books. If people want to read, let them read! Quincy states that "boys and girls will read what is put in their way, provided their attention is judiciously directed." Do people aways have to have someone telling them what they can and cannot do? As history has proven, if one tells one not to do something; all the more reason to do it. Interesting thought to ponder. . .that in 1800s control of what one could or could not read was, in a way, controlling society. (Italics represent my words as a rich, controlling money monger of the late 1800s) We need to attract the poor, illiterate people into our "free libraries" to teach, read and utilize our services. . .but we will limit/judge what they read. History has a way of repeating itself. I digress. . .The article goes on to explain that the "free Library will gradually become the centre of the higher life of its community." Which I believe is true and very profound. Quincy seems to be very much an advocate for what is to become of libraries in the future. Also, he is very telling of how they will function and the benefits that they will employ. Grandiose aspirations. . .although very much ahead of his time and very true.

Shera, Jesse, "Causal Factors in Public Library Development" 1949
This is a very interesting article in that it goes into detail why libraries are libraries. The who, what and why factors? Could it possibly be the need to help educate the masses? Or, perhaps the need to control society? Economics are always a factor when it comes to, "building it and they will come." During the time of library growth many other new and exciting endeavours were on the upswing. An age of industrialization. . .the money was abundant and so was philanthropy. Though stated this was a "contributory factor" instead of a causal factor. I believe it was a major factor! Preservation of cultural heritage became apparent and people of forethought believed that the way to do so would be to store that heritage in a place that cares about it. These rich guys were on to something! Also, the educational purpose of what a library could offer was a factor. To teach, one must have books, "what shall they read.?" (Horace Mann) With the educational system growing and becoming more complex a new wave of libraries were required to form. . . no longer just a library, but a library to educate the educated. Social libraries formed, as well as, theological and vocational. All for the purpose of universal education. Very causative.

Williams, Robert V., "The Public Library as the Dependent Variable: Historically Oriented Theories and Hypotheses of Public Library Development" 1981
This article is a re-statement of "why" were libraries developed. What "exactly" were the causative agents that formed public libraries. He rebukes previous theories in a long and repetitive discourse on variables. Are the historians correct, or are the librarians correct? In other words it all narrows down to. . .more research/study needs to be done.