The Development of Public Library Services for Children in the United States

Abstract

Since the latter half of the 1970s, it seems that children's librarians have sought a philosophy of children's librarianship, and stressed services to under three-year-old children and their parents.
The history of public library services for children may be divided into four periods. The first is the pioneer period (1876-1934). Public library services for children developed along with the growth of public schools. The idea and the way of serving was established. In the second period (1935-1956), children's librarians faced a social change when school libraries began to be founded. Being combined with the school, the role of children's librarians became blurred so they tried to identify their particular role. The third (1957-1974) was the period that extended their services to the community, linking it with the educational policies. They served the gifted, the disadvantaged and the handicapped children. The fourth is the present period (1975- ). They are confronted with financial difficulties and realize the necessity of an evaluation of, and research on, library services for children, in order to demonstrate the reason of existence of their work.
Today, the problem of computer literacy needs to be focused upon. It will be interesting to observe in which direction public library services for children will advance.