nbruce writes “Library of Congress site for guides and bibliographies seems to offer well written and researched lists on a variety of topics, from Frank Lloyd Wright to UFOs to when does the century end to searching for your Irish ancestors. However, I didn’t see a single guide or bibliography on the history or importance of libraries. There are some “introspective” guides about the history or use of the Library of Congress, but they seem to be 11 to 14 years old, and the one on the Vatican library is specifically for the 1993 exhibit (which I attended, incidentally, and it was wonderful). Whether created by request, demand, or just interest, it seems an oversight easily corrected–LISNewsters could probably compile one collectively and submit it. If libraries–their activities, history, place in community and importance to freedom of information–are so important, why doesn’t LC have a guide to sources? Do all librarians and researchers already have such a list at their fingertips? Does the public not care? Is it the same attitude that predicts no librarian will ever be the Librarian of Congress? If librarians don’t care about their history and contributions, why do they think anyone else will care?
There is a list at this site of libraries in the DC area with religion collections. The art chosen to illustrate all of them, whether Muslim, Christian, Jewish, or Bahai, is a 19th century painting of Native Americans worshiping something (I’m not sure if it is the rock, the fire, or the idea in the head of the artist).
There is a 1996 directory of Slavic librarians (doesn’t list me, so it isn’t retrospective) which is updated off site.”
nbruce writes “Library of Congress site for guides and bibliographies seems to offer well written and researched lists on a variety of topics, from Frank Lloyd Wright to UFOs to when does the century end to searching for your Irish ancestors. However, I didn’t see a single guide or bibliography on the history or importance of libraries. There are some “introspective” guides about the history or use of the Library of Congress, but they seem to be 11 to 14 years old, and the one on the Vatican library is specifically for the 1993 exhibit (which I attended, incidentally, and it was wonderful). Whether created by request, demand, or just interest, it seems an oversight easily corrected–LISNewsters could probably compile one collectively and submit it. If libraries–their activities, history, place in community and importance to freedom of information–are so important, why doesn’t LC have a guide to sources? Do all librarians and researchers already have such a list at their fingertips? Does the public not care? Is it the same attitude that predicts no librarian will ever be the Librarian of Congress? If librarians don’t care about their history and contributions, why do they think anyone else will care?
There is a list at this site of libraries in the DC area with religion collections. The art chosen to illustrate all of them, whether Muslim, Christian, Jewish, or Bahai, is a 19th century painting of Native Americans worshiping something (I’m not sure if it is the rock, the fire, or the idea in the head of the artist).
There is a 1996 directory of Slavic librarians (doesn’t list me, so it isn’t retrospective) which is updated off site.”
LC Did Publish a Print Book Somewhat On This Topic .
Ronald J. Zboray and Mary Saracino Zboray wrote A Handbook for the Study of Book History in the United States which actually covers library history a bit. The item is reviewed in the Spring 2002 (v. 37 no. 2) issue of Libraries & Culture on pages 201-203 according to Library Literature and Information Science
The slim book costs $15. OpenWorldCat reports that 159 libraries worldwide own the item.
It is a good general treatment (I think) that I ran across in helping my supervising faculty member prepare to teach a history of books class at a distant site (not the section of the class that I am taking, though!).
There is only ONE Library 🙂
Perhaps there’s a view that there is only ONE library and LC is IT! Although their books were not burned to save the world from another ice age, thank you very much!
Or maybe they just have not thought of it cause who thinks that what we do is important anyway…
or even equal to those other (YAWN) scholarly subjects.
We are worthy of such a study and unless we value what we do, no one else will.