History of Public Libraries

Pipestone County Star – 03-26-2015

There are many different kinds of libraries: public libraries, research/research libraries, subscription libraries, and medical libraries just to name a few.  So what makes a library a public library?  A public library must be a non-profit organization, supported with public funds and intended for use by the public, hence the name.   The collections are broad and not as specific as most other kinds of libraries, like medical or academic libraries.

The first libraries were probably the collections of Greek and Latin scrolls that were available in the dry sections of the massive baths during the time of the Roman Empire.  These were not lending libraries though, which doesn’t qualify them as public, much like the Great Library of Alexandria, in Egypt.  The Great Library was the first of its kind to go outside of the country for materials and the collection was probably massive, encompassing materials from all over the world, many of which were copied from books and scrolls that came in on trade ships through the Alexandria Harbor.  While they may have loaned materials to the Pharaoh and the Royal Family, they certainly would not have loaned things out to the populace.  The massive European university libraries were impressive with their collections, but only scholars were allowed in.  No chance of getting a library card if you were an ordinary guy off the street.

The first PUBLIC libraries were founded in England in the early 1600s, most of them town libraries.  One library in particular, Chetham’s Library in Manchester, was the largest library to be open freely to the public.  It opened its doors in 1653 and is still open and public today. 

In the United States, there are several towns in the east that claim the title of the first Public Library.  All were founded and opened for public use in the early to mid-1800s.  Many of them began as parish libraries in churches, available to their parishioners and whoever else chose to visit.  The Earl of Ballamont opened a small library in Manhattan around 1700 and that small library would be destined to become the New York Public Library, one of the most esteemed libraries in the country.

Public libraries were appreciated and definitely used, but they didn’t get a big boost in their attendance and recognition until around the turn of the 20^th century, when Andrew Carnegie donated over $60 million in order to build nearly 3,000 public libraries (one of which is here in Pipestone).  Libraries have started with wills and benefactors before, but never with the scope that Carnegie managed it.  His vision of libraries was that they would “bring books and information to all peoples.” 

Canada, Mexico, Poland, Italy, and Australia all had their own public libraries develop, around the same time as the libraries in England and the United States.  Since that development, there have been public libraries opened in nearly every country in the world, for the benefit of the population.

NOTE: If this article looks familiar, you might have read it before.  The majority of this article was published 04-15-2010 in the Pipestone County Star. As Stephanie is recovering from knee surgery, she is recycling a few articles for the month of March.  She begs forgiveness.

Winter Weather:  We tend to follow the lead of Pipestone Area Schools.  If the school is closed, we will also be closed.  If the school closes early, we stay open for about a half hour afterwards to make sure all the kids can get picked up.  If the school has a two hour late start, we are not affected and will open at our regular time of 10 AM.

PAFL Update:  Pipestone Area Friends of the Library is looking for members – anyone who is a friend to Meinders Library is welcome to join!  The Friends group works hard to promote the library, raise money for projects, and organize their yearly book sale, in addition to the HUGE amount of support they provide throughout the year.  Call us for the date of the next meeting!

If you have questions or have a book you’d like to reserve or renew, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at (507) 825-6714.  The hours for Meinders Library are Monday through Thursday from 10 AM – 8 PM, and Friday and Saturday from 10 AM – 5 PM.  Meinders Community Library is located at 1401 7^th Street SW, on the south side of the high school.