Shhh. No talking. Let the books and walls and shelves speak for themselves. If you’re quiet, you can hear the sound of knowledge. The call to adventure. The whisper of imagination.

It all happens at public libraries—a part of American cultural heritage that has opened so many doors, providing free access to information and the freedom to learn.

“It is a space ship that will take you to the farthest reaches of the universe, a time machine that will take you to the far past and the far future, a teacher that knows more than any human being, a friend that will amuse you and console you … and most of all, a gateway to a better and happier and more useful life.” —Isaac Asimov

Open Doors

We all have memories of public libraries. Being read to during story hour as our littlest self. Checking out our first book as a child, proudly using our official library card, which seemed to give us instant status and new swagger to our step.

Seeking a cool spot on a hot summer afternoon or warmth during a winter snowstorm. Listening for the seductive sound of the approaching bookmobile. Wondering if we could ever, in our life, read all that the library had to offer.

Boundless Opportunity

Libraries are not just a democratic haven for reading. They are also community centers, temporary shelter for the homeless, cathedral-ceiling reading rooms and research hubs, tables full of accessible computers, literacy centers, and a place for people to learn and neighbors to meet.

They exist in cities of millions and in a town of one person (Rudy’s library in Monowi, Nebraska.). They are one-room shacks in the middle of nowhere, brightly colored storefronts in shopping malls, and multiple layers of steel and glass in modern urban centers.

They are transformed from banks, hospitals, jails, churches, railroad stations, fish markets, gas stations, and nightclubs

Inspiration for Imagination

They tell stories—from a history of George Washington’s overdue books checked out from The New York Society Library (returned 221 years later . . . not by George) to the vision of Kentucky librarians on horseback carrying books in saddlebags to rural areas.

They provide fuel for imagination and innovation, as a cast of dedicated founders, patrons, and librarians parade through history and as the libraries of today expand their collections to music, films, seeds, and tools.

A Creative Vision of Our Heritage

From photographer Robert Dawson, who brings public libraries to life in his book The Public Library: A Photographic Essay. He found their past and their present in his 18-year journey across America, learning their secrets and capturing their essence.

He photographed hundreds of the 17,000 libraries in the U.S., traveling to 48 states. His odyssey confirmed his belief that libraries were symbols of democracy, and also were “great equalizers, tools of social justice to lift the poor and to provide equal opportunity.”

He clarifies his focus as “not just a study of architecture. It’s a look at the uses of libraries and their places in society—portraits of communities through the lens of the library. The public library in each of the places we visited spoke volumes about who we are as a people.”

Through Robert’s photographs and thoughtful text, as well as the essays that are included in the book (including words from Barbara Kingsolver, Anne Lamott, Isaac Asimov, Amy Tan, Ann Patchett, and Bill Moyers), I came away with a renewed appreciation for this enriching part of our cultural heritage.

I would especially like to see a sequel featuring the dedicated librarians. Anne Lamott describes these central characters as trail guides, capable of teasing out enough information about what someone is after to lead him or her on the path of connections.

Looking to the Future

I also came away with a commitment to making sure libraries don’t disappear. Robert saw much of this danger in his travels.

“I have always thought of public libraries as beacons of hope, and it saddened me each time I came upon a library that had been destroyed, either through natural disaster, neglect, or local economic collapse.”

The reality is sad. Libraries are suffering from budget cuts every day, and many are closing. As librarian Dorothy Lazard says in her essay in the book, “libraries are the last outpost of community space.”

Although the lessons (and memories) were many for me in exploring the vastness of the public library system, the importance of public libraries in today’s society remains clear. My true Oh, I see moment was best summarized by T.S Eliot.

“The very existence of libraries affords the best evidence that we may yet have hope for the future of man.”

The Library of Congress has acquired all of Dawson’s public library photographs as a historic record.

Comment on this post below, or inspire insight with your own OIC Moment here.

$\"One-room$

Library built by ex-slaves, Allensworth, California
\u00a9 Robert Dawson<\/p><\/div>\n

The Art of Getting on the Same Page<\/h2>\n
Shhh. No talking. Let the books and walls and shelves speak for themselves. If you\u2019re quiet, you can hear the sound of knowledge. The call to adventure. The whisper of imagination.<\/p>\n
It all happens at public libraries\u2014a part of American cultural heritage that has opened so many doors, providing free access to information and the freedom to learn.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a space ship that will take you to the farthest reaches of the universe, a time machine that will take you to the far past and the far future, a teacher that knows more than any human being, a friend that will amuse you and console you … and most of all, a gateway to a better and happier and more useful life.\u201d\u00a0<\/i>\u2014Isaac Asimov<\/p>\n
$\"An$
An intergalactic tribute to books at The Main Library, Duluth, Minnesota
\u00a9 Robert Dawson<\/p><\/div>\n
Open Doors<\/h4>\n
We all have memories of public libraries. Being read to during story hour as our littlest self. Checking out our first book as a child, proudly using our official library card, which seemed to give us instant status and new\u00a0swagger to our step.<\/p>\n
Seeking a cool spot on a hot summer afternoon or warmth during a winter snowstorm. Listening for the seductive sound of the approaching bookmobile. Wondering if we could ever, in our life, read all that the library had to offer.<\/p>\n
$\"A$
A remote, shaded library in Death Valley National Park, California\u2014the hottest place on earth
\u00a9 Robert Dawson<\/p><\/div>\n
Boundless Opportunity<\/h4>\n
Libraries are not just a democratic haven for reading. They are also community centers, temporary shelter for the homeless, cathedral-ceiling reading rooms and research hubs, tables full of accessible computers, literacy centers, and a place for people to learn and neighbors to meet.<\/p>\n
$\"Reading$
The Reading Room at the Main Library in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
\u00a9 Robert Dawson<\/p><\/div>\n
They exist in cities of millions and in a town of one person (Rudy\u2019s library in Monowi, Nebraska.). They are one-room shacks in the middle of nowhere, brightly colored storefronts in shopping malls, and multiple layers of steel and glass in modern urban centers.<\/p>\n
They are transformed from banks, hospitals, jails, churches, railroad stations, fish markets, gas stations, and nightclubs<\/p>\n
$\"The$
Yarborough Branch Library in Austin, Texas is housed in an old theater.
\u00a9 Robert Dawson<\/p><\/div>\n
Inspiration for Imagination<\/h4>\n
They tell stories\u2014from a history of George Washington\u2019s overdue books checked out from The New York Society Library (returned 221 years later . . . not by George) to the vision of Kentucky librarians on horseback carrying books in saddlebags to rural areas.<\/p>\n
They provide fuel for imagination and innovation, as a cast of dedicated founders, patrons, and librarians parade through history and as the libraries of today expand their collections to music, films, seeds, and tools.<\/p>\n
$\"First$
The first Carnegie Library in Braddock, Pennsylvania
\u00a9 Robert Dawson<\/p><\/div>\n
A Creative Vision of Our Heritage<\/h4>\n
Where did I learn so much about America’s public libraries?<\/p>\n
From photographer Robert Dawson, who brings public libraries to life in his book The Public Library: A Photographic Essay.<\/i> He found their past and their present in his 18-year journey across America, learning their secrets and capturing their essence.<\/p>\n
$\"Interior,$
The interior of the library in Evansville, Indiana
\u00a9 Robert Dawson<\/p><\/div>\n
He photographed hundreds of the 17,000 libraries in the U.S., traveling to 48 states. His odyssey confirmed his belief that libraries were symbols of democracy, and also were \u201cgreat equalizers, tools of social justice to lift the poor and to provide equal opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u00a0clarifies his focus as \u201cnot just a study of architecture. It\u2019s a look at the uses of libraries and their places in society\u2014portraits of communities through the lens of the library. The public library in each of the places we visited spoke volumes about who we are as a people.\u201d<\/p>\n
$\"Small$
The library in Roscoe, South Dakota, was built in 1932 by a group of civic-minded women.
It was one of the smallest public libraries in the nation.
\u00a9 Robert Dawson<\/p><\/div>\n
Through Robert\u2019s photographs and thoughtful text, as well as the essays that are included in the book (including words from Barbara Kingsolver, Anne Lamott, Isaac Asimov, Amy Tan, Ann Patchett, and Bill Moyers), I came away with a renewed appreciation for this enriching part of our cultural heritage.<\/p>\n
$\"Yellow$
After Hurricane Sandy, the Queens Library Bookmobile was on the move (Rockaway, New York).
\u00a9 Robert Dawson<\/p><\/div>\n
I would especially like to see a sequel featuring the dedicated librarians. Anne Lamott describes these central characters as trail guides, capable of teasing out enough information about what someone is after to lead him or her\u00a0on the path of connections.<\/p>\n
Looking to the Future<\/h4>\n
I also came away with a commitment to making sure libraries don\u2019t disappear. Robert saw much of this danger in his travels.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have always thought of public libraries as beacons of hope, and it saddened me each time I came upon a library that had been destroyed, either through natural disaster, neglect, or local economic collapse.\u201d<\/p>\n
$\"Smallest$
The smallest library in the U.S. (in Hartland Four Corners, Vermont) is now closed.
\u00a9 Robert Dawson<\/p><\/div>\n
The reality is<\/i> sad. Libraries are suffering from budget cuts\u00a0every day, and many are closing. As librarian Dorothy Lazard says in her essay in the book, \u201clibraries are the last outpost of community space.\u201d<\/p>\n
Although the lessons (and memories) were many for me in exploring the vastness of the public library system, the importance of public libraries in today’s\u00a0society remains clear. My true Oh, I see moment<\/strong> was best summarized by T.S Eliot.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe very existence of libraries affords the best evidence that we may yet have hope for the future of man.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
We should not let this valuable part of our cultural heritage die.<\/p>\n
Here is\u00a0more information<\/a> about <\/i>The Public Library: A Photographic Essay and Robert Dawson’s other photographic projects. To learn more about the authors who contributed to this book, see websites for Isaac Asimov,<\/a> Barbara Kingsolver,<\/a> Anne Lamotte,<\/a> Bill Moyers,<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0 Amy Tan<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n
***The* *Library of Congress<\/a> has acquired all of Dawson’s\u00a0public library photographs as a historic record.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n***
Comment<\/a><\/i>\u00a0on this post below, or inspire insight with your own\u00a0OIC Moment\u00a0<\/em>here<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":null,"protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":24058,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[99,171,199],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24053","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-heritage-culture","category-photography-creative","category-usa-mappoints"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24053","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24053"}],"version-history":[{"count":28,"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24053\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":40750,"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24053\/revisions\/40750"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24058"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24053"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24053"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24053"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}