Free to All: Carnegie Libraries & American Culture, 1890-1920

Rating:
Summary: A step in the history of the American public library
Review: I had to read this book in library school a few years ago. It not only discusses Carnegie's motives but a number of the different Carnegie libraries across the country and the politics behind building these structures. While I'm not involved in public libraries myself, I feel that this book would be worthwhile reading for most if not all information/library students (because it IS a historical aspect of the information profession) and anyone who truly enjoys their own public library. The Carnegie structures are a legacy that links this effort across the country. If you grew up in a city with a Carnegie library, it's exciting to travel someplace else and look at its sibling; another library that wasn't just built but was developed under an intended global initiative. This book is a no-frills, excellent, easy to read description of this attempt.