Made Free and Thrown Open to the Public

Made Free and Thrown Open to the Public charts the history of public libraries and librarianship in Pennsylvania. Based on archival research at more than fifty libraries and historical societies, it describes a long progression from private, subscription-based associations to publicly funded institutions, highlighting the dramatic period during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries when libraries were “thrown open” to women, children, and the poor. Made Free explains how Pennsylvania’s physical and cultural geography, legal codes, and other unique features influenced the spread and development of libraries across the state. It also highlights Pennsylvania libraries’ many contributions to the social fabric, especially during World War I, the Great Depression, and World War II. Most importantly of all, Made Free convincingly argues that Pennsylvania libraries have made their greatest strides when community activists and librarians, supported with state and local resources, have worked collaboratively.

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Bernadette Lear has provided library lovers a thoroughly researched and accessible history of Pennsylvania’s libraries sometimes raucous transition from elitist subscription to socially conscious free public libraries. We cannot meet the challenges of today’s libraries without knowing how our hodgepodge of library structures formed in the past century.

Robin Lesher, Pennsylvania Library Association

In Made Free and Thrown Open to the Public, author Bernadette Lear weaves a vivid tapestry that illustrates how Pennsylvania’s public libraries evolved from Ben Franklin’s time through the New Deal. Lear’s exhaustive research and her ardor for libraries yields a unique resource that is rich in detail and chock-full of insights about Pennsylvania’s infinite array of characters and communities. Pennsylvania’s librarians and library lovers will be spellbound.

Glenn R. Miller, Deputy Secretary & Commissioner for Libraries, Pennsylvania Department of Education

This is a valuable study and no doubt one of great interest for library professionals, as well as those with an interest in women’s history, local history, Pennsylvania history, and the history of education. While scholarly in nature, it is also accessible, and is obviously written by someone with a passion for the subject.

Jennifer Baka, Penn State University

Community Libraries in Pennsylvania from the Colonial Era through World War II

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368 Pages

September, 2021

isbn : 9780822947004

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