A Brief History: Public Libraries (1970s-Present)
Beginning in the 1960s and 1970s, libraries were swept up in the social unrest of the period. Many organizations and committees were created that mirror the transformation public libraries were undergoing during this time (Lamb, Contemporary Libraries: 1960s, n.d.).
1960: American Library Association commissioned the Special Committee on Civil Rights
1961: Amendment to the Library Bill of Rights advocating for equality in library service
1962: A study titled Access to Public Libraries was commissioned by the American Library Association
1966: Index Librorum Prohibitorum ceased publication
1967: American Library Association created Office for Intellectual Freedom
1969: Freedom to Read Foundation established by the American Library Association
1969: American Library Association created the Round Table on Social
Responsibilities of Libraries, later to become Social Responsibilities Round Table
1970: National Commission on Libraries and Information Science created as a federal agency.
1970: The Black Caucus of the American Library Association was created
1972: The Ethnic Materials Information Exchange Task Force of Social Responsibilities was formed by the American Library Association, later to become the Ethnic and Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table
School libraries and youth services were another important development in the 1960s. As Lamb (Contemporary Libraries: 1960s, n.d.) states, “New resource-based educational practices focused on self-directed learning and individualized instruction making the library an important place for learning. The goal was to provide appropriate resources to meet the needs of learners in different situations.” Although not public libraries, the emphasis on outside resources and the development of school libraries as a way to supplement educational instruction arguably had an impact on the role and purpose of public libraries in education as well.
The 1960s and 1970s saw the rise of non-book items and multi-media collections available at libraries (Lamb, Contemporary Libraries: 1960s, n.d.). As technology grew, so too did the role and missions of libraries. No longer “store houses for books,” libraries began to build audio and visual collections to service patrons with a particular emphasis on new and emerging technologies at the time. Below is a tour of the Earl Gregg Swem Library at the College of William and Mary in Virginia from 1969. Notice how the video highlights the library’s Audio Visual Department that includes a music collection, films, and duplicating room.
1960: American Library Association commissioned the Special Committee on Civil Rights
1961: Amendment to the Library Bill of Rights advocating for equality in library service
1962: A study titled Access to Public Libraries was commissioned by the American Library Association
1966: Index Librorum Prohibitorum ceased publication
1967: American Library Association created Office for Intellectual Freedom
1969: Freedom to Read Foundation established by the American Library Association
1969: American Library Association created the Round Table on Social
Responsibilities of Libraries, later to become Social Responsibilities Round Table
1970: National Commission on Libraries and Information Science created as a federal agency.
1970: The Black Caucus of the American Library Association was created
1972: The Ethnic Materials Information Exchange Task Force of Social Responsibilities was formed by the American Library Association, later to become the Ethnic and Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table
School libraries and youth services were another important development in the 1960s. As Lamb (Contemporary Libraries: 1960s, n.d.) states, “New resource-based educational practices focused on self-directed learning and individualized instruction making the library an important place for learning. The goal was to provide appropriate resources to meet the needs of learners in different situations.” Although not public libraries, the emphasis on outside resources and the development of school libraries as a way to supplement educational instruction arguably had an impact on the role and purpose of public libraries in education as well.
The 1960s and 1970s saw the rise of non-book items and multi-media collections available at libraries (Lamb, Contemporary Libraries: 1960s, n.d.). As technology grew, so too did the role and missions of libraries. No longer “store houses for books,” libraries began to build audio and visual collections to service patrons with a particular emphasis on new and emerging technologies at the time. Below is a tour of the Earl Gregg Swem Library at the College of William and Mary in Virginia from 1969. Notice how the video highlights the library’s Audio Visual Department that includes a music collection, films, and duplicating room.
The 1980s was a transitional period for many public libraries. Computerization and the provision of technology-based services were being implemented by an increasing number of libraries. From digitization projects and interlibrary loan services to online catalogs and computer stations, public libraries continued to evolve in order to meet patrons’ needs.
In the video tour of Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana (see below), both old (card catalogs) and new (computer stations) resources are showcased. The video highlights the “Art, Music, and Audio/Visual Department” which houses an art gallery and encourages the idea of the library as a community space as well as a resource and information center. Perhaps most important for the discussion of homeschooling and the public library is the video’s emphasis on the library’s impressive children’s services department which includes “2 computers and 4 system teaching machines that are excellent learning tools for children of all ages” along with a wide variety of media, books, and programs for families. For older children and teens, the video mentions computers, an Atari 400, and an Apple II E that can be reserved by phone. Using the Allen County Public Library as an example, public libraries throughout the 1980s were evolving in order to offer patrons more diverse, technology-rich resources and programs.
Throughout the 1990s, the rise and proliferation of the Internet permeated library services and programs. Additionally, equality and disability services in libraries as well as advocacy and financial issues were concerns for many institutions. Listed below are major developments that reflect the changing landscape of libraries entering the Digital Age.
1990-1994: The Library of Congress embarked on the American Memory project. The mission of the project was to provide “free and open access through the Internet to written and spoken words, sound recordings, still and moving images, prints, maps, and sheet music that document the American experience.” The project prompted other nations to develop similar online digital archives.
1991: Published by the American Library Association, Using the Public Library in the Computer Age: Present Patterns, Future Possibilities reports the results of a national survey on the role of the public library and computer use for access to information.
1992: The book Citizen Rights and Access to Electronic Information was published by the American Library Association.
1994: The Digital Library Federation was formed. The DLF has a mission to “advance research, learning, social justice, and the public good through the creative design and wise application of digital library technologies.”
1996: The Institute of Museum and Library Services was formed as a result of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). Prior to IMLS, the administration of federal funding for public libraries was the responsibility of the Department of Education. The mission of IMLS is “to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement.”
1997: The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation ushered in a new era of philanthropic work for libraries. The foundation was designed to bring software and Internet access to public libraries across America and eventually the world (Stevenson, 2010)
The rise of the Internet, digitization projects, and a general awareness and pursuance of technology in the library setting impacted public libraries during this period. By recognizing and coming to embrace such a plethora of new online resources and technologies, public libraries offered more information to patrons than ever before.
By the 2000s, computers could be found in most public libraries; online resources were something patrons could come to expect from their libraries. The rise and sustained use of technology ushered in new changes to the way libraries served patrons and conducted business.
As Lamb (Contemporary Libraries: 2000s, n.d.) points out, “During the 2000s, a second generation of the Internet was introduced. Known as Web 2.0, the expansion of Internet technology allowed easy access to dynamic websites, interactivity, and social technologies.” Social media came to be a major influence on the way people connected with one another. From the virtual reality environment of Second Life to Facebook, patrons can now communicate through a variety of online platforms. Libraries of all types began harnessing the power of technology and social media and created professional websites with online databases, YouTube channels to promote programs and services, as well as creating various social media accounts in order to reach and connect with more patrons than ever before. The new millennium ushered in a new wave of services and programs for library patrons that continue to evolve today.