A Brief History of Public Libraries

[meteorable]

I am 89 yo, Barrio born poor in a desert mining town. Later raised in different parts of Los Angeles County.
In retrospect, , two things, changed my life for the better. 1. Cities dumps and, 2. public libraries.
My very first book, I ever owned was the "Wizard of Oz" found in a city dump... smolderingfrom fire and last chapters missing. The second thing was my first library card at age 13. It was a cold rainy day and I stepped into a one room library on the way home from school...just to get out of the rain. A kind librarian welcomed me just like my aunt would have. She beckoned for me to sit at a reading table, then induced me to sample National Geographic magazines...which, I did... and got turned on by the pictures and stories. After a time, I got up to leave...and she then said, I could get a library card and take books home. The rest is history...a great history with ups and downs, but, no doubt, the good roads I traveled were determined by my love of knowledge and that loving librarian...an angel in my eyes!

[toholin]

What a lovely building! And card catalogs!

[michaelcerkez]

Coming from someone who worked at a law library, I would have been honored to work in such a beautiful and well kept library. Thank you for the photos and the history of libraries.

[AndreaRuizCa]

I live in Mexico and we barely have libraries. My city doesn’t have one. Usually only universities have private libraries but regular Citizens have no access to them 😢 take care and love your libraries if you are living in a country were you have access to them. You have no idea the privilege of having a place we’re you can loan books and learn for free is📚. Love your channel so much! Keep up the good work. ❤❤❤❤❤

[lauraraines]

So glad your back. Such a beautiful library.

[Butterfly-cmjw]

I am a library Science Student, Pursuing My PhD in the same subject, When ever I see any library my heart be like :this library belongs to me and the whole world are connected with the library, so matter where you are give your best services to the libraries. Thanks for sharing this beautiful video.

[versailleschick]

One of the oldest cultural institutions in the South is the Charleston Library Society in SC. On their website, you can see a list of its collection from 1750.

[patrickwaslicki]

Great video Sarah. I recently got a copy of your book, This Victorian Life for Christmas and I love it. I also should point out that one of my grandmothers was a librarian in my hometown of Jacksonville, NC and whenever I went to visit her, we'd check out books. I miss those days

[Jusyasm]

Yay I was so excited to see a new video alert pop on my youtube feed! I am a true library rat myself so I particularly enjoyed this one! Thank you🤗

[Anthony-gqdk]

Great video Sarah, inspiring and uplifting . Well done. I will tell everyone about your books

[Kimberly-cxuv]

How lovely to hear from you again! and thank you for this information rich video, which i have greatly enjoyed!

[bearsoap]

I had no idea you were in Iowa, let alone Des I love your YouTube I'm so glad you're from here

[ryanhilliard]

I have never seen you so glowingly happy! Iowa must be agreeing with you! I'm so happy for both of you!

[mastersadvocate]

Where I live, in Canada, there is a beautiful Carnegie Library building. When I was a teen, I used to do all my research in that library. Now it is no longer used as a library, but as a Credit Union. The newer and bigger building which is now our Library, is digital. I miss the old Carnegie Library building! Thank you for sharing this video about the history of libraries! Very educational! ~Janet in Canada

[joelhurley]

Great history lesson Sarah, thank you for informing me on stuff I had forgotten about. In my town of Leavenworth Kansas we have a Carnegie Library. Unfortunately now it is not used anymore for what it was intended for. What a beautiful library in Des Moines, thanks for sharing.

[Kate]

I love pre-digital library systems. Really takes me back. I loved the effort of searching for a subject. And of course, I love the look of the beautiful woodwork that was in most libraries in its day.
I miss seeing you on a regular basis. I hope to see more of your videos in the future. And I would love to hear how your home is coming along.

[jeremiahc]

We have missed you! We are blessed with a beautiful capital and library! I was thinking about you during the tornadoes recently - hope you are well. It missed us by just several miles. Blessings.

[loratravis]

What a beautiful library.
In the city of Toledo, Ohio the main library is downtown. It has a gorgeous multifloor interior
would guess with numerous murals. The children's section was decorated in child literature mural themes. It was lovely and exciting to go there. I carried as many books as I could home even though we were riding a bus for transport. Toledo has some other smaller libraries that are lovely also. The quantity and quality of books was terrific. It was noticeable to me when I began living in another large Ohio city that they did not have the same great libraries sadly.

[tkcompton]

What a wonderful video and such a beautiful library. I love books and enjoy collecting them as well. There is nothing like the feel of a book in your hand and turning the pages. So glad your back!

[musidorafilms]

Thank you for this video, Sarah! I had the good fortune a few years ago to work in the first neighborhood library that Andrew Carnegie ever built. It was a wonder to work in such an amazing piece of history, as it even still has the original stacks that it did in 1898. They are lovely! (For those of who aren't library regulars, those are the shelves that the books live on). Reading is one of the most rewarding things we can do for ourselves and our children. Never stop reading.