The Significance of the School District Library in the History of the American Public Library

Abstract

This paper discusses the followings: (1) the basic characteristics of the school district library in Massachusetts. (2) the role school district library played in the American public library history.
The paper consists of six major parts, four of which are dealt with in this issue. (1) Horace Mann and public education & school district library. (2) “School Library” (1839) and the school district library. (3) Book availability in those days. (4) Establishment of the school district library and its growth.
1st chapter, premise of this paper, surveys the role of the school district library played in Man's ideas of public education.
2nd chapter takes up “School Library” (Common School Journal 1839) to discuss the important measures to take for establshing the school district library: (i) the condition of book availability, (ii) institutional or legal arrangements for the school district library, (iii) book selection.
3rd chapter gives analysis to the condition of book availability based on Man's Library Survey 1839.
4th chapter traces the process of establishment and growth of the school district library, through examining Man's Annual Report, 1837-48.