American Libraries, 1730–1950

Abstract

The newest and final book to be released in the Visual Sourcebook series celebrates beautiful libraries and their designs from 1730 to 1950. The Visual Sourcebook series, published in conjunction with the Library of Congress, serves as an entry point to Library of Congress visual collections, focusing on the images rather than on an argument or narrative. Kenneth Breisch holds a PhD in art history from the University of Michigan and has numerous publications on the history of American library design. With over 450 images highlighted in the sourcebook, Breisch uses introductory remarks to each section and captions on many of the images to provide further information and context. He focuses on the architectural design and functionality of the library building and the changing needs of library spaces.Introductory material provides a broad overview of the history and evolution of libraries and the ways in which libraries have captivated the minds and imaginations of both authors and architects. Breisch argues that the fundamental requirements of a library have remained stable over time: ample shelving for storage of books; quiet, comfortable places for patrons to read; stations for the distribution of books and information; and spaces for administrative activities. Breisch centers his discussion of libraries and the chosen images around these four functions and the architectural style of the buildings.The vast collection of images held at the Library of Congress allows Breisch to create a comprehensive timeline of library structures and design from the earliest freestanding personal library built in 1745 through more recently designed structures. The images are organized into different sections, including early collections, public libraries—both large and small—private libraries, and academic libraries. Breisch also includes a section on democratization where he discusses bookmobiles and makeshift libraries in military, migrant, and refugee camps. An entire chapter is devoted to the design and creation of the Library of Congress buildings, mostly focusing on the renowned Jefferson Building.In choosing what to discuss and which images to include, Breisch often focuses on important firsts—such as the first freestanding academic library or the first fireproof library—and shifts in design styles, the profession, and the function of the library. Shifts in design were often a product of need, due to growing collections, changes in policies, and even the input of librarians themselves. Book hall libraries, such as the Peabody Library featured on the dust jacket, consisted of large, two-story open rooms with shelving on either side of the space. Library planning literature of the 1850s advocated for book hall storage, which was beautiful and impressive.Librarians will be gratified to read Breisch's discussion of the ways in which librarians became critics of library planning, pushing for designs that were more practical. Architects began discussing their designs with librarians and Breisch gives credit to both the architects and librarians involved in the projects. Many librarians claimed that book halls were an inefficient use of space, caused damage to books due to overheating certain areas of the stacks, and proved inconvenient for staff to pull books. The idea that the building should serve a use rather than create an impressive public space changed the ways in which libraries were designed. In 1847 Williams College made the first attempt to incorporate modern library planning theory into the design of the library, with a librarian and an architect working together in the planning. This collaboration created the panoptic design, in which a centralized desk space allowed a librarian to monitor most spaces within the library building.American Libraries has a wider focus than many other books on this subject, which focus on only one type of library, such as David Kaser's The Evolution of the Academic Library Building or Books and Blueprints: Building America's Public Libraries by Donald Oehlerts. This allows Breisch to integrate different types of libraries and provide a wider overview of the history of libraries as a whole, but necessitates less depth in his coverage of the different areas. Therefore, this book is a great entry point into library history.With the focus of the book on the images in the Library of Congress collection, the narrative becomes disjointed at times and sometimes repeats and loops back around to earlier points. However, there is a surprising amount of information provided in the captions of images. By paying attention to these, and through the essays that introduce each section, one can learn a great deal about the history of libraries in the United States, especially in terms of design, practice, and function.This book will appeal to a wide audience, including architects, bibliophiles, librarians, and collectors. The emphasis on images makes it a great coffee-table book to be picked up and leafed through leisurely, while the information presented—though not in a traditional format—makes it an educational read.