
Free to All by Abigail A Van Slyck
Familiar landmarks in many American towns, Carnegie libraries today seem far from controversial. This study shows that the classical facades and symmetrical plans of these buildings often mask the complex and contentious circumstances of their construction and use. This is a social and architectural history of the Carnegie library phenomenon, an unprecedented programme of philanthropy that helped erect over 1600 public library buildings in the United States. Van Slyck untangles the overlapping and conflicting motives of the many people involved in erecting, staffing and using the libraries: Andrew Carnegie himself; small-town civic boosters avid for new investment; metropolitan library trustees anxious to maintain the elite character of urban libraries; architects reacting to increased professional specialization; a growing number of female librarians; and the children and adults, frequently immigrants, who came to borrow books.| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780226850313 |
| ISBN 10 | 0226850315 |
| Title | Free to All |
| Author | Abigail Van Slyck |
| Series | Emersion: Emergent Village Resources For Communities Of Faith |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | University Of Chicago Press |
| Year published | 1996-03-01 |
| Number of pages | 294 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |