Written by Isabelle Daniels
Throughout history libraries have been a repository of knowledge, a place to gather and share information. However, the structure of libraries has changed dramatically over time to meet the needs of changing societies. While the organization of libraries has changed over time the general concept has remained the same; a place where thoughts and ideas can be shared and explained.
The first known library was located in Nineveh during the late 600 century B.C. and belonged to Ashurbanipal who was the last ruler of Assyria. Not a lot is known about his library as the remains are thousands of years old, but it is believed that the library was used as a place to store knowledge for the future. It is speculated that Ashurbanipal “instructed his subjects to collect texts from all parts of his realm. Eventually the library held tablets detailing the history and culture of ancient Mesopotamia as well as what was known of chemistry, botany, mathematics, and cosmology” (“The Development”). In a time where territorial wars were constant, it makes sense for a king to try and find ways to preserve what they know. Eventually Ashurbanipal died, and fourteen years later the city of Nineveh was sacked and this historical wonder was destroyed. It wasn’t until excavations on the site in the 1850s that the library was unearthed; while any paper was assumedly burned in the fire that destroyed the library, thousands of clay tablets were unearthed.
The next most recently known major library was the library of Alexandria which was founded by Alexander the Great in 332 B.C. The library was an outstanding collection of scrolls which were bought from scholars all over Athens, Greece, and other surrounding countries; it is believed that the library housed a copy of every existing scroll in the Mediterranean area. Due to this the library quickly became a place where the greatest scholars of the time could congregate and exchange ideas: “At its peak, at least 100 scholars worked, did research, or taught at the museum at one time. Some did original work in a sort of early research laboratory, some did original research, others wrote commentaries on the works of other scholars” (“The Development”). However, changing societal values due to the influence of Christianity did not allow for the library’s upkeep, and over time the Library of Alexandria fell into disrepair and was eventually destroyed by a civil war occuring in the late 3rd century A.D.
By the middle ages libraries were the purview of monks because general literacy had become obsolete and few other than monks were taught to read. In monasteries there was little variety in the books that inhabited the library, which included only “typical library catalogs of this period. Each is arranged roughly by subject, and includes Bibles, works of the Church Fathers, historical texts and liturgical works” (Ray). Many monks would spend their time copying texts to make copies of books for other monasteries and important religious people.
Following the Renaissance many more people outside of the Church became literate, but predominantly only the wealthy, who could afford private tutors and established their own private libraries within their homes for use of their family and close friends. These libraries were usually a collection of books which skewed towards the interest or profession of their owners, with expanded topics including science and philosophy. Following the ideals of the Renaissance, many private collectors created libraries out of books and manuscripts that were from the middle ages and Greek eras. One such collector was Fulvio Orsini, who “assembled his own collection of manuscripts largely out of the debris of those of earlier generations of humanists. He actively collected manuscripts annotated by earlier humanists and as with them, his undertaking was largely a philological enterprise” (Nelles).
By the eighteenth century as literacy had become more widespread, lending libraries were established. However, participation in these libraries was only through membership or subscription. These libraries were utilized by those who not only had the money, but also the leisure time, to read. Though literacy had started to spread and allowed people of lower incomes to have easier access to things such as newspapers, this did not mean they had time for such things. For most in the lower classes, leisure time remained scarce, and literacy was limited to the rudimentary skills needed in their everyday lives. At this time libraries had also started to become a place of meeting and community. While subscription libraries can still be found today, they are certainly not as common as the free public library. “The most common type of library in the eighteenth century was what was then often termed "a social library." The few surviving such libraries term themselves "membership libraries," because one obtained access by buying a share, or by paying an annual fee, or both” (Carpenter).
The concept of free public libraries was put forth in the late 1800s by Andrew Carngie. By the mid 1880s he had funded over 16,000 free public libraries across the U.S. allowing access to anyone and effectively ending membership libraries. Before, someone needed to pay a subscription to access the library, and while this payment may have been small it still created a wall for anyone who did not have the extra money. With the introduction of the free public library, anyone of any social class or income could have free access to knowledge. Because at the same time public schools were opening throughout the US, and as the US moved from a more agrarian to a more industrial society, the need for and utilization of these free public libraries grew.
Throughout the twentieth century free public libraries became a mainstay of every town in America. However, with the advent of the internet in the late 20th century, some wondered whether the concept of a library was obsolete as more and more information was moved online and made accessible to anyone anywhere with an electronic device and internet connection. At one point it was predicted that books would go the way of the horse and buggy by now. Yet, that hasn’t happened, and libraries have diversified their role in today’s society in order to remain relevant and serve the current needs of their patrons. “Public libraries provide social infrastructures and a wide array of essential educational services: children’s and adult programs, resume workshops, job search assistance, homework assistance, and technical and research assistance” (Thompson). In a time when most indoor places away from one’s home require some sort of purchase (i.e. coffee shops) or payment (i.e. fitness clubs), having access to an alternative space which not only is free, but safe, is something valued by people of all ages.
Although the structure and activities have changed dramatically over the past thousands of years, the core concept of libraries as a place to gather and share knowledge remains constant. As literacy has waxed and waned throughout the ages, so too has the structure and proliferation of libraries. As we have moved forward into the digital age, libraries have expanded their purpose and become a location for social gatherings, for teaching, and for building community. Because of this libraries will continue to be relevant now and into the future.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
References
Carpenter, K. E. (2001). Libraries. In M. K. Cayton & P. W. Williams (Eds.), Encyclopedia of American Cultural and Intellectual History. Charles Scribner's Sons. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/BT2350030182/SUIC?u=wind5078&sid=bookmark-SUIC&xid=32bb0fe3
The Development of Libraries in the Ancient World. (2001). In N. Schlager & J. Lauer (Eds.), Science and Its Times (Vol. 1). Gale. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CV2643450028/SUIC?u=wind5078&sid=bookmark-SUIC&xid=6e1d9cf4
Nelles, P. (2000). Libraries. In P. F. Grendler (Ed.), Encyclopedia of the Renaissance. Charles Scribner's Sons. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/BT2354500295/WHIC?u=wind5078&sid=bookmark-WHIC&xid=2e73f404
Ray, A. (n.d.). Medieval Monastic Libraries. The British Library. Retrieved December 28, 2022, from https://www.bl.uk/medieval-english-french-manuscripts/articles/medieval-monastic-libraries
Thompson, P., Morton, E., & Kotting, J. (2021, June 1). Public libraries continue to adapt, enriching communities across America. Brookings Institution. Retrieved December 26, 2022, from https://www.brookings.edu/blog/brown-center-chalkboard/2021/06/01/public-libraries-continue-to-adapt-enriching-communities-across-america/
Comments