Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
These same four library categories continued to reflect the archival function of
libraries throughout history. For example, the medieval library model was the mon-
astery library, a treasure intended to be valued equally for the collection of rare
manuscripts that were copied carefully and traded, and for the enlightenment that
its collection provided.
The royalty and the privileged classes reserved early libraries for their use. The
Romans created “public libraries,” but not as we know them today. They were avail-
able for use by the wealthy classes, but they were maintained publicly instead of
by individuals. At the time of Julius Caesar's death, a number of public libraries
were open to the upper echelon of Roman society. Libraries have been a key com-
ponent of the information infrastructure throughout the history of civilizations that
recorded their thoughts and organized the materials on which these thoughts were
recorded.
With the availability of printed resources, libraries were established throughout
Europe and in the colonies of North America. During the 18th century, national lib-
raries were established; for example, the British Museum was founded in 1753 and
the Bibliothèque Nationale in 1368, tracing its origin to the royal library of Charles
V. This collection became the National Library of France in 1792.
In the United States, Harvard University and its library were established in 1636.
Yale University was established shortly after (1640); William and Mary College fol-
lowed in 1693. The creation of the first PhD program at Harvard in the 1860s re-
quired library collections to support research. Another significant change was the
introduction of majors and elective courses in college curricula, allowing faculty to
teach topics related to their interests. This innovation placed a budget strain on
academic libraries wanting to support an expanding university curriculum. In re-
sponse, the library became the laboratory for the social sciences and the humanit-
ies.
In 1731 Benjamin Franklin established the Library Company of Philadelphia,
the first public subscription library. It exists today as an independent, nonprofit re-
search library. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, mechanics institutes and
mercantile libraries were founded to provide opportunities for workers to educate
themselves and occupy management positions in expanded industries. Many of
these institutions remain in service today.
In the 1830s, New York Governor DeWitt Clinton promoted the passage of
enabling legislation to create school district libraries. This legislation was later
amended to allow public funds for the development of these libraries. These pub-
licly funded libraries were intended as public libraries, the first instance of govern-
ment money used for libraries. In the 1850s public libraries were founded in Bo-
Search WWH ::
Custom Search