Growth of Public Libraries in Nebraska

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Growth of Public Libraries in Nebraska

• Charley Seavey
• Nebraska Library Commission
• March 22, 2001

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Alliance
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Where We Are Going...

• Prior to the 1850s
• Founding of Boston Public Library
• Growth , 1850s-1890

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The Rest of the Story.

• The Carnegie Era
• Post WWII Developments
• Nebraska

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Auburn, Then and Now1926.1996
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Pre- Public Libraries

• Social Libraries
• Plain vanilla
• Athenaeum
• Mercantile Libraries
• Circulating Libraries

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Boston, MA, Public Library

• Boston, 1850
• Enabling Legislation
• Social Purpose?
• Trustees

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Lincoln PL 1902 or So
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Mr. Carnegies Money

• 40,000,000
• 1418 Towns nationwide
• 65 in Nebraska
• More later

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The Kearney Carnegie
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Post-Carnegie, or The Rest of the Story

• The Great Depression
• World War II
• Library Services Act, 1956
• Library Services and Construction Act, 1964

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Nebraska, the 1870s

• Population 122,993
• 16,083 of whom live in Omaha

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States with PLs, 1872
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1870s Nebraska Libraries

• Fort McPherson
• Fremont
• Lincoln (4 libraries)

• Nebraska City
• Omaha (6 libraries)
• Peru

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Teddy at Grand Island
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Rank by Population Served

• 1890
• Iowa - 15
• Kansas- 19
• Nebraska- 26

• 1920
• Nebraska- 8
• Iowa- 12
• Kansas 13

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Ceresco PL
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Mr.. Carnegies MoneyThe Most Successful States

• 1. Wyoming
• 2. Utah
• 3. Indiana
• 4. Nebraska
• 5. California

• 6. Montana
• 7. Iowa
• 8. South Dakota
• 9. Oregon
• 10. Kansas

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Percentages of Carnegie Grants
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Weeping Water
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PL is a Community Phenomenon

• Womens Clubs
• Enabling Laws (Home Rule)
• Local Initiative!

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The End