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04924aam a2200685 i 4500 001 2957F396852411E5A48CCFF0DAD10320 003 SILO 005 20190815012642 008 150717s2015 enka b 001 0 eng 010 $a 2015014209 020 $a 0190248009 : HRD 020 $a 9780190248000 : HRD 040 $a DLC $b eng $e rda $c DLC $d IMmBT $d SILO 050 00 $a Z731 $b .W734 2015 100 1 $a Wiegand, Wayne A., $d 1946- 245 10 $a Part of our lives : $b a people's history of the American public library / $c Wayne A. Wiegand. 260 $a $b Oxford Univ Pr $c 2015 300 $a 331 pages : $b illustrations ; $c 27 cm 510 $a LI5R 510 $a PRPW 510 $a U5H3 520 $a "Despite dire predictions in the late twentieth century that public libraries would not survive the turn of the millennium, their numbers have only increased. Two of three Americans frequent a public library at least once a year, and nearly that many areregistered borrowers. Although library authorities have argued that the public library functions primarily as a civic institution necessary for maintaining democracy, generations of library patrons tell a different story. In Part of Our Lives, Wayne A. Wiegand delves into the heart of why Americans love their libraries. The book traces the history of the public library, featuring records and testimonies from as early as 1850. Rather than analyzing the words of library founders and managers, Wiegand listens to the voices of everyday patrons who cherished libraries. Drawing on newspaper articles, memoirs, and biographies, Part of Our Lives paints a clear and engaging picture of Americans who value libraries not only as civic institutions, but also as social spaces for promoting and maintaining community. Whether as a public space, a place for accessing information, or a home for reading material that helps patrons make sense of the world around them, the public library has a rich history of meaning for millions of Americans. From colonial times through the recent technological revolution, libraries have continuously adapted to better serve the needs of their communities. Wiegand goes on to demonstrate that, although cultural authorities (including some librarians) have often disparaged reading books considered not "serious" the commonplace reading materials users obtained from public libraries have had a transformative effect for many, including people like Ronald Reagan, Sonia Sotomayor, and Oprah Winfrey. A bold challenge to conventional thinking about the American public library, Part of Our Lives is an insightful look into one of America's most beloved cultural institutions"-- $c Provided by publisher. 520 $a "Part of Our Lives challenges the conventional idea that public libraries are valuable mostly because they are essential to democracy. Instead, this book uses the voices of generations of public library users to argue that Americans have loved their libraries for the useful information they make accessible; the public spaces they provide; and the commonplace reading materials they supply that help users make sense of the world around them"-- $c Provided by publisher. 650 0 $a Public libraries $z United States $x History. 650 0 $a Libraries $z United States $x History. $x History. 650 0 $a Public opinion $z United States $x History. 650 0 $a Library users $z United States $x History. $x History. 650 0 $a Public libraries $x History. $z United States $x History. 650 0 $a Libraries and community $z United States $x History. 650 0 $a Libraries and society $z United States $x History. 650 0 $a Books and reading $z United States $x History. 650 7 $a HISTORY / United States / General. $2 bisacsh 650 7 $a HISTORY / Social History. $2 bisacsh 941 $a 25 952 $l ALPE516 $d 20240417013435.0 952 $l PQAX094 $d 20231214013437.0 952 $l UGPF911 $d 20231207014512.0 952 $l CMPE792 $d 20230629012911.0 952 $l WSPF215 $d 20220804030908.0 952 $l USUX851 $d 20220506011822.0 952 $l GEPG771 $d 20210722051342.0 952 $l CBPF522 $d 20201208011759.0 952 $l LAPH975 $d 20200528061901.0 952 $l YEPF572 $d 20200204081734.0 952 $l TYPH572 $d 20200110063652.0 952 $l OVUX522 $d 20191214012228.0 952 $l AAPF906 $d 20190717030900.0 952 $l XXPH787 $d 20181107050545.0 952 $l OPAX566 $d 20170923010203.0 952 $l YGPC162 $d 20170328015338.0 952 $l GUPF501 $d 20160624010214.0 952 $l PNAX964 $d 20160507011340.0 952 $l BAPH771 $d 20160216010414.0 952 $l CAPH522 $d 20160210011616.0 952 $l SAPG074 $d 20160202094427.0 952 $l S1PD771 $d 20160115051015.0 952 $l BGPE251 $d 20151216011228.0 952 $l UQAX771 $d 20151209013701.0 952 $l PRAX771 $d 20151202011514.0 956 $a http://locator.silo.lib.ia.us/search.cgi?index_0=id&term_0=2957F396852411E5A48CCFF0DAD10320Initiate Another SILO Locator Search