Going to a library, other than the one at my school, is something that I have never done. I never even realized this until recently I thought to myself, "have I never been to a real library?" The answer of course was no. Recently I visited Martin Memorial Library, fulfilling something off of my own bucket list too. I checked out one of my favorite books: Water for Elephants. I thought it was a really neat experience- although that may sound strange. My mom's friend actually goes to the library every week and checks out a new book, I thought that that was really interesting because i didn't think that people still went to the library ad checked out books. At my own school they recently began construction of the library converting it into something that is more technology friendly. They ended up decreasing the amount of books that we had, so you can see why people would think that library popularity would be going down.Libraries tend to attract the image of being "boring" or "ancient," however I think its fun to go to the library, filled with old books. I think it rather enjoyable to walk along the shelves, to sit in the corner with a good book and hideaway in my own little nook.
As most people know, libraries are very important in the history of our country, and also in world history, because they house books. Books used to be the only way to get information. People didn't have the internet, television, or phones to communicate information to one another, they had to learn things through reading a book. Since the dawn of the ages there had been a eagerness to preserve antiquities, weather on cave walls or in traveling journals. If you look carefully, you can see that there has always been some rough form of a "library" type system. The first libraries most likely originated in Egypt, considering they were so technologically advanced, for their time. Archeologists have found evidence of multiple clay tablets and papyrus scrolls, which have all found close together or even in mass amounts. This would lead them to believer hat the ancient Egyptians, in some sense, had a library system put into place even that long ago. Once books came onto the scene, that as a whole different story. Now they really had something to work with. Instead of storing societal or institutional records Greece and Rome both sported private libraries filled with fiction and nonfiction books. All over the world libraries began to evolve. People began switching from scrolls to bound paper books, and library architecture improved immensely. They were held up by pillars, surrounded by gardens and lakes, flowers and trees. They really stood out form your modern everyday library. This was because people treasured books, so much more than we do today, plus book-making was extremely labor intensive. It took a long time to make one book, which was why they were so high in value.
Interior of a medieval library at the University of Leyden, 1610
"The library is the delivery room for the birth of ideas, a place where HISTORY comes to life." -Norman cousins
Chained Library in Wimborne Minster
In fact, Librarians would even chain books to the shelves to prevent thievery, and only the most esteemed people were allowed to borrow books. Borrowing of books wasn't accepted at first, librarians began to understand that lending a book to someone could mean that it would be copied while in the borrower’s possession. If the book was copied, eventually the library would receive a new title for its collection. With the invention of the printing press, everything changed and for the better, interest in libraries increased significantly with the increased quantity of books and the decrease in associated costs. This occurred during 1600-1700, which is also known as the golden age of libraries. It wasn't until after the "golden age" that libraries reemerged permanently and became primary establishments in communities around the world, and developed into to the libraries that we know, and are familiar with today. In the United States, there were tons of examples of libraries that weren’t quite considered public, yet were very significant. For instance, the Library Company of Philadelphia, an independent research library that focused on American society and culture. It was founded in 1731 by Benjamin Franklin, was considered to be the first successful lending library. This was an amazing accomplishment for the state of Pennsylvania, and holds immense historical significance.
The Library Company of Philadelphia 1790
Milton D. Martin
Martin was quite an avid reader and book lover, upon his death in 1912, he bequeathed $125,000 to the establishment of a public library in York, PA. The Guardian Trust Company appointed John E. Baker, Vincent K. Keesey, D. F. Lafean, Atreus Wanner and Allen C. Wiest as directors of the Martin Library Association, named in his honor. His money wasn't quite enough to fund the entire establishment, but he was the person who made it possible. Through sound management and added contributions the project grew, and on Halloween eve of 1935, the Martin Memorial Library was opened, and Martin's dream was finally achieved.
The original staff of Martin Library in 1936
Jeanette Woolsey with the Martin Library bookmobile, reading to children in the early 1950's.
Martin Library, in york PA, just celebrated its 79th anniversary. Despite the technology boom in our society Martin Library receives about 40,000 visitors a month or nearly 500,000 a year; in 2010 about 1.2 million people visited libraries in the county through Sept. 30. The library was built in 1920, and is still standing on the original lot today, and opened its doors for the first time on halloween eve, 1935. Katherine Shorey was the fist librarian of Martin Library, she was said to have a very warm and kindhearted personality which undoubtedly set the tone of the atmosphere there. In the 1950's a children's wing is added on, Martin Library began its popular bookmobile program which reached students in the York City School District, who were read to by adult volunteers, and in 1963 Martin Library was appointed one of the first District Libraries in the state, and provided reference materials for both York and Adams counties. In the United States, there were tons of examples of libraries that weren’t quite considered public, yet were very significant. It's amazing how much history the local library holds.
The breathtaking reading room of the New York Public Library
Going to a library is really like a trip through history. There are so many books hidden away in the old wooden shelves; you never know what you might discover. My grandmother always talks about her childhood, growing up in Australia, and how they didn't have television, and the only way to entertain yourself was to listen to the radio or to read a book. Sometimes I wish it was still like this because people would benefit so much fro reading on a regular basis; its enriching. Today we really take books for granted. We have so many other ways of getting information that nobody has the need or even desire to read anymore. Its so much more interesting to read a book about topic than to read an informational program about it, don't you think? Today, it seems as though libraries, and even books in general, are going out of style. People have become so increasingly overtaken with their lives that they don't have "time" to read anymore, let alone go to the library and check out a book. This always make me think about centuries ago when only the most educated people knew how to read, and how glorified libraries were. Its upsetting that today these things have decreased in value, while less important things have taken their place.