Part of our lives: a people's history of the American public library

So much more than information

"Improv'd the general conversation of Americans" : social libraries before 1854

For "plain people" : the American public library, 1854-1876

"The best reading for the greatest number at the least cost", 1876-1893

"The liberty to read what they will and when" : the Carnegie era, 1893-1917

"Habitations on a literary map", 1917-1929

"One island of refuge" : the Great Depression and World War II, 1929-1945

"Winning the battles of daily life", 1945-1964

"An individual meaning to each user", 1964-1980

"Library paste is a precious part of social glue", 1981-2000

Information, reading, and place, 2001-present.