A History of Modern Librarianship: Constructing the Heritage of Western Cultures

by Pamela Spence Richards (Editor), Wayne A. Wiegand (Editor), Marija Dalbello (Editor)

Overview

A broad, comparative history of librarianship, this intriguing work goes beyond the standard focus on institutions and collections to help you explore the part modern librarianship played—and continues to play—in forming Western cultures.

Previous histories of libraries in the Western world—the last of which was published nearly 20 years ago—concentrate on libraries and librarians. This book takes a different approach. It focuses on the practice of librarianship, showing you how that practice has contributed to constructing the heritage of cultures. To do so, this groundbreaking collection of essays presents the history of modern librarianship in the context of recent developments of the library institution, professionalization of librarianship, and innovation through information technology.

Organized by region, the book addresses the widely recognized, international impact of Anglo-American librarianship and its continuing influence over the past century, combining critical analysis with chronological histories of modern librarianship in Europe, North America, Australia/New Zealand, and Africa. An introductory chapter explains the origins of the project, and a concluding chapter examines the effects of digitization on modern librarianship in the 21st century.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781610690997
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	05/26/2015
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Pamela Spence Richards, PhD, (deceased) wrote more than 20 jourbanal articles, including some in Russian, French, Hungarian, and German, and authored or coauthored book chapters and three books.

Wayne A. Wiegand, PhD, is F. William Summers Professor of Library and Information Studies Emeritus at Florida State University, Tallahassee.

Marija Dalbello, PhD, is associate professor of information science in the School of Communication and Information at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ.

Table of Contents

Contents



Preface

Introduction



Chapter One: Europe

Peter Hoare

Introduction

The Background to Modern European Librarianship

Libraries and Librarianship of Different Types

Conclusion

Bibliography



Chapter Two: The United States and Canada

Wayne A. Wiegand

Introduction

Colonial America to 1776

Canada to Confederation

United States, 1776-1876

U.S. and Canadian Librarianship, 1876-1893

U.S. and Canadian Librarianship, 1893-1914

Bridging the Wars, 1914-1945

Consolidating Gains, 1945-1970

After 1970: "The Information Age"

Bibliography



Chapter Three: Africa

Anthony Olden

Introduction

Education and Literacy

Publishing

Subscription Libraries

Public Library Service

The Academic Library

The Librarians

Professional Education and Training

Conclusion

Bibliography



Chapter Four: Australasia

Ross Harvey

Introduction

1788–1900: First Encounters to Federation

1901–1945: Federation to World War II

1945 to Date: Australia Since World War II

1945 to Date: New Zealand Since World War II

Conclusion

Bibliography



Chapter Five: Digital Convergence: The Past in the Present

Marija Dalbello

Introduction

Origins and Prototypes: 1890 to1960s

Online Catalogs and the World Wide Web: 1970s into the 1990s

Digital Libraries: mid-1990s to 2005

The "Semantic Web" and Social Media from 2005

Epilogue

Bibliography



Index

Editorial Reviews

This is a fascinating history. . . . It lends itself to ad hoc reading—picking an area of interest and studying the history of librarianship there. . . . This book has been well researched and furbanished with extensive bibliographies. It is an enjoyable read for anyone interested in the history of the world's libraries and librarianship—students, academics, historian, and practitioners.” —BBC Archives

“This volume will serve students and scholars well as a reference for the modern history of libraries in the West, and may also be useful for some courses in library and information science, possibly even as a textbook. I highly recommend it, too, for librarians interested in the history of their profession. It is a valuable addition to the literature.” —Against the Grain

“Every contribution is well worth reading.” —Alexandria

“A History of Modern Librarianship is a good beginning for those interested in the history of Western libraries. The similar writing styles of all the authors involved made the book a quick read. It offers a fascinating survey through time, listing the challenges libraries have faced as well as the solutions that each country's libraries developed to try to solve them.. . . . Libraries of all types, but especially academic libraries, would find A History of Modern Librarianship beneficial. Universities that support undergraduate and/or graduate programs in Library and Information Studies as well as librarians with an interest in the history of libraries will find this a good source. The book would be a good introduction not just for librarians but for historians wanting to research how history, such as revolutions and world wars, affect the general population and its habits. . . . Purchasing this book will provide readers with the information needed to understand the past, work in the present, and prepare for the future.” —Technical Services Quarterly

“A History of Modern Librarianship is likely the most dense and concise outline of library history one is likely to find, and it seems an indispensable tool for anyone looking to write about libraries. . . . Its bibliographic information is extensive, which alone makes it a valuable resource for anyone looking to do research in the history of libraries.” —Amphora

From the Publisher

09/15/2015
This book is the final product of a decades-long project initiated by Richards (deceased) with coeditors Wayne A. Wiegand (emeritus, library & information studies, Florida State Univ.; Part of Our Lives) and Marija Dalbello (information science, Rutgers Univ). The editors provide a historical overview of librarianship in Europe, the United States and Canada, Africa, and Australasia from the late 18th century through the end of the 20th century. Although the introduction details a critical view of the profession, such a stance is not maintained throughout the book. Since the authors intend to provide an overview of Western library traditions, the practices, contributions, and perspectives of indigenous peoples in Africa and Australasia are peripheral, although they are addressed. A follow-up volume that focuses on indigenous peoples, as well as other non-Western regions, would be a valuable complement to this book. The final chapter about digital convergence feels a bit out of place in this volume but it does tie together some of the core tensions used to frame the content. VERDICT Readers looking for a thoughtful and detailed tour of Western library history will find it in this work, which could also serve as a starting point for those seeking a text that grapples with Western librarianship in non-Western regions.—Amanda Folk, Univ. of Pittsburgh Lib., Greensburg

Library Journal